White: Bennett Eager To Learn About His Team
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com Release: 08/25/2009
By Jeff White

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- At Washington State, Tony Bennett launched his career as a head coach with a 71-60 win over Alabama-Birmingham. The Cougars advanced to the NCAA tournament's second round that season, 2006-07, and finished 26-8.
Bennett is making no promises that his first season at UVa will go that well. Asked this afternoon how good the Cavaliers would be in 2009-10, he said, "Don't know. I honestly don't."
What we do know is that the Bennett Era here starts Nov. 13, when Virginia hosts Longwood at John Paul Jones Arena.
That will be the first opportunity for fans to see a Bennett-coach UVa team. The Cavaliers have no exhibition games this season. Instead, they'll play two closed scrimmages.
The ACC released its 2009-10 men's basketball schedule today, and the Wahoos will play 29 regular-season games, starting with Longwood and closing with ACC rival Maryland, March 6 at the JPJ.
UVa didn't hire Bennett until nearly April, by which time part of the 2009-10 schedule was already set.
"We inherited a lot of those games," he said, "and then we tried to add some good ones and make it a balanced schedule, with a number of BCS schools and some quality non-BCS schools."
In recent years, such marquee non-conference opponents as Arizona, Gonzaga, Stanford, Syracuse and Xavier have played at UVa. The defending NIT champion, Penn States, visits the JPJ for a Big Ten/ACC Challenge game Nov. 30, but there's not much sizzle to the Wahoos' home non-conference schedule.
Virginia's most attractive out-of-league games will be played in Mexico, Alabama and Florida. In the Cancun Challenge, UVa meets Stanford on Nov. 24. The next day, Virginia will face Kentucky or Cleveland State. The 'Hoos will visit South Florida on Nov. 16 and Auburn on Dec. 7.
Of his scheduling philosophy, Bennett said, "I think you want to get yourself ready to play against great, great league competition, and you have to have a balance in the sense of home and road. I think you also have to look at your team as well."
He inherited a team that finished 4-12 in the ACC and 10-18 overall in 2008-09, the Cavaliers' fourth and final season under Dave Leitao.
Virginia's top six scorers are back, led by sophomore Sylven Landesberg, the ACC rookie of the year last season. The team's other veterans include four players who started at least 15 games apiece in 2008-09: senior guard Calvin Baker, junior forward Mike Scott, sophomore center Assane Sene and sophomore point guard Sammy Zeglinski.
"There's some game experience in the group," Bennett said. "There's not been a lot of wins under the belts of these guys, but there is experience."
On the trip to Cancun, UVa will face the challenge of playing two games in two days. That, Bennett said, will be good preparation for what the Cavaliers hope to face in the ACC tournament, which starts March 11 in Greensboro, N.C.
Win or lose in Mexico, the players should benefit from the experience. So should their coaches.
"You gotta find out at some point," Bennett said. "You have to find out where you're at. You're sometimes better off learning about your team heading into conference play than not knowing where you stand.
"You're always thankful for what you learn. Even when it's hard sometimes, or when it's good, you gotta know. You get exposed in certain situations, and then you go to work. Some people say, 'Well, can you hurt your confidence too much?' I think there has to be a balance. You take that experience and use it."
New to the program, in addition to the coaches, are two freshmen: 6-8 forward Tristan Spurlock and 5-11 point guard Jontel Evans.
Bennett's message to them?
"Be ready to go," he said. "I think when a new staff comes in and everything's new, as we always say, the slate's clean in terms of opportunity to play. For young kids, old kids, it comes down to what you show the coaching staff. I just want guys who are bought into helping us win and being about trying to be the best team we can be, whoever that is."
 

Mexico trip among hoops highlights
By Whitey Reid
Published: August 26, 2009

In taking over a program that won just four ACC games last season, new Virginia basketball coach Tony Bennett clearly has his work cut out regardless of whom his team has to face.

But Bennett’s first year at the helm could be more palatable when you consider he’ll only have to face perennial powers Duke and North Carolina once.

Clearly, that’s the biggest positive concerning Virginia’s 2009-10 schedule, which was released on Tuesday.

Last season, UVa lost three games by an average of 21 points to the Tar Heels and Blue Devils.

