Bennett Building for Long Haul
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 02/17/2010
By Jeff White

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- In Tony Bennett's four seasons on the coaching staff at the University of Wisconsin, the Badgers went 83-46.

The first of those teams won 22 games and advanced to the Final Four. The last finished 24-8.

So Bennett had known nothing but success as a coach when he and his father arrived at Washington State in 2003 to try to revive a moribund program. He was quickly reminded that he wasn't in Madison anymore.

"Tough," Bennett said Tuesday night when asked about the early years in Pullman, Wash.

In the Cougars' first season under the Bennetts -- Dick was head coach, Tony his top assistant -- they finished 13-16. Year No. 2 brought a 12-16 record, and the Cougars went 11-17 in 2005-06.

"It was hard yards," Bennett recalled. "It was three years of just inching it forward, inching it forward, trying to establish the foundation, the things that'll make a program good in the years to come."

In Pullman, the breakthrough came in 2006-07, the younger Bennett's first season as head coach. WSU went 26-8 and advanced to the NCAA tournament's second round. In 2007-08, the Cougars reached the Sweet 16, and they made the NIT in 2008-09.

All of which helps UVa's first-year coach deal with setbacks such as the one his team experienced Monday night in College Park.

Maryland led by 29 points late in the second half and coasted to an 85-66 victory, the Cavaliers' most one-sided loss under Bennett.

"Certainly you have to draw on those [experiences at Washington State]," Bennett said. "It doesn't make it feel any better. But this is part of it. We have a ways to go. We're building. It's a long-range project, and we're thinking big picture. It just hurts when you feel like you take a step back."

In 2008-09, the Wahoos' final season under Dave Leitao, they went 4-12 in the ACC and 10-18 overall, and they were picked to finish 11th in the league in Bennett's first year.

Heading into their Wednesday night date with Florida State (6-5, 18-7) at John Paul Jones Arena, the 'Hoos are 5-5 in ACC play and 14-9 overall, so there are undeniable signs of progress.

Still, Bennett said, the Maryland game "was a humbling experience. It doesn't mean we're through with those. I hope we are. It always makes you step back and say, 'We've got a ways to go.' And that's OK. That's who we are. I just tell our guys, 'Hey, let's grow from it.' But those can have a way of stinging you, and now there's not much time [to get ready for FSU]."

Most disappointing for Bennett at Comcast Center was his team's lack of effort on the defensive end. The Terrapins shot 70 percent from the floor in the first half and 56.3 percent for the game.

"I've complimented our guys time and time again about how hard they've played, and I thought our heart got taken from us in that Maryland game," Bennett said.

The loss was the third straight and fifth in seven games for UVa. More challenges loom. After hosting FSU, UVa plays three of its next four games on the road.

Bennett has said from Day One that his focus this season is on quality of play, not wins and losses, and that hasn't changed.

"We're trying to build some things that will carry over," he said. "Hopefully tough defense, hopefully soundness, hopefully things that we're making progress on, but they don't happen overnight, and you can't assume they're going to be there. Sometimes you do take steps back, and then you gotta regain it, work at it, reclaim it, and fight again, and that's the process we're in.

"We got off to such a good stuff [in the ACC], and you kind of think, 'What could maybe happen?' And now you hit a bump in the road, and it's just a challenge.

"There's no shortcuts to rebuilding. When you get off to a good start, you're always hopeful, but you can't stop the building process. You can't take shortcuts to building habits that are hopefully going to set this program up in the long run to be consistent."

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Bennett, like many coaches, prefers to hold out until the second half a player who picks up two first-half fouls.

That's why Sylven Landesberg and Mike Scott spent much of the first half on the bench Jan. 23 at Wake Forest, which went into the break on a 15-0 run.

Five days later, at John Paul Jones Arena, Landesberg took a seat after being called for his second personal, and in his absence Virginia Tech closed the first half on a 15-5 run.

Against Maryland, Bennett showed he can be flexible. With 8:53 left in the first half, Scott picked up his second foul, and Bennett replaced him with Assane Sene.

After the Terps ran off seven straight points, Scott re-entered the game.

"It was getting out of hand," Bennett said. "I just felt like we needed Mike at the time. It was worth the risk. We were having a hard time putting the ball in the basket, having a really hard time stopping them from laying it over the front of the rim or getting easy looks, and I thought, 'It's now or never.'"

Scott, who finished with 16 points and 6 rebounds, never picked up a third foul.

Spurlock Makes Most of Opportunity
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 02/18/2010
Feb. 18, 2010
4:12 p.m.

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- In its second game of the season, UVa scored 49 points in a loss to South Florida. That's still the lowest output of the Tony Bennett Era at Virginia, but it was threatened Wednesday night at John Paul Jones Arena.

With a minute to play, UVa trailed Florida State 66-46. But junior guard Jeff Jones went 1 for 2 from the line to make it 66-47, and then freshman Tristan Spurlock was fouled while making a layup.

Spurlock's free throw with 18.6 seconds left closed out the scoring in Virginia's 69-50 loss.

"He made a nice play, made an 'and 1,' got us to 50," Bennett said.

Spurlock, whose jumping ability has made him a fan favorite, scored 5 points in 5 minutes of mop-up duty against FSU. Two nights earlier, in a one-sided loss to Maryland, he'd scored 4 points in another late-game stint.

"Obviously, being a first-year guy, he's got to continue to work, and then when those opportunities present themselves, get in there and be ready," Bennett said.

"We've tried to give him a few more reps in practice, and we'll see. There's not a lot of separation [among UVa's players], so I have to keep taking a look at everything. But it's good to see him get a couple buckets."

Spurlock, a 6-8, 217-pound forward from Woodbridge, said he was pleased with his performance against the Seminoles.

"I just feel like the more reps on the court, the better I'll be," he said. "Hopefully that continues."

For the season, Spurlock is averaging 2.4 points and 0.7 rebounds, with 4 steals, 4 turnovers, 1 assist and 1 steal. He's shooting 43.5 percent from floor and 66.7 percent from the line. He's 2 for 10 from beyond the arc.

-- Jeff White

UVa Insider, the column
By Doug Doughty | The Roanoke Times

As the margin in Virginia’s last two men’s basketball games has soared into the 20s, the only late-game suspense has surrounded the appearance of freshman Tristan Spurlock.

Spurlock, a 6-foot-7 forward who had played for a total of 2:19 in the Cavaliers’ first nine ACC games, was summoned from the bench with 4:56 remaining to play Monday at Maryland.

Spurlock finished out the Maryland game, scoring four points, then came on with 4:41 remaining Wednesday against Florida State and scored five points. That, by the way, was more points than Sylven Landesberg scored (four) in 28 minutes.

It was enough to get Spurlock an invitation to the interview area after the game. Landesberg did not speak to the media but it would be erroneous to say that he declined an interview request. When reporters asked for Landesberg to be put on the list, they were told that Virginia was giving Landesberg “the night off.”

So, it was that Spurlock was the first Virginia player whom reporters saw when they entered the lounge where interviews are held. It’s the first time he had been to the area in more than a month, although he has been the topic of considerable discussion, much of it on the Internet.

