Cavs looking for revenge
By Whitelaw Reid / wreid@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
February 21, 2008

Trying to pinpoint the one game that led to Virginia’s freefall in the ACC this season isn’t all that tough.

Sure, there was the first of the seven straight losses - a crushing defeat to Florida State - on Jan. 23.

However, that setback came on the road, where Virginia has gone just 5-17 in the Dave Leitao era.

The real harbinger came when UVa blew a 13-point lead at home to Georgia Tech on Jan. 27 and wound up losing in overtime.

“We controlled the game for the most part,” recalled Virginia senior Sean Singletary, “but we just let up.”

Tonight, in Atlanta, the Cavaliers and Yellow Jackets square off again.

“We owe them a win,” said Virginia freshman Mike Scott. “They came into JPJ and beat us. We owe them.”

Ah, such is the mojo that victory can breed. On Sunday, Virginia (12-12, 2-9 ACC) snapped its seven-game slide with a win over Boston College.

In that triumph, four players scored in double figures for UVa.

Scott notched the second double-double of his career with an

11-point, 12-rebound effort. The Chesapeake native looked as comfortable as he has all season - most likely a byproduct of moving back to his natural position at power forward.

Scott knocked down his second 3-pointer of the season against the Eagles.

“It’s something that he came in with,” said Virginia coach Dave Leitao, referring to Scott’s perimeter prowess, “but when he’s been locked in the post he hasn’t been able to develop it.

“It’s by no means there yet, but he believes in it and plays without hesitation. As a power forward as opposed to a center, he will sometimes get more opportunities like that.”

Scott has been able to drift to the perimeter because of the re-emergence of Lars Mikalauskas. “The Pride of Lithuania” has played great post defense and provided numerous intangibles since coming back from his shoulder injury two games ago.

“I think he’s been what we’re really missing,” Singletary said.

Georgia Tech (11-13, 4-6), meanwhile, is riding a three-game losing streak, including a last-minute home loss to Miami on Sunday.

“Our team has made progress throughout the year,” said Yellow Jackets coach Paul Hewitt, “but in the last two games I don’t think we played as well as we had been playing.”

Hewitt said the Jackets aren’t about to turn their noses up at Virginia just because of its poor conference record.

“They’ve lost a lot of close ballgames,” he said. “The bounce of a ball here or a shot there and things could be a lot different for them.”

Virginia hasn’t played at Georgia Tech since December of 2005.

“Most of our guys haven’t been there,” Leitao said. “That, in and of itself, presents a challenge in getting ready for them - and then obviously their inside and outside attack.”

Yes, in the loss last month Tech big men Gani Lawal and Zack Peacock combined for 27 points. Senior guard Matt Causey went nuts on Virginia, scoring 12 of his 18 points in overtime, including nine straight as the Yellow Jackets outscored UVa 16-6 in the extra session.

“If we can just put on a performance like [against BC] - where everybody can contribute - we’ll be in good shape,” said Singletary, who was just 5 of 19 from the floor in the first meeting. “You can’t coast. You can’t let up. You just have to keep your foot on the pedal. We have to stay focused for the full 40 minutes.”

Dunks

Georgia Tech leads the series, 37-28. The Yellow Jackets have won 16 of the last 20 meetings. ... Hewitt on Singletary: “He is still if not the best point guard, one of the top two point guards in our league. He’s putting up some impressive numbers. You have to devote all your energy and attention to slowing him down and hope he’s not having a good night.” …Virginia senior Tunji Soroye, who has played in just two games this season because of knee and back woes, may give it a go this evening. If he does, he would likely eliminate any chance for a medical redshirt - something he has been contemplating.

 

Landesberg's lovin' it as McDonald's pick
By Whitelaw Reid / wreid@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
February 20, 2008

For a high school basketball player, there is probably no greater honor than being named a McDonald’s All-American.

For a college coach, there is likely no greater feeling than reeling one of them in.

That being said, New York City guard Sylven Landesberg and Virginia coach Dave Leitao are both pretty happy campers.

On Tuesday evening, Landesberg - who will be a freshman at UVa next season - was named a 2008 McDonald’s All-American. The official squads were announced during an ESPNU broadcast.

