Dylan Dietrich's third-set victory clinched the title for the Cavaliers.
In that moment, she was not only the pitcher who had just secured a win for her team, but also the player she had spent four years becoming — the player that earned every bit of it.
“I have full confidence in this team’s ability to win a regional and continue to advance, but we have to play better,” Coach Chris Pollard said. “We have to get better in all three phases than we were the last two days ... We’ll get back to practice on Monday and get ready for a big week in Charlotte.”
Now, after surviving one of the season’s most dramatic matches, the Cavaliers will face Texas Sunday afternoon.
In gathering insight for stories, I’ve spoken with hundreds of student-athletes, coaches, media, students, alumni, fans and more throughout my seven semesters with The Cavalier Daily.
“We made mental mistakes on the bases, we made mental mistakes in the infield defense, and we did not do a good job against [junior pitcher Colton] Hartman of taking away the fastball, which was our game plan,” Pollard said.
The Cavaliers will face a familiar foe in the semifinals in ACC rival and top-seed Wake Forest.
“Welcome back Eric Becker,” Coach Chris Pollard said postgame. “What an incredible job stepping back in after being out for close to a month. He played an unbelievable ballgame.”
“We’re thankful we get to play another weekend together,” Hardin said. “We’re going to do everything we can to extend our season and stay together as long as possible.”
“[Athletes] shouldn't just be athletes,” Montaperto said. “[There's] so many clubs here, so many interesting things to do here. I know everybody is more than just an athlete, right? More than just their sport.”
In the program’s fifth straight season, Virginia women’s golf has forged past the regionals to the NCAA Championships. This season marks the program’s 16th championship berth in 23 years.
As the Cavaliers’ season reaches its conclusion, three beat writers break down the good, the bad and the ugly ahead of a critical road trip versus Louisville.
“I like that finish on Ava,” Ruden said quietly in the launch. Seconds later, Coach Ng's megaphone carries the validation to the boat, “Ava, we like your finish.”
“We knew it was a matter of time to get to the other side of [an April slump] and get back to a good place,” Coach Chris Pollard said postgame. “Offensively, I've been excited to see that."
“This whole year has [not been] a failure by any means,” Schroter said. ”I truly believe with my whole heart that we have the best culture in the whole … lacrosse world.”
“I told the team after the handshake line, we aren’t in this position with 33 wins without Lucas Hartman,” Pollard said. “[He’s] done an incredible job all year and we will continue to believe in him.”
“Having Brendan has just unlocked so much,” Sunderland said. “It takes some weight off McCabe’s shoulders.”
The team will now say goodbye to three graduating seniors before returning to action in the fall individual season.
“It is whatever it takes, that’s where we are right now. It is not a Picasso, but whatever it takes to get the job done right now,” Pollard said following the game. “We will find our way to the other side of this. We are a better offensive club but, in the meantime, it is just whatever it takes to win a ballgame and we were tough today.”
“We have to buy into our approach better,” Coach Pollard said in the postgame press conference. “More importantly, we have to have better competitive fight, and I told them both of those things at the end of the ballgame.”