UVa plays at North Carolina on Jan. 31 and is home for Duke on Feb. 28.

This year’s schedule features a trip to Mexico — Virginia will play Stanford in the Cancun Challenge. If the Cavaliers defeat Stanford, they would face Kentucky and new coach John Calipari.

Five days after returning from Mexico, Virginia will host Penn State in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

Virginia, which went 10-18 overall last season under former coach Dave Leitao, should be able to rack up some non-conference wins early. UVa’s schedule features a slew of cupcakes, including the New Jersey Institute of Technology, which had a 51-game losing streak — a Division I record — before snapping it last January.

UVa also has return road games against South Florida (Nov. 16) and Auburn (Dec. 7). The Cavs lost to the Tigers at John Paul Jones Arena last year.

Virginia opens its season on Nov. 13 at home against Longwood. The Cavaliers kick off their ACC slate on Jan. 9 at N.C. State.

For the first time in over 10 years, Virginia has no exhibition games.

This year’s ACC tournament will take place in Greensboro, N.C.

Play Ball!
Aug. 25, 2009
1:28 p.m.

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Those tall guys playing softball at Davenport Field yesterday? None other than the UVa men's basketball players and their coaches.

When Tony Bennett coached at Washington State, such games were a tradition, and he brought this team-building exercise with him to UVa this year.

On one team were the coaches and freshmen Jontel Evans and Tristan Spurlock. On the other were Virginia's returning players.

So, who won?

"We don't have to talk about that," Bennett said with a smile this afternoon.

A photo of the winning team - presumably the veteran players - will be displayed in the locker room area of John Paul Jones Arena.

"Actually, I was impressed with the infield that the returning players had," Bennett said. "They had Mustapha [Farrakhan] at first, they had Sylven [Landesberg] at second and Sammy [Zeglinski] at short. They turned some double plays on us, and you couldn't get that ball past the dang infield."

He added with another smile: "Mike Scott was on third. That was a little suspect, but he was OK."

Assistant coach Ron Sanchez's assessment?

"Let's just say Sammy had shortstop, second and third," Sanchez said.

Outfielders included 7-0 Assane Sene, who's from Senegal, and 6-5 Solomon Tat, a native of Nigeria.

"I don't think they've played a lot of baseball or softball," Bennett said.

Zeglinski is no stranger to the diamond. He played baseball at Penn Charter in Philadelphia, and his father played the sport at Wake Forest. Sammy's brother Zack played baseball at Temple.

-- Jeff White


 

Robert Randolph’s big summer
By Jay Jenkins
Published: August 26, 2009

For a kicker, the swimming pool would look like the worst imaginable spot to prep for an upcoming season.

Robert Randolph would disagree.

This summer, the sophomore placekicker logged as many hours in the water as he did on the turf field outside the McCue Center.

He hopes it helps.

“It works really well with resistance,” he said. “It was a way to build up leg strength.”

That was not the lone summer assignment for Randolph, a sophomore hopeful of securing all the kicking duties at Virginia.

He went to a pair of kicking schools, worked at others and landed an invite to an elite camp.

“There were only 40 kickers there and they were the best in the nation,” said Randolph, who made three field goals last year. “I tried to work on my form as much as I could and learn from the guys that were there.”

Kickers from Iowa State, Oklahoma and Texas were among the standouts learning alongside Randolph.

What will it mean?

“I hope I can use that experience to win the job,” he said. “I am just trying to use the things that I learned to help me in camp.”

Randolph, battling sophomore Chris Hinkebein and freshman walk-on Drew Jarrett, has also leaned on the support of former Virginia kicker Chris Gould.

Since training camp opened, Gould has monitored and offered advice to Randolph and the kickers, but noted that he is using the experience to keep himself sharp if a professional opportunity arises.

“I am happy to help Robert out as much as I can,” Gould said. “I like what I have seen from all the kickers in camp and hopefully I can help in a small way.”

With last year under his belt, Randolph knows that the kicking job at Virginia can turn on a dime. That said, he has enjoyed battling for the top spot.

“It is a competition,” he said. “It makes me better, I know that. I just hope that I can come out on top.”
 