“I’ve always wanted to be a McDonald’s All-American, so it’s a huge honor,” Landesberg said via phone from New York. “The history and all the great players who have played in it - to be able to say you played in the game where other great players have is a great honor.”

Past McDonald’s All-Americans include Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan.

The 6-foot-6 combo guard from Holy Cross High in Queens, N.Y., is the first Virginia-bound player to receive the honor since Majestic Mapp did so in 1999. Landesberg chose UVa over Georgia Tech and St. John’s, is rated as a 4- star recruit (out of five) by Rivals.com.

Last season, as a junior, Landesberg led the New York Catholic League - arguably one of the most competitive high school leagues in the country - in scoring, averaging 27 points per game.

Earlier this season, Landesberg was named Player of the Game in his team’s loss to Archbishop Mitty (Calif.) in the Old Spice High School Showcase - a game that was broadcast on ESPNU.

Landesberg is easily the most highly touted recruit that Leitao has landed in his tenure. Leitao plans on playing Landesberg predominantly at the point, similarly to the way he utilized 6-foot-6 Sammy Mejia (a Bronx, N.Y. native) when he coached at DePaul.

With UVa captain Sean Singletary graduating, Landesberg will compete with Sammy Zeglinski and Calvin Baker for minutes. He could also battle Jeff Jones, Mustapha Farrakhan and Solomon Tat for time at shooting guard.

Earlier this season, Landesberg broke the all-time scoring record at Holy Cross. Coincidentally, the guy he passed was Willie Dersch, a former Virginia guard who was also a McDonald’s All-American.

“He was cool,” Landesberg said. “I met him at my school when I broke his record. He came to congratulate me.”

Virginia fans are probably hoping that Landesberg fares better than Dersch (a career 5.9 ppg scorer) did.

“I don’t think it’s that much pressure,” said Landesberg, when asked about the expectations that go along with his new status. “I just try and go out and have fun.”

Landesberg has watched Virginia’s struggles on television this year.

“They’re having a rough season, but I think they’re starting to play a little better,” Landesberg said. “I saw the North Carolina game and then they just beat Boston College. I think they can still pull it together.”

Dunks

UVa’s other 2008 signees are big men John Brandenburg and Assane Sene. The Cavaliers are also still in the mix for unsigned Wesley Witherspoon, a 4-star prospect out of Georgia. However, given the program’s scholarship crunch - and the fact that Memphis and Texas are also hot on the small forward’s tail - landing him seems like a long shot.

 

U.VA. Notes: Jackets' home court challenge for Cavs
Thursday, Feb 21, 2008 - 12:07 AM

Jackets' home court challenge for Cavs
Of the players expected to suit up tonight for the Virginia men's basketball team, only four - Sean Singletary, Mamadi Diane, Adrian Joseph and Laurynas Mikalauskas - have faced Georgia Tech in Atlanta. And that was on Dec. 4, 2005, in Dave Leitao's first ACC game as U.Va.'s coach.

For such Cavaliers as Jeff Jones, Calvin Baker, Mike Scott, Jamil Tucker and Ryan Pettinella, tonight's game at Alexander Memorial Coliseum will be a new experience.

"That in itself presents a challenge in getting ready for [the Yellow Jackets]," Leitao said this week.

Virginia (2-9, 12-12) meets Georgia Tech (4-6, 11-13) at 7 p.m. U.Va. snapped a seven-game losing streak Sunday, thanks in part to Baker, a sophomore guard who sat out last season after transferring from William and Mary. Baker made four free throws in the final 13.7 seconds to help Virginia hold off Boston College at Conte Forum.

Technically, Baker is no longer the first-team shooting guard - Jones has started there in each of the past three games - but he played 24 minutes against BC.

"I just want to play," said Baker, who runs the point when Singletary sits down. "It doesn't matter if I'm coming off the bench, if I'm starting, regardless. When I get in, I'm going to play my hardest."

