These three seniors — with no eligibility remaining — have unearthed an extra level of strength, determination and grit that has lifted the Cavaliers to glory.
I am a quitter. Or at least that is what I told myself when I hung up my headset after only two months of coxing on the Virginia men's rowing team.
The visitors soared into Charlottesville red-hot, having won three in a row. However, even a pleasant spring breeze and a sturdy defensive performance were not enough to fan the Flames — their streak was extinguished by the eighth victory in the last 10 games for the Cavaliers.
“Our coaching staff is thrilled with the energy, effort, and performance of our men tonight,” Coach Tiffany said. “We love challenges, and certainly playing two games in three days presents such a challenge.”
Just around the halfway mark of the 2026 NCAA softball seasons, No. 18 Virginia has not broken its stride after a 21-1 start.
“Going into the year, there was a lot of discourse about ‘Virginia is good, but can they continue to be this dominant?’” Curzan said. “And I think this year, by and above, we've exceeded everyone's expectations, including our own."
In a sport that can feel like a lonely struggle between two people in the box, Pastel has pursued collective growth, finishing her debut season with a 13-5 record — tied with junior Clare Minnis for most wins on the team.
Leaving college tennis was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made. When you spend your entire childhood training for a sport, it becomes part of your identity. For years, my daily routine and friendships revolved around tennis, and transitioning away from competition meant redefining what the sport meant in my life.
This back-and-forth game seemed destined for similar late-inning dramatics, though the Cavaliers (21-5, 6-3 ACC) pulled away with an overwhelming offensive attack that was too much for the Terrapins (11-13, 1-5 Big Ten).
While the Cavaliers did not put together their best team outings, day three offered a bright spot — Virginia was one of just three teams with a top-ten finisher, as Bacardi cracked the top ten for the first time in her career.
While the conclusion of the season is not foregone by any means, Virginia has made well of the opportunities it has been given.
The Demon Deacons rode an early lead to hand the Cavaliers their first ACC loss.
Virginia’s band of heroes smiled. Aching, bloodied and exhausted, they celebrated with vigor. This did not look like the energy one would expect for a plucky darling of the NCAA Tournament that had to win three games in five days.
The sun was high and temperatures approached the low eighties as a mass of fans entered the gates of Davenport Field at Disharoon Park. The temperature was not the only thing that was high, as No. 9 Virginia baseball felt the pressure in their first ACC series-deciding match against No. 24 Wake Forest.
After Bigham had a much more efficient inning of work in the bottom of the second, the Cavaliers were back on offense.
In its last road trip of a busy March, No. 15 Virginia earned a pair of ACC victories in Florida, earning clean wins over Florida State and No. 30 Miami.
With Johnson at the helm, the stage is set for a program-defining collision. The Cavaliers have spent over three years building toward this moment. If they follow the same heartbeat that led them here, it could push the program to historical heights.
After the game, Coach Ryan Odom complimented the leadership of the graduating seniors, and praised the buy-in that the entire roster showed from the get-go. Winning 30 games is difficult, he said, and though the ending was difficult, he remains proud of his team and what they accomplished.
The move from the intimate Klöckner Stadium to the expansive Scott Stadium was a deliberate nod to the program's 50-year journey. The doubleheader with the men's team, which took down Utah earlier that morning, brought a sense of scale that matched the significance of the anniversary.
The NCAA Championships began March 19 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland with 330 total wrestlers representing schools across the country. While Washleski was making his second appearance — his last coming in 2024 — Porter and Morgan were making their first career appearances.
