In Loss at BC, Tat's Effort Shines Through
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 03/04/2010
By Jeff White

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- Less than a minute remained in an ACC game that had long since slipped from UVa's grasp, but there was Solomon Tat, a seldom-used senior, on the floor, battling for the basketball after knocking it away from Boston College's Corey Raji.

"I thought that was great," Virginia coach Tony Bennett said late Wednesday at BC's Conte Forum. "That was a highlight -- if there was one -- to see him get on the floor and get the ball."

In the Cavaliers' latest loss, they showed again that they desperately need more players with Tat's spirit and attitude. He's not the most talented player on this team -- not even close -- but whether the 6-5 swingman has played a season-best 11 minutes, as he did in the 68-55 loss to BC, or not a single second, as he has 16 times this season, he's kept his head and his heart in the game.

Nobody cheers louder from the UVa bench than Tat, one of the team's three captains. Nobody hustles more on the court.

"In most of the games I didn't have the opportunity to play, but I just keep pushing," Tat, a native of Nigeria, said after scoring a season-high 5 points against Boston College.

"And sometimes when I talk to the guys, sometimes they respond and sometimes they don't. Whenever I'm out there, I just don't want it to be me talking, but also setting an example to them ... Every time I get the opportunity, I'm trying to play hard."

With one regular-season game left -- Saturday afternoon against No. 22 Maryland (12-3, 22-7) at John Paul Jones Arena -- Virginia (5-10, 14-14) has lost eight in a row. Each of the past six defeats has been by at least 12 points, and the losing streak has worn on everyone associated with the program, its first-year coach included.

"I'm just looking for the guys who will fight and are proud to represent Virginia when they wear the uniforms," Bennett said after the BC game. "We're trying to figure out those guys and battle with them and see where we're at."

Tat said: "I think that's one thing Coach has been preaching the whole season: Every time that we're out there, just give your best. Don't come back in the locker room with anything. Just leave everything out there. We're given an opportunity every day that we're out there, and sometimes we take it for granted.

"For me, as a Cavalier, I know this is my last year, but I also have to leave something to the guys that will be there. Because this is not about just us playing this season, but also us building a program."

Virginia never led against BC (6-9, 15-14), which locked up the No. 8 seed in the ACC tournament. If fifth-ranked Duke beats North Carolina on Saturday night, the Wahoos will be seeded No. 9 and draw BC in the first round, no matter how they fare against the Terrapins.

The Eagles "were more physical than us today, and that was the difference in the game," UVa center Jerome Meyinsse said. "If we end up meeting them again, we know that we have to match their physicality and keep them off the boards."

Virginia swingman Sylven Landesberg said: "They're definitely a very physical team. They crash the boards every opportunity they get. We gotta do a better job of boxing out and attacking the glass, and I think we'll be able to contain them better if we do that."

BC would probably relish another game with UVa. The Eagles are taller and stronger than Virginia at most positions, and they bolted to a 13-2 lead Wednesday night, running their trademark Flex offense flawlessly.

In the Flex, perimeter players often post up and get the ball down low, and UVa struggled to match up with the 6-6, 218-pound Raji and 6-5, 225-pound Rakim Sanders, among others.

"I felt like we weren't ready to compete," Bennett said of his team's slow start. His players eventually fought back, "but I don't know why we have to get in that spot. That's why we made some substitutions. I'm going to play the guys that are going to fight and battle, and that's kind of where we are."

The Cavaliers shot 46.2 percent from the floor, their highest mark since a Jan. 31 win at North Carolina. Not since Feb. 3, in fact, had the 'Hoos shot better than 38 percent.

It helped immensely that junior forward Mike Scott, who'd failed to score in UVa's previous two games, went 6 for 8 from the floor. And Virginia got another strong effort from Meyinsse, a 6-9 senior who made all six of his field-goal attempts.

From the outside, though, Virginia's struggles continued. The 'Hoos made only 2 of 13 shots from beyond the 3-point arc, and "we got some real good looks, even early, shots that are just rhythm shots that you have to take," Bennett said.

"I wish I could tell the guys something better about how to make those shots, but we'll keep taking the open looks."

Virginia's best player, Landesberg, returned to the lineup after missing Sunday night's loss to Duke with a deep bruise in his right thigh. The 6-6 sophomore scored 13 points against BC but missed 5 of 6 shots from beyond the arc and, even more out of character, went 0 for 2 from the line.

"That was definitely a result of not having my legs under me," he said. "A lot of times jump shots were just missing short. As soon as I come back 100 percent, it won't happen again."

Landesberg played a game-high 36 minutes, and it "was tough," he said. "I'm not going to lie. It was a little tough out there playing and running up and down, especially with [the Eagles] crashing the glass the way they were. I couldn't really get that active down there. I was afraid I was going to hit my leg and [the pain] would have just started up again. But I tried. I went out there and tried to do what I could."

Sammy Zeglinski tried too, but his efforts went unrewarded. Virginia's starter at shooting guard, Zeglinski went 0 for 3 on 3-pointers and 0 for 6 overall. Since hitting 5 treys in the win over UNC, Zeglinski is 7 for 44 from long range.

"He looks like his legs are gone, and he's really struggling to get the ball to the rim," Bennett said. "I know that's frustrating for a guy who was shooting it pretty well early. You want to be consistent and steady. Streaky is OK, but usually there's a good streak, but then on the other side of that it gets tough."

It would be one thing, Bennett added, if Zeglinski were forcing shots "or they weren't good looks. But there's some pretty rhythm good looks that are there. It's just unfortunate."