Mikalauskas' return eases Scott's burdens
Scott, a 6-8, 233-pound freshman from Chesapeake, made his 13th start Sunday after coming off the bench in the previous two games. The BC game marked Scott's first start, however, at his natural position of power forward. He'd previously played center.

Against Boston College, Scott contributed 11 points, 12 rebounds and two steals. Among his five field goals was a 3-pointer, his first against an ACC foe.

"It's something that he came in with," Leitao said of Scott's outside shot, "but when he's been locked in to the post, he hasn't been able to develop it."

The return of Mikalauskas from a shoulder injury made it easier for Leitao to move Scott to power forward. But the coaching staff already had concluded it was unfair to ask Scott to "have the responsibility that goes along with starting, and do it at the 5-spot," Leitao said. "It's just too much, and he had to take on too many burdens."

When Scott plays alongside a banger such as Mikalauskas (6-8, 246) or Pettinella (6-9, 249), his "mind is in a better place," Leitao said, "because he doesn't have the same kind of responsibilities that go along with the position he was in previous to this."

Defensive coordinator knows his offense, too
At Marshall University, Bob Pruett's football teams were known for their potent offenses. But before he became head coach at his alma mater prior to the 1996 season, Pruett was defensive coordinator at Marshall, Wake Forest, Tulane and Florida. He also coached the secondary at Mississippi in 1990 and '91.

"People who don't know [Pruett's résumé] think he's an offensive guy," U.Va. coach Al Groh said.

At Virginia, which hired Pruett last week, his title will be defensive coordinator. But Groh praised Pruett's "offensive acumen" and said he expects his good friend to contribute in that area, too.

"He's been the head coach of a team that for an eight-year period gained more yards passing than all but one team," Groh said. "He adds a lot of value to our operation."

Groh worked with Pruett at Wake in the 1980s, and they've remained close. Pruett, 64, retired at Marshall in March, 2005. Over the next three seasons, he traveled to Charlottesville many times to visit Groh and watch U.Va. practice.

"We've been having extensive conversations [about working together again] for about three years," Pruett said. "It just had to be the right timing and the right fit . . . This is one of the few places I would choose to coach."

Four Cavaliers among ACC athletes honored
Of the 40 athletes honored when the ACC presented its annual postgraduate scholarships and awards, four are from U.Va. - Tom Santi (football), Mary Eddy (rowing), Sarah Kirkwood (volleyball) and Becky Sauerbrunn (women's soccer).

- Jeff White

 

Win emboldens Cavaliers' hopes for rest of season
Virginia travels to Georgia Tech, looks to avenge January overtime loss to Yellow Jackets
Anders Sleight, Cavalier Daily Associate Editor

Now that the tide has been reversed, the Virginia men's basketball team will attempt to start a new streak tonight -- a winning streak. Virginia will travel to Atlanta to take on Georgia Tech at 7 p.m. at Alexander Memorial Coliseum.

Virginia (12-12, 2-9 ACC) is coming off a big road win at Boston College and will look to continue the momentum gained from its second conference victory. Georgia Tech (11-13, 4-6 ACC) has lost three straight games and will seek to get back on track against the Cavaliers.

The two teams met earlier this season at John Paul Jones Arena. The first matchup went Georgia Tech's way, as the Yellow Jackets used a strong second half and impressive play during overtime to pull out a 92-82 victory against the Cavaliers Jan. 27?. Georgia Tech senior guard Matt Causey put in a gutsy clutch-performance in the first game, scoring 12 of his 18 points in the second half and overtime periods to lift the Yellow Jackets to victory. Furthermore, senior guard Sean Singletary was limited to only 11 points on 5 of 19 shooting from the field. After Sunday's win against Boston College, Singletary recalled the Cavs' tough loss to the Yellow Jackets in January.

"We were in control of the game for the most part, and we just let up," Singletary said. "If we can put on a performance like [we did Sunday] and everybody can contribute, then we'll be in great shape."