Whenever a freshman gets as little playing time as Spurlock, particularly a player with the kind of buildup that preceded Spurlock’s arrival, there is speculation about a possible transfer. There is a history going back to the 1970s of players leaving Virginia and enjoying considerable elsewhere – the likes of Bob McCurdy (Richmond), Lance Blanks (Texas), Derrick Byars (Vanderbilt) and Gary Forbes (UMass).

“How aware are you of all the speculation?” I asked Spurlock on Wednesday night.

“Oh, I’m fully aware of it,” he said. “My Facebook [page] is visible and open to everybody. I’m a kid, so I have Facebook and Twitter and whatnot, but I never put any of my personal things out there.

“Everybody has their opinion. If I was looking from the outside in, that’s the first thing I’d speculate, too. Nobody is my mom and my dad out there. So, they don’t know what I’m doing on a day-to-day basis.”

Spurlock said he has received feedback from the coaches on what it will take to get more playing time. Everything with first-year coach Tony Bennett starts with offense.

“With coach, it’s pretty simple -- play defense – and I feel like I’ve been doing that,” Spurlock said. “I feel, in practice, I’ve been a lot better defender. I’ve always been confident in my scoring, so that’s nothing I worry about. Defense is my main focus. I feel like I’ve been doing a great job of that.”

Another reporter asked if Spurlock thinks about where he fits into the program long-term.

“Know what?” Spurlock said. “Try to, but it never works out like that. We can always bring in somebody, a freshman or anybody can transfer in. You’ve always got to think about right now. I’m not thinking about when I’m a junior or when I’m going to the dance. I want to go right now. I want to play right now. I want to be able to be used right now. You keep waiting, you’ll wait forever.

“I just want to get in right now, make a contribution and play right away, take everything year by year. I just want to get in there and see where I am right now.”

Spurlock said he was proud of what he was able to accomplish this week in limited playing time.

“In the first game, I thought they had more of their subs in,” he said. “Tonight, I thought [the Seminoles] had more of their first unit out there and I think I played good. I felt I played good defense on [Chris] Singleton. I thought my rotation in the ‘Pack’ was pretty good. I feel like, the more reps I get on the court, the better I’ll be, so hopefully that will continue.”

Bennett didn’t make any promises when asked about Spurlock in his postgame news conference.

“He made a nice play, got an and-one, got us to 50,” said Bennett with a nervous chuckle following a 69-50 loss. “You saw that. Obviously, being a first-year guy, he’s got to continue to work, and, when those opportunities present themselves, get in there and be ready.”

In order to get more playing time, Spurlock will have to “keep coming defensively,” Bennett said, “We’ll try to give him a few more reps in practice and we’ll see. There’s not a lot of separation, so I keep taking a look at everything, but it was good to see him get a couple buckets.”

Spurlock said his parents have eased his discouragement on nights when he doesn’t play, especially on his birthday, Feb. 3, when he didn’t get on the floor in a 59-47 UVa victory over N.C. State.

“My dad comes to every game,” he said. “I have two little sisters, so my mom comes down to the games when she can. My parents have done an excellent job of keeping me encouraged. [Roommmate] Jontel [Evans] does a good job. We bounce a lot of things off each other.”

Finally with a losing ACC record, Virginia closer to reality

If Virginia fans were told at the start of the season that the Cavaliers would have five wins through 11 ACC games, it's probably a deal they would have taken. Considering Virginia was picked to finish 11th of 12 ACC teams and is working in a new system under a new coach, expectations of anything more would have appeared unrealistic.

Expectations can change quickly, though, with a successful start. Virginia opened the ACC with three consecutive wins and built a 5-2 record that put the Cavaliers a half-game behind Duke for the conference lead more than a month into the schedule.

At that point, excitement built not just in Charlottesville, but elsewhere. Virginia started appearing in NCAA tournament projections. Tony Bennett was considered a front-runner for ACC coach of the year. Even as the Cavaliers dipped to 5-4, two of those losses came in overtime and another was not determined until the game's final minutes.

"I think the schedule set up favorably in the early part of the ACC," Bennett said. "Now, obviously, with the postponement of the Maryland game and kind of how it's gone, it's been more challenging. Being in there with [Virginia Tech and Wake Forest] at home and not coming away with those wins, I don't know what that does to the psyche of young man. I hope it doesn't, I said try to use that as a positive. You're fighting."

Then, this week occurred. Virginia has lost two games by 19 points in three days. Now, last month's success is forgotten and it's fair to wonder whether Virginia will win another game this season. The rest of the season will tell whether the first eight games were an aberration, or whether the last two games were simply a tired team in rut.

"That's why I try to focus on the positive of the quality, and if you can battle against most those teams, that's got to be the mentality every team out against these teams," Bennett said. "It's the first time we played Florida State. It's the first time we played Maryland. I hope they're not that much better than us, and I know we have a ways to go. I understand that. We certainly battled the other teams very well, with the exception of the Wake Forest game there, so it's disheartening to see this happen. But the schedule is tougher than when we were going in. There's no question about that. Just who we're playing, when we're playing, where we're playing, that adds onto it. But that is what it is. I just want our guys not to take steps backward. If we've gained some ground, fight to hold that ground, not go backwards. That's the challenge. And that's where we're at."

By Zach Berman

Sylven Landesberg's second-half absence

Virginia trailed Florida State by 16 points with 14 minutes 27 seconds remaining in Wednesday's loss when Coach Tony Bennett took star guard Sylven Landesberg out of the lineup. Landesberg is the Cavaliers' top scorer, although he was amid a cold night.

He did not return to the game for nearly seven minutes, checking back into the game with 7:40 remaining and Virginia trailing by 19 points. Who knows if the Cavaliers could have made a run with Landesberg on the court, but there is one certainty: Virginia is a much better team when Landesberg is playing than when he's sitting.

“We did not have any answers," Bennett said. "I said let’s get some guys with some fresh legs and see if we can get the ball attacking a little more. [Landesberg] looked sluggish tonight, as did everybody. He goes against a set defense, and they make it hard for you to score. They do that to a lot of teams."

Landesberg scored a season-low four points on 2-of-8 shooting. A Virginia official refused to make Landesberg available for comment.

“We didn’t do anything differently than we normally do from a defensive scheme of things," Florida State Coach Leonard Hamilton said. "We just told Chris [Singleton] that he had to be solid because Landesberg has a whole lot of stuff to his game. He has the hesitation dribble, he has the perimeter shot, and he drives by you and lays it up. He had to play solid and make him make some plays over him as opposed to trying to reach and going for head fakes. They do such a good job when they catch the ball of moving the ball and shot faking, and we did go for some and got ourselves in trouble.”

By Zach Berman

Spurlock on future: 'I'll take everything year-by-year'

Tony Bennett’s first major victory at Virginia was convincing heralded recruit Tristan Spurlock to maintain his commitment to U-Va. after the offseason coaching change. But Spurlock’s lack of playing time this season has caused speculation about whether Bennett must now persuade Spurlock to stay with the Cavaliers.

“I’ll take everything year-by-year,” Spurlock said when asked what he was thinking about his future. “I’m not looking for the future. I’m looking for Saturday and our next game. I don’t take anything besides that.”