With 16 minutes left, the Cavaliers trailed by 19, but they slowly cut into BC's lead. With about 6:45 to play, Scott fed Meyinsse for a basket that made it 58-45, and the score was unchanged when Virginia got the ball back.

Landesberg missed a 3-point attempt, but Scott came down with the offensive rebound. That extended the possession, but junior guard Jeff Jones put up an ill-advised, off-balance floater, and BC rebounded to start a fast break that ended with Evan Ravenel's layup.

With the score 60-47, Landesberg missed two free throws, and BC converted a layup six seconds later.

Afterward, Bennett rued what he called "self-inflicted wounds."

"To be able to tighten a game against a team on the road, you gotta really execute, and you can't beat yourself when you get yourself in those spots," Bennett said. "You put in a lot of energy to get there, and I think too many times we do some things that are costly, whether it's a turnover or a breakdown on the defensive end. That's what we've been struggling with for a lot of this year."

Early in the season, Bennett noted, the 'Hoos were shooting better, and "shooting covers over a multitude of sins, as they say. We got some shots to go, and when those aren't going and you're struggling from the outside, all your warts show."

The BC game was only the second that Scott hasn't started this season. In the first, against UAB in late December, he was returning from a high-ankle sprain. This time Scott lost his starting job after lifeless performances against Miami and Duke.

"We know Mike is a good player," Landesberg said. "We know what he's capable of. So we just keep telling him, 'Keep your head up, keep your confidence up.' We just try to keep feeding him confidence. Because he can score, and that's what we need from him."

Against BC, Bennett started Meyinsse and 7-0 sophomore Assane Sene in the frontcourt. Scott didn't stay on the bench long. He checked in at the 16:55 mark of the first half after Sene picked up his second personal.

"I didn't say much to Mike," Bennett said. "I just started that lineup and wanted to see how he would respond, and I thought he came in and battled and was active on the glass and gave us some quality minutes."

Scott finished with 9 rebounds, his best effort on the boards in about three weeks.

"I think he wanted to play at a higher level and help his team, because he was frustrated from the last two games," Bennett said.

Scott said: "I just had to get back to what I normally do."

Senior Day
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 03/05/2010
March 5, 2010
7:28 a.m.

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Could Tony Bennett's basketball team, which has lost eight straight, get hot over the next nine days and end up in the National Invitation Tournament?

It's possible, yes, but unlikely. Which means UVa's regular-season finale Saturday against No. 22 Maryland will almost certainly be the last game at John Paul Jones Arena for Bennett's three seniors: guard Calvin Baker, swingman Solomon Tat and center Jerome Meyinsse.

On the ACC coaches' teleconference Monday, Bennett was asked to talk about the seniors, who also are team captains. Bennett's comments:

On Baker:

"Calvin's a battler, a competitor. He's kind of had an up-and-down season. I feel bad for him in his senior year to have to deal with the injuries he's had to deal with, the amount of surgeries and things like that. He's been through the wars, he certainly has.

"He's made some nice plays for us in certain games, and I know how much he desperately wants to play. He probably hasn't gotten as much of that as he's wanted, but that's all part of it. But he's been here a long time, and he's battled-tested, and like I said he's helped us in some games, no question."

On Tat:

"He's a warrior. He's got the best attitude I've seen, really, seeing his situation, in all my years of coaching. I mean he just is urging the team on, he's all about the right stuff. That's why I named him captain. I'm so glad I've gotten to experience being with a guy like Solo because of his work ethic, but also because of his attitude, and that's going to carry him far beyond [basketball].

"Even in the hard times, he's been a voice of encouragement for our players, for our staff, and I respect that greatly."

On Meyinsse:

"There's a good example of a guy that has just paid his dues, has worked hard, and he's improved. He's a great role model off the court, on the court, great character kid. He's just gotten better and better, and he's become a bit of a presence, somewhat for us inside. I couldn't be happier for Jerome, who, again, represents all the right things."

Virginia is coming off a 68-55 loss at Boston College. Meyinsse started and scored 12 points, on 6-for-6 shooting. Tat came off the bench to score 5 points in 11 minutes, both season highs. Baker didn't play.

UVa (5-10, 14-14) hosts Maryland (12-3, 22-7) at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

-- Jeff White

 

UVa's class of '06 defines mediocrity
By Doug Doughty | The Roanoke Times

Dave Leitao was fired as Virginia men's basketball coach without seeing his first recruiting class reach its senior year, much less its Senior Day.

Yet, even if Leitao had returned to UVa for a fifth season, Senior Day ceremonies would have been underwhelming.

Introductions prior to the Cavaliers' game Saturday with Maryland should give UVa supporters a good indication of why the men's basketball program is in the mess it is.

From a class that originally included four freshmen and a junior-college transfer, all that remains is Solomon Tat, who is averaging 2.6 minutes per game, and Jerome Meyinsse, who never left the bench for the last 10 games of the 2008-2009 season.

It is a tribute to Meyinsse that he has become the showpiece of UVa's 2006 recruiting class, a three-time ACC All-Academic selection who scored a career-high 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds in last Sunday's loss to No. 5 Duke.

Meyinsse, who has scored in double figures in three consecutive games, signed with the Cavaliers on May 15, 2006 -- two days before the end of the spring signing period.

Franchise players are not available at that time of the year. Meyinsse was recruited for insurance and has been a "project" in the best sense of the word. Not all projects get better, but Meyinsse has.