Sunday's win at Boston College is not likely to have a great impact on Virginia's postseason hopes. At this point, the Cavaliers are an extreme long-shot to make the NCAA Tournament, and only if they win the ACC Tournament can they realistically hope to make the Big Dance. The victory against Boston College, however, will go a long way toward reversing the feelings of negativity and low self-esteem that surrounded the Cavaliers during their losing streak. Sports, as many people say, are mainly psychological. Therefore, Virginia's recent road win should work wonders on the confidence and determination of Virginia players. After Sunday's win, Virginia coach Dave Leitao spoke passionately about his team's vital win.

"They were happy, they were cheerful," Leitao said. "For me, it's probably more relief. It's been a very long few weeks for everybody."

He added that the team deserves the win, in which the team was emotionally invested.

"Now we've got to enjoy it," he said. "And then move on to Thursday night's game."

To defeat the Yellow Jackets tonight, Virginia will need to concentrate on shutting down Georgia Tech senior guard Anthony Morrow. Morrow is Georgia Tech's leading scorer – he averages 14.1 points per game– and is a significant perimeter match-up problem. Additionally, the Cavaliers will need to watch out for Causey, who torched Virginia in the previous game, and 6-foot-8 sophomore forward Zach Peacock, who has averaged 13.6 points per game over the past five games.

Despite being a long way from the projected NCAA Tournament field, many Virginia players still have hope that they will recreate the magic of last season and make it back to March Madness.

"Just like we lost seven, eight in a row, we can win these last five games; we can get six in a row," Singletary said. "Everything happens for a reason. This has brought us closer together as a team, and there's no saying we can't make a run at it."

 

Leitao settles on just 9
Junior post player Lauris Mikalauskas has made an impact upon his return from injury as well.
By Doug Doughty
981-3129

Virginia's two-game men's basketball revival has been a case of subtraction by addition.

Junior post man Lauris Mikalauskas has returned to the lineup after a two-month absence; yet, the Cavaliers have used only nine players in each of their last two games.

The only other time Virginia (12-12, 2-9 ACC) had used as few as nine players was Jan. 19 when the Cavaliers defeated Boston College 84-66 at John Paul Jones Arena.

That was UVa's most noteworthy performance until last Tuesday, when it played fifth-ranked North Carolina to the buzzer before losing 75-74, then came back five days later and ended a seven-game losing streak in a 79-74 triumph Sunday at BC.

"With the nine guys that we used, it was done consciously on my part," UVa coach Dave Leitao said this week. "I don't know how much effect it has had on the overall performance, but for some individuals it has helped."

Freshman guard Jeff Jones, a starter earlier in the season, averaged more 17 minutes over the first 12 games. He then went through a nine-game stretch when he averaged eight minutes, including three games when he played fewer than five minutes.

His starting spot was restored Feb. 9 at Wake Forest and he has logged 17, 19 and 21 minutes in his last three games.

In previous games, if Jones hadn't played well on his first appearance in the game, he often was bypassed on later substitution opportunities.

"Not only are your minutes affected," Leitao said, "but, mentally, there's not the same sort of attachment to the game. The decision was to go a couple more rotations with [Jones] and see how it went."

Jones' increased minutes have come at the expenses of Mustapha Farrakhan and Solomon Tat, neither of whom has played in the last two games, and Mikalauskas' return has kept post player Jerome Meyinsse out of action.

Mikalauskas and freshman Mike Scott got most of the playing time in the post Sunday, with Scott contributing 11 points and 12 rebounds.

Scott had been part of an overhaul that followed an 82-51 home loss to Clemson, but he was only out of the starting lineup for two games. At 6-foot-8 and 233 pounds, he had been starting at center but moved to power forward Sunday alongside 6-9, 249-pound Ryan Pettinella and, later, Mikalauskas.

"It's an unfair position as a freshman to give him the responsibility that goes along with starting and then have him do it at [center]," said Leitao, whose Cavaliers visit Georgia Tech (11-13, 4-6) at 7 p.m. Thursday.

"In Ryan or Lauris, he has a sidekick that can free him up from a lot of those responsibilities [and] he can play a lot more naturally. His mind is in a better place."

If anything has jump-started the Cavaliers, it has been the return of Mikalauskas, who has the crafty inside moves than enables him to convert the close-in attempts that others have been missing. Mikalauskas is 8-for-9 from the field in the last two games but his biggest contribution has been his energy, as evidenced by his signature fist pumps.