Spurlock has not been able to carve a role in Bennett’s 10-player rotation. After minimal playing time early in the season, he has remained on the end of the bench with the walk-ons throughout the ACC schedule.

Spurlock is “fully aware” of speculation about his future. He hears from fans and maintains active accounts on Facebook and Twitter, and understands why fans worry that his lack of a role this season and the Cavaliers’ five-man recruiting class next season creates the thought of where he stands in the program.

“Everyone has their own opinion, and they’re entitled to their own opinions,” said Spurlock, a Woodbridge native who attended Word of Life. “And for the situation I’m in, if I was looking from the outside in, that’s the first thing I’d speculate, too. But nobody’s my mom, my dad out there. They don’t know what I’m doing on a day-to-day basis, or what I’m thinking.”

In consecutive 19-point losses to Maryland and Florida State this week, Bennett played Spurlock in the final five minutes. Spurlock was encouraged by his play in both games, especially against Florida State when he guarded Seminoles forward Chris Singleton in the final minutes. He also scored five points on offense.

“Obviously, being a first-year guy, he’s got to continue to work, and when the opportunities present themselves, get in there and be ready,” Bennett said. “We’ll keep watching. Keep coming defensively. When we’re in there, we try to give him a few more reps in practice. We’ll see. There’s not a lot of separation, so I have to keep taking a look at everything, but it’s good to see him get a couple buckets.”

Spurlock said defense remains his barrier for entry into the lineup. He said he defends Sylven Landesberg and Mike Scott during practice, which has aided his improvement. With more time – and especially more time in games – he expects to become more comfortable.

“It’s pretty simple: play defense,” Spurlock said of what must be done to play. “I feel I’ve been doing that lately. I feel like practice, I’m a lot better defender. I’ve always confident in my scoring ability, so that’s not anything I worry about. Defense is my main focus. I feel like I’ve been doing a great job with that playing ‘D’ and trying to lock up my man.”

Nonetheless, the season has been difficult for him. He has relied on his parents and fellow freshman Jontel Evans for support. Spurlock’s father comes to every game, and he said his mother comes down when the schedule permits because he has two younger sisters. When he did not play on his birthday, a Feb. 3 win over North Carolina State, he appreciated that his parents were still in attendance.

Still, the questions about his future lingers. Spurlock was noncommittal about his thoughts, although he said it’s difficult in college basketball to figure out where you fit in a program’s long-term plans.

“You try to, but it never works out like that,” Spurlock said. “They always bring in somebody – freshman, sophomore, someone can transfer in. You always got to think about right now. I’m not thinking about when I’m a junior, I want to make it to the dance. I want to go right now. I want to play right now. I want to be able to produce right now. You wait, you keep waiting, and you’ll be waiting forever. So, I just want to get in right now, make a contribution, play right away. And take everything year-by-year. I just want to take how far I am from right now to next year.”

By Zach Berman

Cavaliers seek composure after long string of defeats
Virginia looks to regain footing after dropping four straight games, squares off against Clemson on road
Meryem Karad, Cavalier Daily Senior Writer
Men's Basketball / Sports
February 19, 2010 0

After dropping their fourth straight game Wednesday night against Florida State, the Cavaliers look to regain some sort of traction in the ACC tomorrow at Clemson.

“We’re going through a rough stretch right now,” senior forward Jerome Meyinsse said. “We have to refocus and bounce back because we have another game Saturday.”

Clemson (18-7, 6-5 ACC) enters Saturday’s matchup after two straight wins against Miami and Florida State. Senior guard Trevor Booker, who averages 15.4 points per game, leads the Tiger offense. Junior guard Demontez Stitt also has seen significant playing time, contributing 10.8 points per game in addition to 3.3 assists. Overall, the team has averaged 74.2 points this season — about six more points than Virginia’s 68.

A key for the Cavaliers (14-10, 5-6 ACC) will be reestablishing Sylven Landesberg’s scoring presence, as the sophomore guard scored a paltry four points against the Seminoles Wednesday — the first time this season the Virginia standout has been held to single digits. The squad also must see contributions from junior forward Mike Scott, the team’s second leading scorer, and junior guard Jeff Jones. But with the disheartening loss to Florida State still fresh in their minds, the Cavaliers face a tall order.

“We looked like a physically and mentally tired team out there,” Virginia coach Tony Bennett said. “I thought we yielded on the physical and mental end against a physical team.”

Against the Seminoles, Virginia put in a lethargic effort, scoring the fewest points the team has ever racked up at John Paul Jones Arena. Bennett toyed with the team’s starting lineup before the game, turning to the offensive touch of Jones in favor of freshman guard Jontel Evans. He also benched sophomore guard Sammy Zeglinski, choosing the experienced senior guard Calvin Baker instead. But although Jones led all scorers with 13 points against the Seminoles, Baker remained virtually silent, contributing five points without dishing out a single assist.

“You just have to learn from the bad, look at the film and move forward,” Jones said. “You’ve got to have a short memory.”

Scoring numbers dipping in ACC
College Notebook
By Doug Doughty | The Roanoke Times

ACC men's basketball has gone back to the 50's, and that's not the 1950's.

In the 96 regular-season conference games played by ACC men's basketball teams in the 2008-2009 season, teams scored under 60 points on 17 of a possible 192 opportunities.

Going into Wednesday night, it had already happened 24 times this season and that's with more than two weeks remaining in the regular season.

Three ACC teams -- Boston College, Clemson and North Carolina State -- have scored 47 points in a conference game. And, North Carolina's output Tuesday night in a 68-51 loss at Georgia Tech was its lowest in Roy Williams' seven seasons as head coach.

When Virginia carried a 25-21 lead into halftime Saturday at Virginia Tech, the Cavaliers and Hokies were on pace for the lowest-scoring game in the ACC this season. Some late UVa fouling pushed the final score to 61-55 in the Hokies' favor.

Tech coach Seth Greenberg, reached Wednesday on a recruiting trip, rejected the suggestion that the first half Saturday was ugly or that fans might not have found the display entertaining.

"I disagree," he said. "Depends if you're winning or not. As the coach of the winning team, I'd say our fans [were] pretty happy."

Three nights later, the Cassell Coliseum faithful saw Tech beat Wake Forest 87-83 in a game that produced the kind of offensive excitement that Saturday's affair lacked.

"Does a game have to be in the 90's?" Greenberg asked. "We're trying to score, but the other team has something to do with that. I'd like to see those figures from around the country before I make a generalization about our league.

"There are a lot of teams around the country that play that way. [UCLA's] Ben Howland went to how many Final Fours playing that way?"

Hanging it up

Jack Shields, starting center for Virginia's football team in 23 of the past 24 games, has elected not to return for his fifth season of eligibility. Shields, on schedule to graduate this spring, cited burnout in an interview with UVa's athletic Web site and said he also has been plagued by back pain.

Anthony Mihota, who will be a redshirt junior, started against Virginia Tech when Shields couldn't play in the Cavaliers' 2008 finale. However, Mihota played in only two games this past season for a total of 25 plays, compared to 689 for Shields. UVa's No. 3 center, Mike Price, played in each of the Cavaliers' final 10 games but only on special teams.