Meyinsse's fellow freshmen were Tat, Will Harris and Jamil Tucker. In the fall 2005 edition of the Prep Stars Recruiter's Handbook, Harris was rated the No. 77 prospect in the country, Tat was 91st and was Tucker 98th.

That's three national top 100 players and none of them ever averaged 10 points in a season. None of them, including junior-college transfer Ryan Pettinella, scored 500 points in his UVa career.

Pettinella had spent his first two years at Pennsylvania, followed by a year in junior college, where he did not play. Unfortunately for Pettinella, his UVa career is mainly remembered for horrendous free-throw shooting (18-for-72).

Meyinsse referred recently to rings the Cavaliers received for winning the ACC championship -- actually, tying for first in the regular-season race -- but that seems like a lifetime ago.

That 2006-2007 team reached the second round of the NCAA tournament and finished 21-11 with Harris playing in all 32 games and averaging 13.9 minutes per game. That was seventh on the team, just barely behind Tunji Soroye at 13.9.

Back problems dogged Harris the next year and, by the fall of 2008, he was gone. Leitao signed off on a hardship appeal that enabled Harris to play immediately at Albany.

Harris, who had the brawn of a power forward but neither the height nor the disposition to play that way, is averaging 12.6 points and 4.2 rebounds for an Albany team that is 7-24.

Harris has made 44 3-pointers this season at Albany, which would rank second on UVa's team, but he hasn't turned around Albany's program. It's hard to see how he would have been the answer at UVa.

The same with Tucker, although his 7.4-point average last year was the highest posted by a Class of 2006 recruit.

Tucker was supposed to be on this team; in fact, he was enrolled for the first semester. UVa announced Nov. 11 that he was taking a leave of absence from the team, but on the night that UVa played New Jersey Institute of Technology on Dec. 21, Tucker went through a strenuous workout with assistant coach Ritchie McKay before the game.

One day later, presumably following the release of fall-semester grades, Tucker was dismissed from the team.

Clearly, Tucker was at fault for not taking care of his business off the floor. How much blame falls on the staff not monitoring Tucker more closely is inconsequential. The end result was the same -- the almost complete disintegration of a recruiting class.

Three seniors will be recognized before Saturday's 1:30 p.m. tipoff.. Meyinsse and Tat will be joined by Calvin Baker, a fifth-year senior who also arrived in the fall of 2006 but was ineligible after transferring from William and Mary.

Baker came to Virginia without a scholarship but actually has played more than any of the 2006 signees. He averaged 8.6 and 8.4 points in the first two seasons in which he was eligible for UVa but has seen his average drop to 3.2 this year.

Baker did not play Wednesday at Boston College and his career will be ending with a thud. Call it mediocrity by association. It hasn't been a pleasant experience for anybody associated with the Class of 2006, even Meyinsse, whose late-season blossoming has been tempered by an eight-game losing streak.

No matter what emotions Leitao experienced after the 2008-2009 season, another year with these guys might have sent him over the brink.

UVa Insider, the column - Doug Doughty | Roanoke Times

News that Virginia had taken a men’s basketball commitment from Billy Baron provided a midweek respite for UVa fans who have had little reason for cheer during a month-long losing streak.

It’s the opposite situation at Rhode Island, where the Rams ran their record to 21-7 on Wednesday night with an 80-58 victory over Charlotte but now go forward without one of their top recruits.

Baron is the son of URI head coach Jim Baron and had made an oral commitment to the Rams in November.

While some UVa fans might empathize with the Rams, most just want to know whether Baron can contribute to the Cavaliers.

For a scouting report, I turned to former Boston University head coach Dennis Wolff, one of my favorite people in the business and one of the best assistant basketball coaches Virginia has ever had (in the top two with Dave Odom).

“I think Billy Baron is a really good player,” said Wolff, who was at first reluctant to offer an assessment, fearing that it was not his place.

“I think he’s a Virginia type of kid. He’s a great kid. And, I think he’s a little bit under the radar.”

At that point, Wolff stopped and said he didn’t want to be quoted, that it wasn’t his place. Then, I noted that nobody was going to complain if he said nice things about the kid.

The perception is that the addition of a coach’s son can only add to a team’s basketball IQ.

I asked Wolff why Baron had not been more heavily recruited. He played this year at Worcester (Mass.) Academy after helping Bishop Hendricken of Warwick, R.I., to three straight state championships.

“There was an assumption that he was going with his father,” Wolff said, “so, who knows? I think he’s a good player who’s a tough kid. He’s a scoring guard – a little bit more of a combo than a point guard.

“He’s a self-made player. He’s a very competitive kid. I think it’s a good ‘get’ for them.”

While reading up on Baron earlier this week on the Providence Journal website, where posters were offering their opinions on Baron’s decision, I identified myself as a Virginia sportswriter and asked how good people think Baron is.

Here is what I got from a URI alumnus and season ticket-holder who obviously knows his stuff:

“I think Billy Baron is good to very good,” said my contact, who had seen Baron in a recent tournament. “While I wouldn’t say he’s quick, he’s extremely quick with the ball in his hands. Pushes the ball extremely well and makes good decisions.

“Very solid outside shooter. Can hit the three. Very strong. Obviously spends a lot of time in the weight room. So, while he’s only 6-1, he uses his upper-body strength to get to the basket. As a coach’s son, he is very sound fundamentally.

“The thing that probably stands out the most is how mentally tough he is. Didn’t get much notice in high school because R.I. competition is weak. Over the summer, in some tournaments, he started to turn heads.