"Other than Sean [Singletary], without having Lauris around, we suffer from not having more emotional people," Leitao said.
 

Virginia's Mikalauskas: Human energy at work
Lars Mikalauskas brings a fire the Cavaliers lacked during his 13-game absence.
By MELINDA WALDROP | 247-4634
February 21, 2008
 

It's pointless, but tempting.

Virginia fans perusing the box score of Sunday's 79-74 win at Boston College, the Cavaliers' first victory since a Jan. 19 win against the Eagles, can be forgiven for asking what if?

What if Lars Mikalauskas' 13 points, four rebounds and one block always had been available?

Mikalauskas missed 13 games with a slow-to-heal shoulder injury, not playing from Dec. 7 until Feb. 12. Tonight's game at Georgia Tech will be his third back in the U.Va. lineup.

Tyler Hansbrough he's not. Before his return, Mikalauskas was averaging five points and three rebounds in his three U.Va. seasons. But he brings an unmistakable energy and emotion, along with a post presence the Cavaliers (12-12, 2-9 ACC) sorely were lacking during a seven-game losing streak.

"Basketball is a passionate sport," said Mikalauskas, a native of Lithuania who played high school ball at the Blue Ridge School near Charlottesville. "You can't play without passion. ... Nobody really likes to watch boring basketball. I think that's why sometimes people don't watch the NBA as much as they watch college. In college, we have to play as hard as we can every opportunity we get."

Mikalauskas' signature fist pump usually is punctuated by a shake of his shaggy hair and a loud crowd roar, like when he drew a charge against Hansbrough as the Cavs battled the Heels tooth-and-nail in a 75-74 loss in his first game back.

"He provides the kind of energy that we can see, (and) that is something we have obviously been trying to survive without," U.Va coach Dave Leitao said. "Whether it's points, rebounds or just presence, I think he's been a positive presence for us, not just in two games but also in the practices that he's been back."

Mikalauskas' 6-foot-8, 246-pound body parked in the paint has freed players such as freshman Mike Scott, 16 pounds lighter, to shift from center to power forward. At Boston College, Scott had 11 points and 12 rebounds for his second double-double.

"We've always had this talent," said Mikalauskas, who averages 5.6 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. "I guess we just needed somebody to push us a little harder."

Leitao said before this season began that the Cavs' older but reserved players, such as Adrian Joseph and Mamadi Diane, would have to become more vocal leaders to lessen the load on senior guard Sean Singletary. That hasn't happened consistently.

"That's probably been part of the challenge, is that other than Sean, without having Lars in the lineup, we suffer from not having more emotional people," Leitao said.

Mikalauskas' emotions almost got the better of him Sunday, though. With 14 seconds left and Virginia clinging to a three-point lead, he exchanged shoves with Boston College's Corey Raji. Each player was given a technical foul.

Leitao knows the Cavs could have lost the game if only Mikalauskas had gotten T'ed up, giving BC free throws and the ball, but he liked Mikalauskas' fire.

"I'm not gonna let anybody push me around," Mikalauskas said. "That's the attitude you have to have to win games. It's the ACC. It's competitive."

So competitive, in fact, that Mikalauskas is confident his return can continue past Virginia's remaining five regular-season games.

"We're planning on winning every game and hopefully winning the ACC tournament and going to the NCAA tournament after that," he said. "I don't see why not. Everybody's good, but anybody can beat anybody. Wake Forest just beat Duke at home, and North Carolina's beatable. ... We still have time to get better."

No one guaranteed playing time for reeling Jackets
With postseason aspirations dwindling, Hewitt isn't ready to look to future yet
By MATT WINKELJOHN
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 02/21/08

If you happen to think that Georgia Tech's predicament should lead coach Paul Hewitt to finish the regular season by deploying young players more often with an eye toward the future, forget it.

When the Yellow Jackets (11-13, 4-6 ACC) play Virginia (12-12, 2-9) Thursday in Alexander Memorial Coliseum, Hewitt will continue to focus on the present with the idea of finishing as highly as possible in the conference standings.