Connections

Former Pulaski County linebacker Brandon Hazzard, son of one-time Virginia Tech linebacker Nolan Hazzard, played at Hargrave Military Academy this past fall and received a scholarship from Division I-A Kent State, where he enrolled for the second semester.

Hazzard had 98 tackles, including 22 for loss, on a 2008 Pulaski County team that got to the state semifinals before finishing 13-1. Kent State coach Doug Martin says there is a chance that he will use Hazzard (6 foot, 260 pounds) at defensive end. Kent State signed three Hargrave players, all of whom enrolled at midyear.

Tamara Smith, a 2009 Northside graduate and pitcher for the Concord (W.Va.) University softball team, has been chosen by USA Athletes International to play on a amateur national team that will play a series of exhibition games in Argentina in June.

The trip is paid for in part by public contributions. Those interested in making a contribution can call Tommy Smith at 309-7299, or send it directly, in behalf of Tamara Smith, to USA Athletes International, 13095 S. Mur-Len Road, Suite 140, Olathe, KS 66062 .

More recruiting

Ex-Harrisonburg High School running back Alex Owah, who committed to Virginia in December of his junior year but never enrolled at UVa, also played at Hargrave this past fall and signed with East Carolina.

Owah rushed for nearly 1,800 yards as a junior at Harrisonburg but had several brushes with the law before and after UVa's offer was withdrawn for academic reasons.

He won the 100 meters, 200 meters and long jump at last year Group AA state track meet.

Coaching carousel

Ex-Virginia offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave, touted as a possible member of Mike London's new UVa staff, has been named assistant head coach by the Atlanta Falcons. Some sort of promotion was necessary for the Falcons to keep Musgrave after denying Houston's request to speak to Musgrave for its quarterbacks job, the same position he holds in Atlanta.

The new offensive coordinator at Marshall is Bill Legg, who had two coaching stints at West Virginia and also spent one year at VMI under current WVU head coach Bill Stewart at VMI. Legg was the offensive coordinator for West Virginia, on a staff that included new Thundering Herd boss Doc Holliday, at Purdue.

Non-revenue

Virginia is ranked third behind Syracuse and Duke in the preseason Division I men's lacrosse poll, while Roanoke College's men have been picked fifth in the preseason Division III poll. Washington and Lee is 13th. All four ACC schools that field Division I men's lacrosse teams are in the top seven.

 

Postseason Approaches for Wrestlers
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 02/18/2010
Feb. 18, 2010
2:18 p.m.

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Injuries have made Steve Garland's job more challenging this season, but they're inevitable in a sport in which competitors are wrenched and pulled into awkward positions.

All things considered, UVa's fourth-year wrestling coach is pleased with his team's accomplishments. Heading into its final regular-season dual meet, Virginia is ranked No. 23 nationally.

"We've done very good things," Garland said. "Maybe not reached all our goals, but we've done some awesome things."

UVa (3-1, 16-5) hosts 10th-ranked Maryland (3-0, 18-4) at 1 p.m. Saturday at Mem Gym. The longtime rivals will see each other again at the conference tournament, March 6 in Raleigh, N.C.

The Terrapins are two-time defending ACC champions. In 2008 and again in '09, UVa finished second to Maryland by two points.

Win or lose Saturday, Garland believes his team will contend for the ACC title in Raleigh. Also in the hunt will be 14th-ranked Virginia Tech, which is 2-0 in dual meets against UVa this season.

"What's funny is, last year we were right in the mix to win it, and sincerely looking at it, I actually believe we have a better shot to win it this year than we did last year," Garland said. "I really do. I look at this list [of UVa's starters], and I'm like, 'That's a great bunch of kids.'"

In the latest InterMat rankings, Chris Henrich is No. 3 at 174 pounds, Brent Jones is No. 18 at 197, and Mike Salopek is No. 20 at 184. Other Cavaliers who ranked been ranked this season include 125-pounder Ross Gitomer and 157-pounder Danny Gonsor.

The ACC doesn't crown a dual-meet champion, but there's still plenty at stake Saturday.

"The importance of this meet is very simple," Garland said. "It's just seeding" for the ACC tournament.

"It's all about getting momentum for the conference tournament, which carries you into the NCAAs. So that's really what we're focused on."

The Wahoos' top wrestler is Henrich, a junior who advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals in 2009. In the latest rankings, he's behind only No. 1 Mack Lewnes of Cornell and No. 2 Jay Borschel of Iowa.

Henrich lost 6-1 to Lewnes in late December.

"Lewnes is going to be tough to beat, but it's not like [Henrich] got controlled," Garland said.

The NCAA championships are March 19-21 in Omaha, Neb.

"We've only had two national finalists in the history of the program. I'm one of them," said Garland, who wrestled at 125 pounds for the Cavaliers. "If we can get Henrich even to the finals, I'll be jumping back flips across the arena."

-- Jeff White

Virginia faces high expectations coming off College World Series
By Norm Wood | 247-4642
February 19, 2010

As Virginia baseball coach Brian O'Connor perused his batting order, pitching rotation and bench depth after finishing fall practice, he was struck by a feeling he'd never had entering any of his previous six seasons in Charlottesville.

The sensation was something resembling complete confidence. Just further confirmation that this off-season was a little different for O'Connor.

In previous seasons, he could've looked at his lineup heading into the spring and readily identified holes in some portion of the batting order, rotation or bullpen. With 98 percent of the hitting production returning from a team that had a .327 batting average in last season's run to the College World Series, and starters Danny Hultzen and Robert Morey back to anchor the pitching staff, O'Connor has no apprehensions for a change.

"For the first time since I've been the coach, I don't feel that way about our lineup at all," said O'Connor, whose No. 2-ranked team opens the season this weekend with a three-game series at No. 11 East Carolina. "Going into the season, I feel this is the most complete lineup we've ever had."

With so much returning to U.Va.'s lineup, expectations for the Cavaliers are understandably high. O'Connor draws from last season's experiences within ACC play to temper those CWS hopes — but only slightly.

After opening last season 19-0, U.Va. lost four of its next seven games, including the first two ACC series of the season against Miami and North Carolina. U.Va. didn't sweep an ACC series all season and wrapped up the regular season by losing two of three games at Virginia Tech to finish sixth in the conference.

The hot streak began in the ACC tournament, as the Cavaliers won eight consecutive games during a stretch that saw them win the conference tournament title and an NCAA tournament regional in Irvine, Calif. U.Va. went on to win a super-regional in Oxford, Miss., before going 1-2 in the CWS to finish 49-15-1.

"There are definitely high expectations, but nobody has higher expectations than the 35 guys in our uniforms," said infielder Steven Proscia, who hit .333 last season with 10 home runs and 58 RBI, and who added he's back to 100 percent after having off-season wrist surgery. "There's only one happy team at the end of the year. Last year, we were unfortunate not to get there, but we feel pretty confident that we have the guys to do it."