“At Worcester Academy, [he] continued his strong play. Went from not being on Scout.com to being a three-star player. Hard to say how good he is defensively. … I think Virginia got a good one.

“The whole thing has created quite a buzz in R.I.”

Mike Scott better off bench

For the first time this season, Virginia forward Mike Scott came off the bench during Wednesday night's loss to Boston College. The new role was a result of Scott's struggles the past two games, when he was a combined 0 for 13 and failed to score a single point.

"I didn't say much to him," Coach Tony Bennett said. "I just started that lineup and wanted to see how he'd respond."

Scott finished with 13 points and nine rebounds. He made 6 of 8 field goal attempts and played with more confidence than in the previous two games. When asked whether the improved performance was related to the demotion, Scott said it was a "coincidence."

Posed with the same question, Bennett said, "I know he was frustrated with his last couple of games. I think he wanted to help the team. I think he just wanted to play at a higher level and help his team because he was frustrated with the last two games. I wanted to see how he'd respond."

Scott said his confidence his been affected by the poor games. But he did reveal a personal initiative to ensure that he would improve regardless of whether he started or came off the bench.

"I think it's about making shots, getting back on defense and helping the team out," Scott said. "And it's all about confidence."

By Zach Berman

Landesberg returns, still feels effects from injury

Tony Bennett glanced at the box score in front of him, saw Sylven Landesberg's minutes played (36) and observed it was a lot of minutes. That's especially true because Wednesday's loss to Boston College was Landesberg's first game since last Tuesday against Miami after a thigh injury sidelined the Virginia star on Sunday against Duke.

Landesberg wore a brace that extended from the knee to the thigh, and he appeared slowed at times. He would sometimes rub the leg, and it was clear that although healthy enough to play, he was not healthy enough to return to his former self.

"It was tough; I'm not going to lie," Landesberg said. "I hit my leg, and it started up again. But I tried."

Landesberg scored 13 points on 6-of-15 shooting. He made only 1 of 6 three-pointers and missed a pair of free throws. When he missed, it was usually front rim.

"That was definitely the result of not having my legs under me," Landesberg said. "I felt if it was a regular day, they definitely would have gone in. A lot of teams, jump shots were missing short. As soon as I come back 100 percent, it won't happen again."

At least he played. In his first time available to reporters since the injury, Landesberg expressed his frustration with missing the Duke game. It was the first game he missed in his career -- information that the sophomore quickly shared -- and said he learned from the sidelines.

He said it's easier to watch from the sidelines, because plays appear easy to make when, in reality, they're difficult.

"I just kept talking to the guys, trying to be a coach on the baseline," Landesberg said. "But it was hard, just sitting there."

By Zach Berman

After strong season, Cavs begin title run
Virginia enters conference championship armed with No. 3 seed, first-round bye
Allen J. Kha, Cavalier Daily Staff Writer
Featured / Sports / Women's Basketball
March 4, 2010 0
Virginia will play either N.C. State or Clemson tomorrow night in Greensboro for its first matchup of the ACC Championships. Photo by Fred David.

eensboro for its first matchup of the ACC Championships. Photo by Fred David.

The No. 19 Cavaliers travel to Greensboro, N.C. tomorrow for the ACC Tournament, where they will begin play as the No. 3 seed after late-season losses to No. 1 and No. 2 seeds Duke and Florida State.

Virginia (21-8, 9-5 ACC), seeks to build off a strong season and establish itself as a national force before the NCAA Tournament begins.

“It’s been a focus of this team ever since the first day of practice,” senior guard Monica Wright said. “We’re going to start with the ACC Tournament, move on and work our hardest to get this program back to the championship.”

Virginia earned the No. 3 seed and a first-round bye in the ACC postseason tournament via its third-place finish in the ACC standings and will face either sixth-seeded N.C. State or 11th-seeded Clemson tomorrow at 8:00 p.m.

The bye, Virginia coach Debbie Ryan said, “gives us a week to practice a couple of times but focus on us for a change rather than jumping into a scouting report. It gives us time to relax and rest and get our legs back and not put as much stress on our players.”

The rest will be well-deserved for the Cavaliers, who enter the tournament on a high after an emotionally-charged win against in-state rival Virginia Tech 55-46 last Sunday. Virginia all-time leading scorer Monica Wright notched a double-double with 27 points and 10 rebounds during her final home game with the Cavaliers, drawing raucous ovations from the crowd.

Following the game, Wright’s teammates in a heartfelt tribute sung her praises as her jersey was retired and a banner was hung from the rafters honoring her accomplishments.

Despite all her achievements, Wright still lacks an ACC title to her name, as the Cavaliers have lost in the second round of the tournament for the past five seasons. Entering this tournament still uncertain about which team it will face Friday, the Cavaliers feel equally confident against both potential opponents.
Virginia defeated sixth-seeded N.C. State (17-12, 7-7 ACC) at home during its only meeting against the Wolfpack 73-60 Jan. 27 and defeated last-place Clemson (13-17, 4-10 ACC) in its only contest against the Tigers 82-60 Feb. 4.

N.C. State, however, enters the tournament after topping then-No. 22 Georgia Tech, and Clemson, though tied for last in the conference, finished its season winning four of its final five contests.
Both squads are “very good opponents and very tough teams,” Ryan said. “We’re looking forward to getting back on the court and getting started.”

The ACC’s finest: Monica Wright named player of the year
By Jay Jenkins
Published: March 5, 2010
Updated: March 5, 2010
» 1 Comment | Post a Comment
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Monica Wright will walk into the Greensboro (N.C.) Coliseum tonight for an ACC tournament game with a new honor.