Besides, two of Tech's three true freshmen — point guard Moe Miller and forward Gani Lawal — already start, and the third, Lance Storrs, has been playing more recently anyway.

"I think there is some merit to that, but you also owe it to your seniors to give them a chance to play," Hewitt said. "They've served your program well for four years so why penalize them?"

Redshirt freshman center Brad Sheehan played against Clemson last week, his first action in 11 games, and has practiced well enough recently that it's possible he might see action against the Cavaliers.

But there are no guarantees this season. Conjecture carries the day.

With a three-game losing streak killing postseason aspirations, Tech will focus more on what it has done poorly in the past two games, an ugly loss at Clemson and a very disappointing loss at home Sunday to Miami.

Specifically, the Jackets need to hang onto the ball. That's tough to practice, Hewitt said, especially when Tech's season-high 22 turnovers against the Hurricanes were rarely forced by high-pressure defense.

The Jackets were just plain sloppy.

"You work on your half-court execution more, but there's no secret, no magic bullet that you pull out to stop it," Hewitt said of turnover problems.

Even after losing at Connecticut, Tech had hope. With a strong finish over the final half of the ACC season, the Jackets had a reasonable shot at finishing as high as third place. So trying to explain last week's swoon, Hewitt's at a loss.

"The last two games I've been surprised and disappointed with how we've played, but it happens in sports," he said.

There are several issues plaguing Tech, such as Lawal's foul problems and sharpshooter Anthony Morrow's slump.

He has made only six of 23 shots in the past two games, four of 16 3-pointers. And fellow shooter Lewis Clinch has not picked up the slack off the bench, making one of eight shots and missing all five 3-pointers.

More fatal, though, has been the Jackets' five primary perimeter players — Morrow, Miller, Clinch, D'Andre Bell and Matt Causey — combining for 17 assists in the past two games against 28 turnovers.

"It's the time of year when the basketball is going to get sloppier and sloppier because everybody knows what you're doing," Hewitt said. "And most [teams] play defense a little tighter and stickier as you move through the season."



 

Untested outfield no problem for O'Connor
Virginia lineup features young outfield, veteran infield as season begins Friday night
Meredith Hulley, Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

The Virginia baseball team looks to continue its record of excellence as it heads into the 2008 season. Last year, Virginia made it to the NCAA Tournament before falling to eventual national champion Oregon State University in the regional final.

Since then, six Cavaliers were selected in last summer's Major League Baseball draft, a school record, and the team graduated several other key contributors. This means the Cavaliers will go into this season with 16 new players on the roster.

With so many new faces in place, questions pertaining to the starting lineups are bound to arise. Perhaps the biggest question mark with this year's team rests in the outfield, as the only outfielder from last season's roster is redshirt freshman Mark Riffee.

But if anyone has concerns about the undecided nature of the Cavaliers' outfield, nobody is showing it.

"It's still pretty early to tell," coach Brian O'Connor said. "But, I think we have four freshman outfielders that I have a lot of confidence can play right away for us and help us win."

Junior infielder and team captain David Adams agreed.

"I think ultimately the younger guys [are] smart enough, they're talented enough; they can just jump in and they'll fit in right away," he said.

O'Connor also said he is not worried about having the starting outfield set by the first game of the season.

"We'll mix and match a bunch of different guys for the first 10 ball games or so and find out which combination works the best," he said.

One of the options available to O'Connor is playing senior Patrick Wingfield in left field to provide an experienced presence in the outfield.

Wingfield can expect to "get some time at third base and probably some time in left field," O'Connor said, adding that the veteran will also likely play designated hitter this season.

Though he does not have a set place for Wingfield yet, O'Connor said he believes it's important to keep him in the lineup.

"He's a veteran guy," O'Connor said. "He's played a lot over three years and he's done a nice job."

Wingfield will share his time at third base with sophomore Tyler Cannon, who will also play shortstop until junior Greg Miclat recovers from shoulder surgery at the end of last season and returns full-time. Cannon may also have the opportunity to exercise his talents at catcher; O'Connor described him as "an option back there."

