The Cavaliers fell flat in frustrating fashion Thursday night.
The Cavaliers enter the contest ranked higher than the Tar Heels for the first time since 2017.
With standout talent graduated from both the Cavalier and Gator rosters, both individual races and relays will be closer this go around, according to Coach Todd DeSorbo.
Even off the field and in academics, Lempers’ competitive spirit pushes her forward.
But were O’Leary to get to build that player instead of choosing just one, whose skills would her perfect player have?
The team enters its 50th season ranked No. 1 in Division I-AA, competing in a new league, designed for programs in similar situations.
When the postseason begins with the ACC Tournament, all that matters is making a deep run — and fighting to reach Durham, N.C. for the national championship game.
Virginia beat its second top-two opponent of the season.
“What you see [now] is just a different person," Coach Shannon Wells said.
The Cavaliers have not lost to the Hokies since 2018.
With a forced fumble, a redzone interception, a missed kick and an overtime field goal, the Cavaliers took down the No. 8 team in the country — here’s how they did it.
This game proved Virginia’s toughness.
"We're a better serving team than that," Coach Shannon Wells said.
“First thing I’m thinking is, oh my god, we did it,” fourth-year College student Joey Burch said. “The second thing I’m thinking is, wow, this goalpost has to come down.”
For the entirety of regulation, Virginia managed just one shot on goal. In a vacuum, one would think that lack of offense resulted in a loss — but Coach Ole Keusgen and company had other plans.
"This one's been a lot different," Odom said during a press conference Sept. 10.
Oulouheu celebrated accordingly, springing into a double handspring and two backflips. The celebration received roars and clangs from Klöckner’s metal bleachers, a release for a fanbase that had watched Virginia struggle to score all month.
“[Playing with passion and precision is] something [Elliott] talks about a lot,” Josey said. “You have to play with a lot of aggressiveness, but if you don't play with details, you're not going to win.”
To quote Coach Tony Elliott, “Adversity is the companion of the champion, the enemy to the weak.”
The victory was Virginia's fourth ACC win this year.