On Thursday, Wright became the first Virginia women’s basketball player to be named the ACC player of the year in 14 years.

The news came just one day after the senior was named the ACC defensive player of the year. Wright is just the second woman to win both awards in the same season, joining Duke’s Lindsay Harding, who accomplished the feat in 2007.

Virginia has not had the ACC player of the year since current assistant coach Wendy Palmer won the award in 1996.

“It would be a tremendous honor,” Wright said before learning if she won the award. “I am grateful for any award that I receive.”

Wright, UVa’s all-time leading scorer with 2,474 career points, led the ACC in scoring at 23.0 points per game. She also led the league in steals with 3.6 per game and was second in free-throw percentage, shooting 80.7 percent from the stripe.

The latest accolade came, however, before the All-American guard learned her quarterfinal opponent — the third-seeded Cavaliers (21-8, 9-5 ACC) will draw the winner of Thursday’s late-night contest between sixth-seeded N.C. State (17-12, 7-7) and 11th-seeded Clemson (13-17, 4-10). The contest starts tonight at 8:30 p.m.

Virginia, Wright said, is not worrying about the opponent as much as internal factors.

“The main thing we have focused on is us and not try to do too much,” Wright said. “We just have to play our game and we set goals for ourselves that will ultimately get us to the championship game.”

Making it to the title game would be quite an accomplishment. The Cavaliers have not reached the tournament final since 1994.

Virginia, which beat Clemson and N.C. State at home in the regular season, enters on a winning note, having dispatched Virginia Tech 55-46 on Sunday at John Paul Jones Arena.

The regular season, one that likely secured the Cavaliers’ place as an at-large team in the NCAA tournament, is of little importance this weekend.

“You have to step up and start over again,” Virginia coach Debbie Ryan said. “This is a whole new season. You have to just plan for what is coming up next.

“Nothing in the past will do any good for you right now.”

That is one way for Wright to approach the tournament. The Woodbridge native has struggled at times in the ACC tourney, averaging 4.8 turnovers and 1.5 assists per contest in her six career games in the event.

“I think she has grown a lot,” Ryan said of Wright. “Talking to her close to the tournament isn’t going to help, but away from the tournament we have talked about playing your game and not putting pressure on yourself.

“She has to let other players help her in ways that they have learned to help you. I think she is much more mature and much more prepared for what is to come.”

It was former UVa forward Lyndra Littles that often overshadowed Wright in postseason contests.

“I think it is a difference in personality,” said Ryan. “Monica has had to dial herself down, whereas Lyndra would dial herself up.

“It was a totally different look at a player’s personality. It is just a different approach.”
 

Monica Wright Named ACC Player of the Year
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com Release: 03/04/2010

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Virginia senior guard Monica Wright (Woodbridge, Va.) was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year, the league announced Thursday (March 4). Wright is the first Cavalier to earn the honor since Wendy Palmer in 1996 and the fifth-ever.

Wright was also named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the second woman to earn both of the league's player of the year awards in the same season. Duke's Lindsay Harding accomplished it in 2007.

This season, Wright ranked in the top-10 in the league in four statistical categories and became Virginia's all-time leading scorer. She was the only player in the conference to average better than 20 points per game, scoring at a 23.0 points per game pace, and also averaged 3.6 steals per game to lead the league. Additionally, Wright shot 80.7 percent (151-of-187) from the free throw line and averaged 31.9 minutes per contest to rank second and fifth, respectively.

Wright continued to climb the ACC career scoring chart throughout the season and broke Virginia legend Dawn Staley's career record with 20 points in a Jan. 11 contest against Maryland, and currently has 2,474 career points. She sits just 214 points shy of former Duke national player of the year Alana Beard, who ranks second in ACC history.

The Cavaliers begin competition at the 2010 ACC Tournament on Friday, March 5 in the quarterfinals. Their opponent will be the winner between NC State and Clemson.


 

No. 1 Cavaliers Play Host to Wright State, Dartmouth This Weekend
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com Release: 03/04/2010