Virginia has other options behind the plate, as well. The Cavaliers are hoping to avoid the loss of catchers Beau Seabury and Ryan Hudson with sophomore transfers Franco Valdes and Ryan Smith. Smith, a transfer from Notre Dame, proved himself with the bat last season, ranking fourth in batting average for the Irish. Valdes joins Virginia from Broward Community College in Miami.

One of Virginia's strongest points heading into this season is the return of a veteran infield.

"It plays a huge role," Adams said. "You don't have to worry about getting that adjustment with the younger guys."

Joining Adams as returning infielders will be Wingfield, Cannon, Miclat and junior Jeremy Farrell.

Even with a strong infield core, however, there will be some adjustments, particularly in regard to Miclat's return to the lineup.

"Coming off of shoulder surgery [is] a challenging thing to do," O'Connor said. "His throwing program has progressed very well ... We're at the point right now where it's got to apply to a baseball game."

Even with some questions still unanswered, the team is excited to get the season started.

"All the guys are ready -- we're anxious, we can't wait," Adams said. "I've been talking to a bunch of freshmen and a couple other guys the past couple days, and I don't think anybody's more excited than we are."

 

Cavs hope to cook up success in 2008
Seasoned veterans, fresh newcomers provide key ingredients for Cavaliers' approaching campaign
Ryan Williams, Cavalier Daily Associate Editor

As does any college sports program, the Virginia women's lacrosse team lost a few key players from last year's national championship runner-up squad. At the same time, however, the Cavaliers can expect veteran players to step up into leadership roles and new players to contribute toward the accomplishment of the team's goals. All the ingredients to make another run through the ACC and NCAA tournaments could be at hand.

The first ingredient is the leadership and vision provided by coach Julie Myers, who seems to have a recipe for success. In each of her 12 years as head coach at Virginia, Myers has taken her team to the NCAA Tournament, collecting four ACC championships along the way -- including three in the past four years. Additionally, she has led her Virginia squad to six NCAA tournament runner-up finishes and one national title in 2004.

Strong on-field leadership from the team's elected captains supplies a second key factor for the Cavs. Senior attacker Megan O'Malley returns to help run the offense, and senior defender Claire Bordley will help bring together a promising defense.

"It means a lot [to be elected captain], as far as the team looking up to me," O'Malley said. "I think [being a captain is] a welcome challenge and something that I'm excited for. It's just a matter of working hard every day and trying to set a good example on and off the field."

Setting an example for the younger players seems to be a priority for the captains.

"Obviously being a captain and just being a senior in general, there is a lot of added responsibility on and off the field," Bordley said. "The talent is there; it's just keeping the focus and being an example for our teammates so they'll want to work hard with us."

According to senior goalkeeper Kendall McBreaty, Virginia will have leaders all over the field.

"We lost two of our defenders [from last year], but we have all of our older girls coming back and a couple of first-years that are stepping up big," McBreaty said. "We are strong, just as strong as last year."

As formidable as the defense will be with McBreaty's presence in goal, the offense appears ready to offer just as much. O'Malley noted the offense is in good shape.

"I think we look awesome," O'Malley said. "We have a lot of weapons back."

Virginia returns two top scorers from last year in junior midfielders Blair Weymouth and Ashley McCulloch. Each has not just goal-scoring on her mind but also keeping the team together and focused.

My goals are "calming everyone down, running our plays and making sure we stick to them," McCulloch said.

This is a team that does not just look to its captains for leadership; the Cavaliers expect everyone to step up to the challenge.

"One thing our team does is we count on everyone to be the leader," Myers said. "We're only as good as everyone is willing to be. [The captains will] lead the charge, but certainly right next to them is going to be the whole team."

Strong contributions from new players will also add to the Cavaliers' efforts. Freshmen defender Liz Downs and midfielder Molly Millard are going to be getting good minutes and look "solid," according to Myers. Along with talented freshmen, Virginia also welcomes junior transfer Jenny Hauser, who brings two years of college experience to the Cavaliers' offensive attack.

With all of these weapons, the team is ready to begin what the Cavaliers hope will be another great season.

"I think we've got all the pieces in place," Myers said.