Breaking down Virginia’s special teams
By Jay Jenkins
Published: August 26, 2009

Placekicker

Robert Randolph

Sophomore — 5-foot-10, 160 pounds

The skinny: It took a knee injury to former kicker Yannick Reyering for Randolph to get on the field, but the wait was well worth it. The Florida native was perfect on six extra-point attempts and made three of his four tries at field goals. His longest field goal was a 37-yard attempt against North Carolina. With a stronger leg now, Randolph is expected to get the first chance in a game and could assume kickoff duties at some point.

Punter

Jimmy Howell

Sophomore — 6-foot-6, 238 pounds

The skinny: With little competition to push him, Howell was given the job last year as a rookie. He handled the debut well, averaging 39 yards per punt. Virginia coach Al Groh noted that he would like Howell to improve on his accuracy in placing balls in the red zone. Last year, 20 of Howell’s kicks landed inside the 20-yard line.

Kick returners

Javaris Brown

Freshman — 5-foot-11, 175 pounds

The skinny: Electric on the field, Brown has taken countless reps with the first-team unit and could get the first shot as one of the returnees on the unit.

Chris Cook

Senior — 6-foot-2, 210 pounds

The skinny: In an effort to get a game-changing player on the field for additional reps, Cookhas worked out returning kickoffs. How long the move lasts remains to be seen, but a permanent stint would boost his draft value.

Punt returner

Vic Hall

Senior — 5-foot-9, 185 pounds

The skinny: Still listed as a cornerback, Hall is slated to take the first snaps at quarterback. The senior is also the most accomplished player in regards to returning punts. A quarterback returning punts sounds odd, but N.C. State employed the same strategy at times with Russell Wilson last season.
 

Depth Chart Won't Tell The Whole Story
Aug. 25, 2009
10:18 a.m.

CHARLOTTESVILLE - At some point early next week, UVa will release an official depth chart for its season-opening football game against William and Mary.

Don't read too much into the depth chart, Al Groh said yesterday.

The Cavaliers' base defense is the 3-4, whose front line consists of two ends and a nose tackle. In passing situations, however, UVa shifts to a four-man front.

If the linemen are joined by two linebackers and five defensive backs, the defense is called the nickel. With one linebacker and six DBs, it's called the dime.

Sophomore Cameron Johnson has been working with the second team at outside linebacker in UVa's base defense, but he's on the field as a rush end in passing situations.

"Defensively, when we put our regular depth chart up there, that's one thing," Groh said. "But we have three or four depth charts. We got the regular defense, the nickel, the dime, the goal line.

"We're kind of the same way offensively. If we got four wide receivers in there, we have one depth chart. If we have three wide receivers and a tight end, we got another depth chart."

UVa hosts William and Mary on Sept. 5. Kickoff is set for around 6 p.m. at Scott Stadium.

-- Jeff White

D-Line coach is no stranger to U.Va.
Michael Phillips
Aug 25, 2009

A couple notebook items in the works for tomorrow, including one on the team’s scrimmage last night. The scrimmage portion of practice lasted about an hour and 20 minutes, and I’m guessing coach Al Groh will fill us in on the conclusions his staff reached during tomorrow’s conference call.

Here’s a short item on Chad Wilt’s return:

Chad Wilt is joining the U.Va. staff this year as the defensive line coach, but it’s far from his first time in Charlottesville.

He was a graduate assistant under Al Groh from 2004-05, a time Groh described as a two-year job interview.

“His work spoke for itself,“ the head coach said. “He knows the culture of the team, and that’s important. Some coaches really know X’s and O’s well, but just don’t fit in.“

Wilt left after the 2005 season to take the defensive line job at Liberty, where he coached six all-conference linemen. The head coach there, Danny Rocco, gave a strong recommendation to Groh, confirming his initial belief that Wilt was the man for the job.

As for hiring somebody so young, Groh didn’t hesitate about that.

“With a number of the younger coaches, my thought has always been that, look, I was their age once,“ he said. “Somebody had to give me a chance.“

Reasons for optimism
Aaron Perryman
Published: Wednesday, August 26 2009

I was disheartened to find out a few weeks ago that the Virginia football team was picked to finish fifth in the ACC Coastal Division by the members of the media who gathered in July for the ACC Media Days.

But with the landslide, four-game losing streak the team ended 2008 on, the large number of questions surrounding this year’s team and the strength of the rest of the Coastal Division, it was unlikely that Virginia would be picked to finish much higher.