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The No. 1-ranked Virginia baseball team entertains a pair of 2009 NCAA Tournament teams this weekend, as Wright State and Dartmouth visit Charlottesville. In all, five games will be contested at Davenport Field, with UVa involved in four.
Live statistics for all five games will be available at VirginiaSports.com.
Here is the complete weekend schedule:
Friday, 4 p.m. - Virginia vs. Wright State
Saturday, 11:30 a.m. - Dartmouth vs. Wright State
Saturday, 3 p.m. - Virginia vs. Dartmouth
Sunday, 11:30 a.m. - Virginia vs. Dartmouth
Sunday, 3 p.m. - Virginia vs. Wright State
Saturday, baseball parking will be available at the Emmet-Ivy Garage all day and in the University Hall lots after 2 p.m. Prior to 2 p.m., parking in the University Hall lots will be limited to those coming to the men's basketball game vs. Maryland at 1:30 p.m.
Sunday, baseball and lacrosse parking will be available in the University Hall, John Paul Jones Arena and Cage lots as well as the Emmet-Ivy Garage. Fans are encouraged to arrive early because large crowds are anticipated to attend both events.
Free hot chocolate and coffee will be available to all fans throughout Friday's game as part of a season-long promotion for games played in temperatures of 45 degrees or below. With temperatures forecast to top 50 degrees on Saturday and Sunday, the free hot chocolate and coffee promotion will not be in effect for the games played on these days.
Virginia (6-1) is ranked No. 1 nationally for the second-consecutive week by Baseball America and Rivals.com. The Cavaliers were scheduled to play host to James Madison on Tuesday, but inclement weather forced the game to be moved to April 6.
UVa is coming off a strong week where the Cavaliers won all four of their games, including a three-game weekend series sweep of Rhode Island. Keith Werman (So., Vienna, Va.) went 7-for-11 (.636) during the week, while Phil Gosselin (Jr., West Chester, Pa.) was 9-for-17 (.529) with a home run and six RBI.
Jarrett Parker (Jr., Stafford, Va.) scored a team-high six runs in the four victories, while Steven Proscia (So., Suffern, N.Y.) drove in a team-best seven runs as he pushed his season RBI total to 13, which ranks second in the ACC.
Virginia's offense hit another gear over the weekend, scoring 43 runs, including 22 Saturday. The pitching also was strong, as UVa recorded a 2.25 ERA in the four-game span while allowing just nine runs. Virginia pitchers struck out 42 batters and walked just six in 36 innings.
Wright State is 2-5 this season and was swept in a three-game weekend series last weekend at Clemson. Each of the first two games went right down to the wire, with Clemson pulling out 4-3 and 8-6 wins Friday and Saturday, respectively. The Tigers took the finale, 12-6, on Sunday. The Raiders are the defending Horizon League champions and were picked to repeat as the 2010 champions in a vote of the league's coaches. WSU lost to TCU, 6-3, and Texas A&M, 6-4 in 11 innings, in the 2009 Fort Worth Regional; the Raiders return four of their five all-conference selections from that team.
Dartmouth went 27-18 last year and is opening its season this weekend. The Big Green are the defending Ivy League champion and played in the Chapel Hill Regional last season, falling to North Carolina and Kansas. The Big Green is Baseball America's preseason pick to win the Ivy League, with six of its players selected to the preseason all-conference team. Kyle Hendricks was selected the preseason Ivy League Pitcher of the Year, while Joe Sclafani was picked as the conference's preseason player of the year.
Virginia and Wright State will be playing for the first time ever. The Cavaliers hold a 10-5 edge in the all-time series with Dartmouth, but the teams have not met since 1950.
UVa hits the road next week, traveling to William and Mary Wednesday before a weekend trip to Florida State to open ACC play. The Seminoles are ranked as high as No. 2 nationally this week.

 

Kalkstein Named ACC Women’s Lacrosse Player of the Week
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com Release: 03/04/2010

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Senior All-American Brittany Kalkstein has been selected as the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Week for the period ending Feb. 28, as announced today. This is the third different award for Kalkstein this week, as the midfielder helped the Cavaliers to a 2-0 week, including leading No. 12 Virginia to a 14-13 upset win over No. 6 Syracuse on Saturday. The Cavaliers also defeated Richmond, 17-8, on Feb. 24.

Earlier in the week, Kalkstein was named the WomensLax.com and Nike/Inside Lacrosse National Player of the Week.

The Baltimore, Md., native notched two goals and two assists for the week, including the game-winning helper with 1:33 left in regulation to pace the Cavaliers against the Orange. The midfielder also tied a career-high with nine draw controls in the contest to break the ACC's all-time career record.

Kalkstein initially surpassed Lauren Aumiller's school record of 190 from 2000-03 in the season opener. She then tied the all-time conference mark held by Maryland’s Dana Dobbie at 205 from 2007-08 against Richmond. In pushing her four-year total to 214 draw controls against Syracuse, Kalkstein is now in sole possession of the ACC’s all-time mark.

Against Richmond, Kalkstein had two goals and a game-high six draw controls.

Kalkstein has tallied five goals and four assists this season, and leads the team with 19 shots taken, five ground balls, and 24 draw controls.

This weekly honor by the league marks a first for Kalkstein, while it is the first for the Cavaliers this season.

Virginia opens a two-game road tilt this weekend at No. 2 Maryland. The Cavaliers will face the Terrapins at 7 p.m. on Friday before heading to No. 13 Penn State for a game on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Inexperienced Cavs take on ACC-rival Maryland
Finnigan, Gardner lead Virginia charge against second-ranked Terrapins
Ben Gomez, Cavalier Daily Sports Editor
Sports
March 5, 2010 0

The No. 9 women’s lacrosse team will hit the road for the first time this season to face No. 2 Maryland today and then will travel to No. 13 Penn State for a game Sunday. The Cavaliers (2-1) are coming off of an impressive win against No. 6 Syracuse after splitting their first two games against Richmond and then-No. 14 Loyola (Md.).

“This is obviously our biggest challenge of the season so far, but it’s nice to be coming off such an exciting win over Syracuse,” Virginia coach Julie Myers said. “We’ve had a week to prepare for Maryland, so we’ve been able to use the last few days to really learn their tendencies.”

The Terrapins (3-0, 1-0 ACC), who just defeated No. 5 Duke 17-4 last weekend, are returning every starter from last year’s team, which reached the Final Four before eventually losing to national runner-up North Carolina. The Terps have a plethora of experience, boasting 10 upperclassmen in the starting lineup, including senior midfielder Caitlyn McFadden who paces Maryland with 10 goals and five assists. McFadden — recently named ACC Player of the Week — currently has a 27-game scoring streak and is among the NCAA active leaders in points and assists.

“They have the ability to attack from many spots, so they can be extremely dangerous,” Myers said.