U.Va. has its top nine hitters returning, including outfielders Dan Grovatt (team-high .356 batting average last season) and Jarrett Parker (.355 and team highs of 16 home runs and 65 RBI) and 10 players who have started at least 50 games each. Hultzen, a sophomore, hit .327 last season while going 9-1 with a 2.17 earned-run average.

Hultzen and Parker were All-American selections last season. Along with utility player Phil Gosselin, who hit .310 with 64 RBI last season, Hultzen and Parker represent the bulk of U.Va.'s returning RBI production — 99 percent of which is back from last season.

While the left-handed Hultzen will anchor U.Va.'s rotation, he'll be joined as weekend featured starters by the right-handed Morey (3-0, 3.33 ERA last season) and junior-college transfer Cody Winiarski, a right-hander from Madison Area Tech in Wisconsin. U.Va.'s biggest loss from last season was right-handed starting pitcher Andrew Carraway (9-2, 3.96), who went 4-1 after the regular season.

Right-hander Kevin Arico, who had 11 saves last season, will return in U.Va.'s closer role. O'Connor said he considered moving junior Tyler Wilson (9-3, 2.97) into the starting rotation, but O'Connor has decided to leave Wilson in the bullpen after seeing Winiarski's progress in the fall.

"He's going to keep you in the ballgame," O'Connor said regarding Winiarski. "He doesn't have overpowering and dominating stuff, but he has really good stuff. He's going to be consistent for us. He had a very good fall for us and earned the opportunity to start in the third spot at the beginning of the year, but things can change and it's always an open competition."

While even O'Connor is incapable of hiding his optimism at times, there seems to be a healthy level of humility.

Catcher Franco Valdes hit .292 last season and had just three errors in 46 games. He had opportunities to play summer ball in wood-bat leagues around the country, but he opted to stay in Charlottesville, heal his bumps and bruises, work out and take summer classes. Summer ball didn't seem as important to Valdes as the goal of winning a CWS title.

"From the outside looking in, it's kind of easy to say we have a target on us and everybody is going to come in here trying to beat us," Valdes said. "From the inside, it's pretty much the same for us as it has always been. People are going to try to come in here and beat us regardless of whether we're second in the nation or 100th in the nation. As a group, we're really trying to not have the expectations affect us."

ECU relies on mound staff
BY JAVIER SERNA - Staff Writer

With so much college baseball tradition in North Carolina, it means something to be the best program in the state.

The University of North Carolina has been the best for the better part of a decade, but East Carolina has a chance this season.

It was Greenville native Alex White who pitched the Tar Heels past the Pirates last spring in the Chapel Hill Super Regional, but with White and teammate Adam Warren gone, East Carolina has the more experienced pitching staff.

Duke, N.C. State and Wake Forest have promise, as well as question marks.

East Carolina

The Pirates lost a good chunk of last year's explosive lineup, which led the nation in hits and was fourth in runs scored. From top to bottom, everyone in the lineup hit .311 or better.

But East Carolina (46-20, 17-7 C-USA) lost only one starting pitcher, Chris Heston.

Back are junior righty Seth Maness (4.71 ERA, 9-3), sophomore lefty Kevin Brandt (3.64, 9-2) and junior righty Brad Mincey (3.16, 10-5), who will start the weekend rotation in that order.

"We return 37 wins on the mound from a year ago as opposed to just 18 from the 2008 staff," coach Billy Godwin said.

The bullpen is mostly intact, with Patrick Somers, Mike Wright and closer Seth Simmons returning. Three freshmen will compete for midweek starting roles, and a pair of rookies will supplement the bullpen.

"Putting together pitching depth like we have this season is something that we have tried to build since I got here, and we realize that you have to be able to pitch to get to Omaha," Godwin said.

Godwin will still have power in his lineup in senior designated hitter Kyle Roller, who hit .336 and led the team with 16 home runs, and outfielder Devin Harris, who hit .344 and with 14 homers.

Northern Durham standout Bryan Bass is one of three other freshmen expected to make up some of that lost firepower.

"In my heart, I know this team will be able to hit, but what scares you the most as a coach is the unproven factor," Godwin said.

East Carolina will find out quickly if the No. 18 preseason ranking by Baseball America is warranted. The Pirates open the season today by hosting No. 2 Virginia and then face No. 10 South Carolina at home next weekend.

UVa program now seen as national contender
By Jay Jenkins
Published: February 18, 2010
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With an enormous smile in place, Franco Valdes sought to take in his surroundings as though he were in a wonderland.

What the Virginia catcher and other players saw as they walked into the newly renovated locker room at Davenport Field for the first time in January was the icing on the cake of a 2009 season that included the program’s first trip to the College World Series.

“I remember when our team went to be recognized last year at a Washington Nationals game and we were fortunate to see what it was like to be in a professional locker room with professional lockers,” Valdes said. “What we have, it is really, really close to that. It is awesome. They pulled out all the stops.”

The project, which started back in October and continues because of weather issues, cost around $4.5 million, and it included alterations to 15,800 square feet.

A total of 7,500 square feet that were previously unused under the grandstands were used to create locker rooms for road teams and umpires, increasing the possibility of hosting NCAA tournament events.

“It is truly remarkable what this project has done for our baseball team,” Virginia coach Brian O’Connor said.

The new clubhouse has televisions and plush couches. There are spacious lockers that almost double the previous size. There is even a newly added clay mound in an expanded batting facility that makes pitching indoors seem as natural as possible.

“I felt like a million bucks when I first saw it and I think everyone felt the same way,” Virginia third baseman Steven Proscia said. “It felt like we were at the next level, kind of big-league status.

“We are humble about it and we appreciate it but we are just going to keep doing what we are doing and not let it get to our heads.”

There is an obvious correlation between Vir-ginia’s success on the diamond in 2009 and the finances becoming available through donors. Winning the ACC tournament, a program-best 49 games and landing the first trip to Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Neb., secured that.

O’Connor would prefer to talk about 2010, a campaign that starts at 3 p.m. today at East Carolina.

“What we did last year was something truly special. We faced a lot of adversity and managed to overcome all of it,” he said. “While the memories will remain special for a lifetime, we have to turn the page and focus on the challenges that await this team.”

The players have bought into that philosophy.

“It’s a new year. Obviously we did well last year but it’s 2010 and nobody is going to give us credit for what we did last year when they play us,” said Virginia outfielder Dan Grovatt, the MVP of the 2009 ACC tournament. “They are not going to give us two more runs because of last year. We have to put that behind us and go out and play great baseball this year.”

Virginia, ranked 2nd in the country, welcomes back the entire batting order and two of its weekend starters on the mound in Danny Hultzen and Robert Morey.

The favorite to win the ACC crown in the preseason poll, Virginia is in a unique position as the favorite to claim the league crown and push through the postseason.

Given the snowfall of late and with today’s game looming, O’Connor had timelier issues on his mind.

“There is some pressure on this team right now, but I just want them to focus on the fundamentals and play good baseball,” he said. “We have kids of high character and I am certain that we can manage that as a long season unfolds. We are just ready to play baseball.”

