It was the perfect day for a game of baseball in North Carolina, and the Cavaliers were playing a tie-breaking third game in a series against Wilmington with a pitching matchup between Wilmington's Thomas Benton against the Cavaliers' Jeff Kamrath. Since the Seahawks won Friday's game and Virginia took Saturday's, Sunday's matchup was especially significant.
I grew up in a family where three uncles attended the University of Virginia, and they and my parents (William and Mary graduates with the need to live vicariously through Virginia sports) always told me about the history of Cavalier basketball.
Gary Forbes came off the Virginia bench with one mission: stop Virginia Tech's Zabian Dowdell. That defensive substitution turned into the offensive spark the Cavaliers needed to avenge a Jan.
Familiar faces, unfamiliar places. Such is the life of a University baseball reporter with access to a car. And so I found myself in Wilmington, N.C.
Among a pair of e-mails asking me if I was interested in free Cialis, I received a message in my inbox from Devin Smith Tuesday afternoon.
It was a comeback fueled by two freshmen coming off the bench. Unfortunately, the comeback was too little, too late as the Virginia Cavaliers (16-8, 5-5) fell to the visiting Miami Hurricanes (12-11, 4-6) by the score of 66-60 last night. The freshman duo of Takisha Granberry and Denesha Kenion scored seven consecutive points that helped jumpstart the sluggish Cavaliers late in the second half.
Alas, spring has not quite sprung. Be that as it may, that does not mean the Virginia softball squad cannot start their season of bloom. This weekend the Cavaliers travel to Chapel Hill, N.C.
With March Madness inching closer by the day, Virginia coach Pete Gillen seems to have pulled out his recipe for a little late-season drama, one that includes a heavy dose of defense and a little home-court advantage. Coming off two nail-biting wins by a combined three points against ACC rivals NC State and Florida State, the Cavaliers are experiencing some self-assurance, a feeling that has been in short supply so far this season. "We've won a couple close ones, but you lose some, so I think when you win you get more confidence," Gillen said. He also highlighted the team's recent focus on defense after being consistently outscored over the course of the season. "We have to win with defense.
February is baseball's month of renewal. Emerging from their months of hibernation, players are rested and ready to set out on another arduous season.
After starting their respective seasons in impressive fashion, both the Virginia men's and women's tennis teams will look to build off their early season success when they return to the court this weekend at the Boar's Head Sports Club. On the men's side of the net, the undefeated Cavaliers will take on No.
What's happening around the ACC? This was supposed to be the toughest conference in the history of the league, one in which seven, yes, seven teams made the tournament. At one point, seven teams were ranked, the Virginia Cavaliers among them, but that number has dropped to just three: second-ranked UNC, sixth-ranked Wake Forest and seventh-ranked Duke. Conference coaches have been quick to point out that teams are just beating up on each other, whereas outside commentators look at the Big East and still see five ranked teams. Personally, I think it's hard to think anything but the former, as there were still seven ACC teams ranked the week before conference play started and five the week after conference play.
Starting at forward, a 6-foot-10 sophomore from Philadelphia, No. 32, Jason Cain. The mustachioed -- no, scratch that, the mustache-free Cain made his second-straight start last night, as Virginia coach Pete Gillen opted for beanpole over bulk in his starting lineup. Back up, you say?
In a down year for Virginia wrestling, Paul Bjorlo's performances have been a bright spot. Expected to remain strong with many wrestlers returning from last year's squad, which finished 16th in the NCAA Championships, Virginia's team currently stands at 4-9 following a weekend loss to No.
A sense of urgency is apparent on the women's basketball team. "This is definitely gut check time," Coach Debbie Ryan said after Monday night's loss to North Carolina.
During most of last night's basketball contest between Virginia and Florida State, nothing could have been predicted about the game's outcome.
Jason Cain. I really just wanted two stories on the sports page to start with the words "Jason Cain" today.
Jason Cain had not experienced this kind of feeling in a long time, but it is something he plans on getting used to. "It's going to be a happy ride home," Cain said after Virginia's 64-62 victory over N.C.
Though the women's varsity volleyball team has only been around since 1979, men's volleyball is a sport that has grown tremendously in recent years.
In its second scrimmage of the season, the Virginia men's lacrosse team dispatched Washington & Lee 17-1 at the Turf Field last night. Under the lights following an unseasonably warm day, the Cavaliers dominated throughout the contest, with freshman attackman Ben Rubeor leading all Virginia scorers with five goals in the first half. "Of course I felt good about [the goals]," Rubeor said.
Adding to an already successful year in which Virginia coach Steve Swanson led the Cavaliers to a 17-3-2 record, the women's soccer program added eight new members to the 17 returning players from last season. Highlighting the 2005 class are four players with USA National Team experience, three of which hail from Ohio.