There are many reasons to believe the Cavaliers will suffer through a losing record this year. There also are, however, reasons to be hopeful.

First, some stats. The following list consists of Virginia’s average offensive yards per game during each year of coach Al Groh’s eight-year tenure: 2001-345; 2002-357.1; 2003-385.9; 2004-423.4; 2005-366.2; 2006-257.2; 2007-330.4; 2008-299.8; average from 2001-2005: 375.5; average from 2006-2008: 295.8; average for all eight years: 345.6.

Notice the big drop-off from 2006-2008? Well, I don’t want to point fingers or anything, but those are the three years during which Mike Groh was the offensive coordinator. He certainly was not the entire reason that Virginia suffered through two 5-7 seasons in three years. I’m not claiming to know everything when it comes to the football team’s woes and this is only a correlation, but, looking at the entire body of work of Al Groh’s offenses, they were the worst three in terms of average yardage.

The 2007 team that eclipsed 330 yards per game and went 9-4 was probably helped by a monster defense anchored by All-American defensive end Chris Long. It could be argued that Al Groh’s defenses, which have been consistently strong, were what managed to pull the 2006 and 2008 teams to respectable 5-7 records.

Now, Mike Groh is no longer the offensive coordinator and the program brought in spread offense guru Gregg Brandon to take his place. Before arriving at Virginia, Brandon was the head coach at Bowling Green for six years. Before that, he was the offensive coordinator and assistant head coach under current Florida coach Urban Meyer for two years at the same school.

Now, here is a list of the offensive yards per game of the offenses Brandon was involved with at Bowling Green: 2001-383.9; 2002-448.9; 2003-496.9; 2004-506.3; 2005-427.7; 2006-345.8; 2007-402.5; 2008-359.8; average for all eight years: 421.5.

The worst Brandon offense was still as good as Al Groh’s average offense for his entire career at Virginia, and the average Virginia offense cannot even get a whiff of the best Bowling Green offense. The Cavaliers may have had offenses from 2001-2005 that were better than ones from 2006-2008, but they were by no means great. The Hoos made a great hire in Brandon and he can get the Cavalier offense back to its 2001-2005 level of production — and possibly higher.

Just looking at the numbers, it’s not too hard to believe that the Virginia offense will start looking like its old self in 2009. Al Groh has the chance to show everyone that the subpar offenses from 2006-2008 were neither products of his coaching nor oversight, but rather the product of an offensive coordinator who was just not ready to lead an entire offense.

It seems as though Virginia fans have grown accustomed to bad offenses and solid defenses under Al Groh, but that has not always been the case. In 2001, Al Groh’s first team went 5-7 but compiled more yardage than 2007’s 9-4 team. Granted, Al Groh was able to work with a couple great starting quarterbacks — Matt Schaub (2001-2003) and Marques Hagans (2004-2005) — but the offense got better and better each year, with the exception of 2005.

Al Groh teams at Virginia have had good offenses. With a solid backfield consisting of senior running back Mikell Simpson, senior quarterback Jameel Sewell (fitting Hagans’ style of a scrambling quarterback) and cornerback-turned-quarterback Vic Hall (fitting Hagans’ in both style and stature) available for playing time, Brandon has some versatile tools to use. Sure, he may not be able to duplicate all the success of his Bowling Green offenses — at least not right away — but I’d be willing to bet our offense will see a major improvement this year.

Pair Brandon’s offense with a stout Al Groh defense, and there’s reason for optimism this season.

 

Strong as oak
Paul Montana
Published: Wednesday, August 26 2009

Athletes talk about team chemistry and camaraderie like chefs talk about adding ingredients in appropriate proportions. And, speaking from outside the locker room, I won’t deny that these qualities make up a factor that goes into winning and losing in sports.
But frankly, I always thought that it was mostly hogwash.

Maybe part of it is that even as an amateur, I’m beginning to turn into your stereotypically cynical sportswriter. But I played sports in high school, so I also reference personal experience. I played on teams divided that won, and teams that were just smitten with each other that always found a way to lose. I’ve played with guys who I never knew whether I could count on, yet we still found a way to win — and vice versa.

Then, I covered the 2009 Virginia baseball team — and I was born anew.