The Cavaliers, on the other hand, have significantly less experience than Maryland, with only 11 upperclassmen total. The team primarily is comprised of young talent — including freshman attack Charlie Finnigan and sophomore midfielder Julie Gardner, who each have scored eight goals this year — that still has not seen significant playing time.

Somehow, though, the team seems to be pulling it together, senior midfielder Brittany Kalkstein said.

“We just needed that first game to adapt, but since then from the past two games after that I feel that we have really connected and have been getting used to playing together on the field in game scenarios,” she said.

The Cavaliers have a long history with the Terrapins. Maryland has been Virginia’s most frequent opponent, as the teams have played 50 times during their storied histories. The Terrapins hold the edge in the series 32-17 and have won the last two, the second of which knocked the Cavaliers out of the ACC Tournament last season.
“It’s a huge challenge to be tested in this way, but we’re excited for it,” Myers said.

As for the second game of the weekend, the Cavaliers will take on No. 13 Penn State (3-1). Last season, Virginia narrowly escaped with a 12-11 victory in overtime at home. The games against Maryland and Penn State this weekend will provide an early indicator of whether the team will be able to contend for an ACC title.
 

Top-Ranked Cavaliers Set For Outdoor Opener
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com Release: 03/04/2010

CHARLOTTESVILLE – The top-ranked Virginia men’s tennis team will begin the outdoor portion of its schedule this weekend as it hosts three matches at the Snyder Tennis Center. The Cavaliers will host Old Dominion and Georgetown in a doubleheader on Friday before welcoming No. 4 Texas for a match at noon on Sunday.

Friday’s doubleheader will begin at noon with the Old Dominion match. The Georgetown match will follow at 3 p.m., as the start was moved up an hour from the original schedule. The forecast for Friday calls for highs in the 40s, but the coaches have agreed to play the matches outdoors as long as the temperatures are above freezing.

Sunday’s match against No. 4 Texas marks the highest ranked opponent to visit Charlottesville for a non-tournament match during the Brian Boland era. It is the second visit to Virginia in three weeks for the Longhorns, who reached the semifinals of the ITA National Team Indoor Championships last month at the Boar’s Head Sports Club.

Admission for all home Virginia tennis matches is free and livestats will be available on VirginiaSports.com.
 

Virginia Qualifies School Record 16 Swimmers for NCAA Championships
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com Release: 03/04/2010

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The Virginia women's swimming team has qualified a school-record 16 student-athletes for the 2010 NCAA Championships, a number which also ranks as the third-most in the nation. The meet is schedule for March 18-20 at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind.
Only Arizona (18) and Georgia (17) qualified more student-athletes for the national meet.
"We are thrilled and honored to have such a large representation at the NCAA meet," Virginia head coach Mark Bernardino said. "We are looking forward to competing at the highest level possible. I want to commend the assistant coaches - Chip Kline, Doak Finch and Katie Robinson - for their great work in helping our athletes be focused all season."
Katya Bachrouche, Meredith Cavalier, Mei Christensen, Claire Crippen, Hannah Davis, Amanda Faulkner, Kelly Flynn, Jenna Harris, Katherine McDonnell, Kristen Moores, Anne Summer Myers, Jen Narum, Christine Olson, Lauren Perdue, Liz Shaw and Lauren Smart have each been selected to participate in the NCAA Championships.
Christensen, Olson, Perdue and Smart each earned automatic qualifications into the NCAA Championships. Christensen is the highest seeded Cavalier of the meet; she has the second-fastest time in the nation on the 100 back (51.71) and the fourth-fastest in the 200 back (1:52.18). She also qualified in the 50 free. She is coming off individual titles in the 100 and 200 back at the league championships.
Perdue also has a top seed with the third-fastest time in the 200 free (1:43.86); she will also swim in the 50 and 100 free events, all of which she won at the ACC Championships last month.
Smart nabbed an NCAA 'A' cut in the 100 back (52.84) earlier this season; she is also set to swim in the 100 fly and 200 back. She is the defending conference champion in the 100 fly. Olson tied for first-place honors at ACCs in the 200 breast with her NCAA 'A' time of 2:07.94.
For the second consecutive year, all five Cavalier relay teams will compete at the national meet. Virginia's 200 medley relay team earned an automatic berth with an NCAA 'A' time of 1:37.33.
"This is a great indicator of where the program is headed," Bernardino said. "Virginia is one of the fastest rising women's programs in the nation and we are looking for a record performance at the NCAA meet. We hope to compete for a national championship down the line but in the short term we are going to try to move into the top-10 and consistently and steadily move forward."
Virginia previously qualified 12 swimmers in 2009, where the squad earned a 12th-place finish at the NCAA Championships. The highest finish in school history for the Cavaliers was a seventh-place showing in 1988.
2010 NCAA Women's Qualifiers

Virginia Relays
200 Free Relay
400 Free Relay
800 Free Relay
200 Medley Relay
400 Medley Relay
Katya Bachrouche, Junior*
500 Free
1650 Free
400 IM
Meredith Cavalier, Freshman*
100 Back

Mei Christensen, Senior
50 Free
100 Back
200 Back
Claire Crippen, Junior
200 IM
400 IM
200 Fly
Hannah Davis, Junior
50 Free
100 Free
Amanda Faulkner, Junior*
200 IM
400 IM
200 Breast
Kelly Flynn, Sophomore*
50 Free
100 Free
200 Free

Jenna Harris, Senior
200 Free
500 Free
1650 Free
Katherine McDonnell, Senior
100 Breast
200 Breast
200 IM
Kristen Moores, Junior
100 Free
200 Free
Anne Summer Myers, Junior*
500 Free
1650 Free
400 IM
Jen Narum, Senior
200 Free
500 Free
1650 Free
Christine Olson, Freshman*
100 Breast
200 Breast
400 IM
Lauren Perdue, Freshman*
50 Free
100 Free
200 Free
Liz Shaw, Junior
200 IM
400 IM
200 Fly
Lauren Smart, Sophomore
100 Back
200 Back
100 Fly
*Making first NCAA Championships appearance
 

Matmen square off in ACC tourney
Virginia looks to avenge losses, improve past performances in championship
Dean Overdyk, Cavalier Daily Staff Writer
Sports / Wrestling
March 5, 2010 0

Following a two-week break since their last match, the No. 23 Cavaliers look to make a run in this weekend’s ACC Tournament in Raleigh, N.C.