Cavs take on East Carolina to start spring campaign
Virginia seeks return to Omaha; 2009 ACC Freshman of the Year Hultzen leads pitching staff
Will Van Vazer, Cavalier Daily Associate Editor
Baseball / Sports
February 19, 2010 0

The Virginia baseball team is ranked fourth in preseason polling and looks to return to the College World Series after reaching the tournament last season. Photo by Jason O. Watson.

The Virginia baseball team opens its season with the first set of a three-game series this afternoon against No. 11 East Carolina.

The squad’s preparations during the months leading up to this point have differed from years past. They have yet to play on a real diamond.

“It’s crazy, haven’t been able to get on the field at all, really — we’ve been down to the turf fields,” junior outfielder Jarrett Parker said. “It’s definitely something pretty weird that hasn’t happened since I’ve been here.”

And though the change of venue — brought on by a thick layer of snow that still covers the team’s field — has not affected what the Cavaliers do in practice, it still presents the first challenge the team will face.

“We will meet adversity a number of times this year, and this is the first time we’re being challenged,” coach Brian O’Connor said. “But again, it’s a pretty veteran group. They’ve handled it real well and stayed very, very positive. We’ll see how they respond.”

East Carolina, which is ranked in the top 20 in six different national polls, is led by designated hitter Kyle Roller — one of the nation’s best hitters — and outfielder Dustin Harris, who was drafted in the eighth round by the Orioles.

“They’re a great squad,” Parker said. “It’s going to be a tough series for us. We’re going to have to be on the ball right off the bat.”

On the mound for the Cavaliers this weekend will be last year’s ACC Freshman of the Year Danny Hultzen, junior right-hander Robert Morey and junior right-hander Cody Winarski.

O’Connor’s decision to start Winarski, a transfer from Madison Area Technical College, however, came as a surprise to many. Tyler Wilson was widely believed to be first in line to get the nod after putting together an outstanding season out of the bullpen last year, boasting a 2.97 ERA while holding hitters to a .237 average at the plate. But Winarksi wowed coaches throughout the preseason.
“He’s a big, physical kid that just really knows how to pitch,” O’Connor said. “He pitches in the upper 80s, 90, 91 miles an hour. He’s got a couple of good breaking balls — he’s just a competitor who knows how to pitch. That wins in college baseball.”

Virginia’s lineup has not been set yet, but O’Connor already has said Phil Gosselin will replace Jarret Parker at the lead-off spot, while Parker will move to the middle of the lineup.

After this weekend, Virginia will play the next 11 games at home. And even though East Carolina remains an important early test for the team, the Cavaliers still know they have a long season ahead if they want to return to Omaha this summer.

“There’s going to be players that are going to have great weekends this weekend,” O’Connor said. “And there’s going to be guys that are going to struggle, and they’re going to need to continue to progress and move forward.”

Talented Virginia squad hopes to live up to high expectations
Team faces Drexel to open season; young players step into new positions
Matt Welsh, Cavalier Daily Staff Writer
Featured / Men's Lacrosse / Sports
February 19, 2010 0

After falling just short of the national championship game last season, the Virginia men’s lacrosse team starts its spring campaign ranked third in preseason polling and set to face off against a Drexel team it defeated 13-7 last season and has dominated 5-1 during the last decade.

Last season’s strong showing against Drexel kicked off a 12-game winning streak, which included victories at then-No.1 Syracuse and a seven-overtime thriller against conference rival Maryland.
That Virginia team started the season ranked second in the country and, after the win at Syracuse, spent eight straight weeks as top dog nationally before two losses to Duke. Another loss to Cornell during the NCAA semifinals derailed an otherwise outstanding season.

This year’s team travels to Philadelphia, Pa., with a similar bull’s-eye on its back, courtesy of its preseason ranking and its breadth of talent across the board. But plenty of question marks surround the youthful squad, especially with regard to leadership. The graduation of veteran stars Danny Glading and Garrett Billings means unranked upstarts like Drexel will be gunning hard for an early-season upset.

The Cavaliers will look to shake off the preseason rust, especially in the wake of last weekend’s scrappy scrimmage against Georgetown. Against the Hoyas, Virginia coach Dom Starsia used the three 15-minute scrimmage periods to allow his starters to get a taste of the action before the long season ahead. The end result was far from a perfect showing.

“We are getting close to the first game,” Starsia said. “I wish we had been a little more alert. I think there were some good moments but I think there were too many little things that trapped us throughout the day.”

Moreover, the youthful Cavaliers will need to step into the shoes of last year’s seniors. As Virginia’s top returning offensive weapon, sophomore attackman Steele Stanwick anchors the attack-line alongside sophomore Chris Bocklet and freshman Connor English.

Not surprisingly, with the unit so heavy with underclassmen, Starsia hopes the line will develop and polish its form heading into this season.

“I thought the young guys made some mistakes, but they also did some good things at the same time,” Starsia said. “It was good work for us. Georgetown is a quality team. We are just going to have to be sharper as we move to our first game.”

With 36 goals and 22 assists during his stellar freshman campaign, Stanwick hopes to find similar success with his new line-mates but acknowledged the team still has plenty of room for improvement.

“I think it was a good effort overall [against Georgetown], but I think we definitely could have been sharper on the offensive end.” Stanwick said. “We weren’t as sharp as we wanted to be. A little sloppy on some exchanges, shooting wasn’t great — we just weren’t making the plays that we usually make. It is a scrimmage and it’s all about getting ready for Drexel, but at the same time, you always want to come out and do your best.”

Stanwick will lead the extra-man offense for Virginia, an area of the game that the team will be keen to improve after converting a less-than-stellar 30 percent in 2009. With the Cavaliers looking to orchestrate a balanced offense, the attackmen may take on additional responsibilities.

“I think each game, we get a little more comfortable,” Stanwick said. “I think the midfielders — as good as they are — they are going to need us to carry the ball and do a lot.”

Apart from departing seniors, injuries also have cost the team veteran leadership during the preseason. Senior Brian Carroll is day-to-day, but Starsia said last week after the game against Georgetown he hopes the veteran will return for the game against Drexel.

But if Carroll cannot take the field, sophomore midfielder Colin Briggs will take his place on the first line.

Junior defender Matt Lovejoy, who himself suffered an injury during the 2009 season, will join senior defenseman Ryan Nizolek and 2010 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award candidate Ken Clausen on a defense that hopes to sturdy itself after allowing 8.36 goals on 30.4 shots per game last season.

“Our defense, the past couple of years, people have taken a lot of shots at us,” Lovejoy said. “We are kind of taking it a little personally this year.”

Virginia’s not-so-secret weapon, star junior midfielder Shamel Bratton, returns to improve on his outstanding sophomore effort, during which he tallied 42 points on 31 goals and 11 assists. Shamel quarterbacks a midfield line that includes his twin brother, junior Rhamel Bratton, as well as senior Brian Carroll.

Even with such high expectations and goals, Virginia will look to overcome last year’s disappointment at the NCAAs and develop its young talent into a prominent force deserving of the team’s No. 3 national ranking.

“We had a great [offseason] as a team,” Stanwick said. “We worked extremely hard and hit the ground running as a team when we came back from Christmas break. Everyone is hungry … and we’re ready to get after it this weekend against Drexel. We’ll just have to continue to get better in practice every day and see what happens.”