Why? Because this group’s accomplishments just don’t make sense. It doesn’t make sense for a team that starts three, sometimes four freshmen to make the program’s first trip to the College World Series. It doesn’t add up for a bullpen to return two players who pitched significant innings in 2008, have both those pitchers blow up midseason, and then post a 1.45 ERA in the postseason run to Omaha.
Believe me, I’ve considered other possibilities — namely, that the Cavaliers, ranked No. 5 in the nation at season’s end, have the No. 5 class of talent. But truly, they don’t. You tell me that freshman standout pitcher/first baseman Danny Hultzen was projected in the second round of the 2008 MLB Draft, and I’ll tell you that sophomore pitcher Kevin Arico went from throwing 14.1 innings in 2008 to being the team’s lights-out closer in the last two months of the 2009 season. You tell me that freshman third baseman Steven Proscia already has the physical stature of a big leaguer, and I’ll tell you that freshman second baseman Keith Werman, at 5-foot-7, 140 pounds, would make more sense as the coxswain for the club rowing team than as a .400-hitting second baseman — which he was.

So how does a team that starts six underclassmen position players and two of three underclassmen in the weekend pitching rotation end up at the College World Series? This group, as O’Connor and players repeated throughout the season, was as close as could be. Even on day one of the spring season, when everyone was predicting a season of growing pains, O’Connor said he had never coached a more tight-knit group in his six years with the program.

“They just showed a toughness and a level of character and pride that I haven’t been a part of,” O’Connor said.

As the saying goes, the proof is in the pudding. Here are a few morsels — some examples of individuals who came through when they probably shouldn’t have.

Coming through, and again
It’s the bottom of the 10th of Virginia vs. Arkansas at the College World Series, an elimination game for both teams. The score is tied at 3-3; the inning before, the Cavaliers had grounded into a bases-loaded double play, with the hitter Hultzen getting thrown out at first by a quarter of a step. A half inning before that, the Cavaliers had led 3-1 and had the Razorbacks down to their last strike, before a two-run bomb knotted the game at three.

Back to the 10th. Standing on second base is Shane Halley, who was inserted in the ninth as a defensive replacement in left field; he found himself on base for the first time since April 5. Stepping into the box is one of Virginia’s three freshman starters: Proscia.

A deer in the headlights? Far from it. Proscia lines a single up the middle, one that potentially could score Halley. But, the inexperienced baserunner Halley makes a crucial error: his first step is back to second before he breaks for third as the ball skips into centerfield. Third base coach Kevin McMullan raises his hands in frustration on one side of the diamond, and Proscia mimics him on the other side. Had Halley been running on contact, Proscia probably would have been the hero.

But he wasn’t — and neither were the next two hitters, who struck out to leave Halley stranded. Another shot to the gut for Virginia, and a blow to the head for Proscia.

Skip to the bottom of the 12th. After Virginia already left too many stranded runners to count, Arkansas put one of its own across in the top of the 12th — a backbreaker. Leading off the bottom of the inning is — you guessed it — Proscia.

Let me put myself in Proscia’s shoes. Here are the possible mindsets that I would have taken to the plate:

1. I should have had a walk-off RBI-single two innings ago. If Halley had been going on contact, I’d be a hero. What the hell else am I supposed to do!

2. Wait a minute ... It’s the 12th inning of the College World Series, and I’m standing at the plate at Rosenblatt Stadium in front of 20,000-plus. A year ago, I was hitting for Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, N.J. Abort!

What did Proscia do? How about a double down the left field line.

Like eight other Virginia runners, though, Proscia was left stranded. But, the point stands: In the face of adversity, with 21,383 people in attendance plus a national television audience watching, with the image of Halley standing on third still burning a hole in his mind, the freshman from New York came through. Again.

“That kid grew up an unbelievable amount this year,” O’Connor said.

No kidding.

Filling Werman’s big shoes
One of Omaha’s favorite sons in this year’s College World Series was another Virginia freshman: the aforementioned would-be rowing coxswain, Keith Werman. The left-handed Werman was inserted into the starting lineup in the NCAA Tournament against right-handed pitching, and responded by hitting .435. Every time he was asked to come through, he seemed to do it.