The ACC’s dearth of wrestling programs — only six schools have wrestling teams — will work to Virginia’s advantage this weekend, coach Steve Garland said.

“That’s what’s great about the ACC,” he said. “There’s only six teams, so you pretty much know who you are going to wrestle.”

With rematches against Maryland and Virginia Tech on the docket — teams that swept the Cavaliers during the regular season — Virginia will look to avenge these early season defeats and make a statement in this year’s tournament.

“We had the losses to [Virginia] Tech and Maryland this year,” sophomore Derek Valenti said, “There’s no doubt we want to get back.”

Garland has put the team through a week of conditioning followed by a week of technique work before beginning competition this weekend.

“A lot of time this week, we have had two main focuses: We’re improving on technique and conditioning,” Valenti said. “Last week, we were working really hard, and this week, we’re going to start tapering off on the conditioning front.”

This past season has been one of the most successful seasons the Virginia wrestling team has ever put together, and it now looks to capture the ACC Championship that has eluded it during the past two years. In 2008 and 2009, the Cavaliers finished second in the ACC Tournament, trailing Maryland by two points both times.

Junior Chris Henrich and senior Brent Jones each won their respective weight classes in last year’s tournament, and Henrich, currently ranked third nationally in the 174-pound class, was named an All-American. This season he is 28-2, with four technical falls and four pins. Jones, who competes in the 197-pound class, has only one loss in the ACC this year, coming against Hudson Taylor of Maryland. Currently ranked 19th in the country for his weight class, Jones has a 21-10 record and 11 pins. Apart from Henrich and Jones, the only ranked Cavalier wrestler is freshman Mike Salopek, who wrestles in the 184-pound class. Salopek is No. 20 nationally in his class and has a 26-8 record overall, with only one loss in the ACC.

“Pins, pin points, bonus points,” Garland said. “Last year, we had a bunch of pins late, and we went from fourth to second and almost won the tournament.”

The first round will start at 11 a.m., followed by the semifinals at 1 p.m. and the finals at 7 p.m.

Lacrosse takes on Syracuse in clash of top two squads
No. 2 Virginia prepares for defending national champion and No. 1 Orange in Sunday game at home
Meryem Karad, Cavalier Daily Senior Writer
Men's Lacrosse / Sports
March 5, 2010 0

The No. 2 Cavalier men’s lacrosse team will square off against defending national champion No. 1 Syracuse Sunday at home.

The undefeated Cavaliers, who lost in the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament last year, face a Syracuse team which also has yet to lose a game. Although this clash between the nation’s top two teams has the feel of postseason contest, Starsia emphasized that his team must bear in mind the long season that still lies ahead following Sunday’s contest.

“I think we do have to be careful not to sell our soul for any one of these games,” Virginia coach Dom Starsia said. “It’s still early March; we have a long way to go. But the point of what we do is to be involved in an activity like this.”

The Orange (2-0) will attempt to protect its rank and earn its 12th consecutive victory, dating back to their last loss April 4 against Princeton. Offensively, Syracuse has excelled, scoring 27 points to just 16 by its opponents. The squad also has dominated at the faceoff, recording a win-loss percentage of .680, taking 34 of the 50 thus far.

Junior attack Stephen Keogh leads Syracuse with five goals, and senior attack Chris Daniello has earned six points, as well, scoring five goals and notching one assist.

Virginia (3-0) does not lag far behind, however, as the team has outscored opponents 39-23 and has outshot them 137-88, while averaging netting 13 goals per game. Sophomore attack Chris Bocklet is Virginia’s lead scorer with nine goals and four assists, followed by sophomore attack Steele Stanwick with seven goals and five assists. Junior midfielder Rhamel Bratton and freshman attack Connor English each have contributed four goals, as well.

Nevertheless, Syracuse’s junior goalkeeper John Galloway has maintained a 0.667 save percentage. In comparison, Virginia junior goalkeeper Adam Ghitelman has a .556 save percentage during 165 minutes of play.

“It’s a lot of fun as a goalie. You know, going into this game, you are going to see a lot of shots. They are going to test you — they aren’t going to work the ball around and sit on it,” Ghitelman said.

Both teams are coming off home wins. The Orange defeated Army 12-7 in the Carrier Dome Feb. 28, while Virginia outdueled No. 18 Stony Brook 13-8 at the University Hall Turf Field. Bocklet and Stanwick put away three goals each to seal the Cavalier victory.

“I think the teams have a lot of great lacrosse players on them,” Stanwick said. “They like to take chances.”

The all-time series record between Syracuse and Virginia stands at 11-11, with the last meeting resulting in a 13-12 Virginia win at Syracuse.

After Sunday’s contest, Virginia will continue its three-game homestead March 9 against the Virginia Military Institute.