 

No. 3 UVa Men's Lacrosse Opens 2010 Season Saturday at Drexel
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com Release: 02/18/2010

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - The Cavaliers, ranked No. 2 in this week's Nike/Inside Lacrosse poll and No. 3 in the USILA preseason coaches poll, open the 2010 campaign Saturday afternoon at Drexel. The game will be played at Vidas Field on the Drexel campus in Philadelphia, Pa. Faceoff is slated for 1 p.m.
This is the ninth year in a row UVa has opened up its season against the Drexel Dragons. The Cavaliers bring an 8-1 all-time series record against the Dragons into Saturday's contest, including a 4-0 mark at Vidas Field.
Virginia's first victory of the 2010 season will be a special one for head coach Dom Starsia. After reaching the 300-win plateau with the Cavaliers' final victory of the 2009 campaign, he is on the brink of another milestone, needing one more victory for 200 career wins at Virginia.
The victory will etch Starsia's name in the history books as the second coach in the history of the sport to win 200-plus games at one school, while also reaching the 100-win plateau at another school. Georgetown's Dave Urick barely accomplished the feat first, as Georgetown's final win of the 2009 season elevated him into the 200/100 club.
Overall, Starsia's 300 career wins puts him in a tie with former Massachusetts head coach Dick Garber for second most all-time by a coach at a Division I school. Urick enters 2010 with 322 career victories, but his first 122 victories came at Hobart College when he led them to 10 NCAA Division III titles.
Standing in the way of the milestone are the Drexel Dragons. After suffering a surprising loss to Drexel three years ago in Charlottesville, the Cavaliers got back on the winning track against the Dragons with an 11-7 win in the season opener two years ago. Making it two straight in the series, Virginia rode five goals from Garrett Billings as the Cavaliers defeated the Dragons in last season's opener, 13-7, inside Klöckner Stadium.
UVa's 20-5 win in 2002 was the first meeting in more than 50 years. The first meeting of the two schools occurred in 1947, Virginia's first season following World War II.
The Cavaliers are 43-32-1 (.572) all-time in season openers, including a mark of 18-16-0 (.529) when opening up the season on the road. Saturday's game will mark the fourth time in the last 10 seasons the Cavaliers have opened on the road, all coming at Drexel. Including the 2004 season when the Dragons and Cavaliers played what was determined a neutral site game at Haverford College, only eight miles from Drexel's campus.
Virginia enters 2010 after finishing with a 15-3 record last year and a No. 5 ranking in the final poll. The season came to an abrupt end with a tough 15-6 loss to Cornell in the national semifinals.
With 27 returning lettermen, including six starters returning, Starsia's squad is viewed as one of the leading candidates to make it to Final Four weekend in Baltimore, Md., vying to play on Memorial Day for the first time since winning it all in 2006. His team is ranked third in both the Face-Off Yearbook preseason poll and USILA coaches poll. With eight NCAA Final Four appearances in the past 11 season, the perspective narrows on what defines Virginia's team success.
"The goal of our program every year is to line up on the first day of fall lacrosse thinking that we have a shot at playing for the championship on the last day," said Starsia.
Leading the way for the Cavaliers will be five preseason All-American's from Face-Off Yearbook, headlined by first-team midfielders Shamel Bratton and Brian Carroll, and defenseman Ken Clausen. Bratton is coming off a first-team All-American season where he tallied 31 goals, ranking No. 4 nationally amongst midfielders marking him on Inside Lacrosse's Player of the Year Watchlist.
Carroll ended the longest game in Division I history with his score in the seventh overtime against Maryland last season on his way to All-ACC and third-team All-American honors after tallying 29 goals and 10 assists. Clausen earned his third All-America accolade in 2009, including two straight first-team nods on defense.
Sophomore Steele Stanwick, the 2009 ACC Rookie of the Year, returns to anchor a young attack after tallying 36 goals a season ago, second on the squad. Steele also assisted 22 scores for 58 points, third on the team and most amongst returners.
UVa will travel to Mount St. Mary's on Tuesday, before hosting its home opener on Feb. 27 against Stony Brook. The UVa home opener will be a double header with the UVa women, who host Syracuse.

Cavaliers begin season with new crop of young starters
Twenty-five underclassmen, eight freshmen bolster lineup as Virginia starts new season against Loyola
Ben Gomez, Cavalier Daily Sports Editor
Sports
February 19, 2010 0

The No. 10 Virginia women’s lacrosse team begins its spring campaign Saturday at home against Loyola (Md.).

The Cavaliers take the field this season without many of the stars who carried the 2009 squad, which lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Blair Weymouth and Ashley McCulloch both graduated, as did senior leaders Jenny Hauser and Jen Holden. At the same time, however, Virginia returns its third, fourth and fifth leading scorers in seniors Kaitlin Duff, Whitaker Hagerman and Brittany Kalkstein.

“We are young and experienced,” Virginia coach Julie Myers said. “We have some returning players that have been in the program for a couple of years.”

Guiding this young team to success in the ACC will be a challenge for Myers, as 14 of the Cavaliers’ 25 players are underclassmen, including eight freshmen.

“We have a couple of first-years that are going be in our starting lineup,” Myers said. “We are going to have some older kids who aren’t playing where some younger kids are.”

One of these freshmen is goalkeeper Kim Kolarik who will get her first career start against Loyola. Kolarik stepped in for the Cavaliers last fall while junior Lauren Benner spent time rehabbing a shoulder surgery.

“I think because there are so many new players in the rotation, we as coaches have to take a step back and say this is a team that I think could be great,” Myers said.

Myers faces a Loyola team which recently fell to No. 18 Penn State 9-8 during its season-opener. The Greyhounds were picked to finish fourth in the Big East behind Syracuse, Georgetown and Notre Dame, all of which are ranked ahead of Virginia. The Cavaliers will have to contend with attack Grace Gavin who led the squad with 54 goals and 74 points last season.

The young and talented Virginia squad will look to rebound from the loss of its departing seniors and develop its underclassmen to fill the void.

“I don’t think anything is out of reach for this team,” Myers said. “Depending on how we handle our early steps and preparation is going to determine if we are fighting for an ACC Championship.”
 

Cavaliers Host Loyola in Season Opener on Saturday
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com Release: 02/18/2010

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The No. 10 Virginia women's lacrosse team will open its 2010 campaign this weekend hosting No. 14 Loyola at the University Hall Turf Field. Opening draw is slated for 1 p.m., with live statistics available on VirginiaSports.com.
Loyola opened its season on Sunday at Penn State, dropping a close 9-8 contest to the No. 18 Nittany Lions in Holuba Hall. Grace Gavin led the Greyhounds with a hat trick, while Kerry Stoothoff stopped 10 shots for Loyola.
Virginia dominates the all-time series between the two programs, 21-6-1. The Cavaliers won last season's match-up in Baltimore, Md., 19-8, and hold a record of 10-2-1 against the Greyhounds in Charlottesville.
Coming off a 2009 campaign in which UVa finished with an overtime loss to conference-foe Duke in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the Cavaliers will look to the nation's second-ranked recruiting class to help fill the void of five key starters from last year.
Virginia will have a new look during the 2010 season, including a revamped offense and some new talent stepping up to lead the program back to the top of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Midfield
Virginia's midfield unit is the most experienced group on the field. The Cavaliers will turn to senior All-Americans Kaitlin Duff and Brittany Kalkstein, in addition to sophomore Julie Gardner, to bridge the gap between the attack and defense, by providing a quick and swift transition as they add stability and a punch to both ends.
"Our midfielders are excellent," head coach Julie Myers said. "They bring out the best in each other as they look to take over in transition and solidify both ends of the field."
Duff enters the year as the teams top returning scorer, notching 34 goals and 18 assists. The speedy lefty has also been among the team leaders in caused turnovers and groundballs throughout her three seasons on Grounds, while Gardner and Kalkstein have been an integral force in jumpstarting Virginia's offense. In addition, Kalkstein has become one of the most dominant players in the nation in draw controls, winning 73 in 2009 to set a single season program record in the category at UVa.
Newcomers Caroline McTiernan and Anne Thomas will both be valuable additions to the midfield unit, as well. Not only will they provide rest for the midfielders, they'll also blend the Cavaliers' speed and athleticism all over the field.
"Our midfielders are the backbone to our team," Myers said. "They're all great defenders who have the ability to disrupt our opponent's attack. They are also integral attackers in both our transition and set attack games."
Attack
Following the graduation of three All-American attackers, the Cavaliers' offense is going to have new threats this year.
"Although our attack is young in terms of game experience, we believe that we have the right players who are ready and excited to step up this year," Myers said. "Our depth, stick work and quickness give us many ways to go to goal. We have a lot of combinations of attackers we can rotate through in each game. Every attacker plays an important role in our set attack."
Returning to the lineup will be sophomore Josie Owen, who will be a huge key to making Virginia's offense run.
"Josie is a versatile attacker who can play both behind and in front of the cage," Myers said. "Josie can set things up but she can also finish."
Finishing her freshman campaign with six goals and 10 assists, Owen will be relied on to control the offensive end. Redshirt sophomore Ainsley Baker and newcomer Charlie Finnigan - a member of Team England at the 2009 World Cup - will also be looked at to help create an atmosphere in which the Cavaliers can play settled but have the option for fast break opportunities.
The Cavaliers also possess offensive weapons in 6-1 redshirt senior Whitaker Hagerman, seniors Caity Whiteley and Marye Kellermann, junior Molly Millard and freshmen Kelly Austin and Erin Laschinger.
"All of our attackers have the ability to score," Myers said. "They all have great power and soft hands which has allowed us to create offensive sets around each of their strengths. When we play within our system, we get a lot of great looks and scoring opportunities."
Defense
At the opposite end of the field, the Cavaliers will look to junior Liz Downs to provide stability to another quick, deep and athletic unit. Downs, starting every game throughout her career, returns as the most experienced defender for Virginia and will be expected to be the backbone of the group.
"Liz is our leader on defense," Myers said. "She is a great communicator, she sees slides well and she is a stingy one-on-one defender."
Due to the graduation of two starting defenders, the Cavaliers will expect senior Yeardley Love, junior Marghi Walters and sophomores Bailey Fogarty and Annie Taylor to step up and fill the spots around Downs.
Love gained a wealth of experience playing a mix of midfield and defense last season, while Taylor stepped into the starting lineup midway through the year and proved to be a reliable defender. Fogarty is quick and provides Virginia an ability to break up passes and spark transition, while Walters also possesses an ability to disrupt opponents' strategies. Junior Molly McClintic and newcomers Claire Banta and Megan Dunleavy will round out the defensive group.
"We have a lot of solid defenders that we can rotate into four spots," Myers said. "We plan to use our depth in a fast paced, high pressure defense that looks to get our fast break started."
Goalkeeper
Virginia's ability to make saves and create turnovers will be crucial in its defensive success. The Cavaliers welcome newcomer Kim Kolarik to the cage, alongside redshirt junior Lauren Benner. With the duo vying for time between the pipes, the Cavaliers will have a reliable backstop to round out what looks to be a quick and stingy defense.
Following Saturday's season opener, the Cavaliers will remain home to host both Richmond and Syracuse next week. The Spiders will travel to Charlottesville on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. contest, before the Orange head to town on Saturday, Feb. 27 for a noon match-up.

 

Musgrave talks about his promotion to assistant head coach
8:03 am February 18, 2010, by D. Orlando Ledbetter

BIRDLAND — Bill Musgrave, the Falcons’ new assistant head coach, doesn’t expect his role to change much after receiving a new title this week.
Bill Musgrave and Matt Ryan (Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com)

Bill Musgrave and Matt Ryan (Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com)receiving a new title this week.

He will remain in his role as the quarterbacks coach, continuing to work on the development of Matt Ryan, John Parker Wilson and D.J. Shockley. Chris Redman, last season’s backup, could become an unrestricted free agent on March 5.

“Well, I’m very appreciative of Mike Smith and his loyalty that he showers upon all of us on the staff,” Musgrave said. “We have a fantastic staff of men that I work with. I’m very thankful for being a part of the Atlanta Falcons, I know that.”

The Falcons promoted Musgrave after he was heavily pursued in January by the Houston Texans. They wanted to reunite Musgrave with quarterback Matt Schaub. They worked together at Virginia and with the Falcons.

There were also overtures from the Chicago Bears and the University of Virginia, too.

“That happened back in January so it’s hard for me to remember the exact specifics,” Musgrave said. “I’m really just thrilled to be a part of the Atlanta Falcons and have been ever since I got here years ago. We have a very unique group of leaders at the management level. Mr. (Arthur) Blank, Thomas (Dimitroff), Mike Smith, Rich McKay and our whole staff is just a terrific collection of men who are leaders. I’m fired up to continue to be a part of that group.”

Musgrave’s role is not set to change much.

“Not that I know of,” Musgrave said. “I had a couple of conversations with Mike, but again, at this time of the year we are going full blast in preparing for free agency.”

The staff is also critiquing the team in order to see where they can improve.

“We are going to be studying our 2010 opponents with a fine tooth comb and with a fine eye so that we can be prepared to have an even better season next fall,” Musgrave said.

This will be Musgrave’s third season working with Ryan. He’s worked with some of the league’s top quarterbacks after playing for six seasons and winning a Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers.

“Matt started out like gang busters, like the rest of our team as we went to 4-1,” Musgrave said. “Entering the middle of the year, some nagging injuries, both upper body and lower body ones, (hampered) him.

“He worked through them and he finished strong. We are excited to not only have Matt back at full strength. But we’re getting Michael Turner back.”

Musgrave believes the offensive attack will continue to blossom under offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey and with continued improvement from Ryan.

“We want to attack and exploit defenses,” Musgrave said. “We are getting more familiar with the skills that we have and can put on display. I think that happens as you have continuity and you are in the same offense year after year.

“You start to fine tune your systems and find concepts that are up your player’s alley. . . I think as Matt continues to accumulate experience in terms of our systems and (with) what the defenses are throwing up against him every Sunday.”