But that was only against righties. Against lefties, O’Connor played the matchups, putting righthander John Barr in Werman’s slot.
And, as Virginia prepared for its third game in Omaha against Arkansas, O’Connor knew that the Razorbacks would likely start lefty Drew Smyly. Despite the hot-hitting of Werman — he was 6-for-9 in his first two games in Omaha — O’Connor stuck with the usual plan, sitting Werman and playing Barr.

“We wouldn’t [have been] in Omaha if it wasn’t for John Barr,” O’Connor said. “The guy got some big hits for us.”

Werman, poor kid.

But what about Barr? Put yourself in his shoes for a moment. You have yet to appear in the College World Series. Your debut is going to be filling the spot of not only the hottest hitter in the lineup, but also a Wahoo favorite. If you go up there and whiff three times, you will look bad on a national stage, you’ll make your coach look bad for playing you and you’ll be that hated guy who inadequately filled the shoes of Cavalier fans’ favorite little man.

Of course, Barr came through. He went 1-for-2 with a run scored against Arkansas — a pretty important run, considering it was a 3-3 stalemate in the ninth.

These truly are a couple of morsels. There isn’t the space to describe some other moments that had me convinced of Virginia’s togetherness and that O’Connor said had him convinced that Virginia had a legitimate shot to get to Omaha. Like the six-run ninth that propelled the Cavs to an 11-10 win on the road at Georgia Tech. Or the ACC Tournament, during which the Cavaliers trailed by at least two runs before fighting back in three of their four wins en route to their second ACC Championship in school history. All of this with six of eight starting position players being underclassmen.

There have been times the past year when I subtly crossed my arms to cover the sabre on my Virginia sweatshirt. Like when the football team was smacked by Duke 33-3. Or when the men’s basketball team did just about anything.

You’re not supposed to be emotionally involved with a team you’re covering. But in the press box at Rosenblatt Stadium, I have never rooted so hard for a Virginia team to come through. Nothing has made me prouder to be a Wahoo than watching O’Connor’s boys play ball in 2009.
 

Agorsor and 'Hoos Play Waiting Game
Aug. 25, 2009
12:28 p.m.

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Will forward Chris Agorsor play soccer for UVa this season? If so, when?

Virginia is waiting for the NCAA to answer those questions.

A 5-9, 145-pound sophomore, Agorsor is enrolled at UVa and started classes today. His 2008 season ended prematurely, in late September, when he tore the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments in his left knee.

Agorsor hasn't been practicing or playing with the team, but that's "not related to the injury," Cavaliers coach George Gelnovatch told me this morning.

"He had an agent issue that we're trying to resolve. We don't feel like there's been any violations, but we want to make sure. And so it's just a process with the NCAA we're going through. We are working with the NCAA to get him, I guess, cleared."

Agorsor, who's from Severn, Md., was the Gatorade national high school player of the year as a McDonogh High senior. He played in seven games for UVa last season, scoring four goals, before hurting his knee.

The NCAA would permit Agorsor to practice with the 'Hoos, but Gelnovatch opted to hold him out.

"My feeling has been, until I know he's going to be with our team, I don't want him to be a distraction," Gelnovatch said. "I don't want guys not knowing whether he's going to be back, or not going to be back. And do I as a coach count on him to be playing with our team?"

Gelnovatch believes a decision from the NCAA is imminent. Assuming Agorsor is cleared, the coach said, then "he's got to get integrated into the team."

UVa plays its third and final exhibition Saturday night (7 o'clock) against West Virginia at Klockner Stadium. Its home opener is Sept. 11 against ACC rival Duke at 8 p.m.

-- Jeff White

 

Hartig leaves UVa
By Jay Jenkins
Published: August 26, 2009

Much was made about Virginia’s recruitment of Erinn Thompson, a 6-foot-4 post player from North Carolina.

That talk became even more meaningful Tuesday as Virginia coach Debbie Ryan announced that post player Kelly Hartig has transferred to Colorado-Denver.

Hartig, who averaged 1.4 points and 2.6 rebounds last year, appeared in 60 collegiate games in her two seasons at Virginia — starting 32 as a sophomore — and was expected to help fill the void of former center Aisha Mohammed.

While the perimeter appears secure with the return of Paulisha Kellum and the skills of Monica Wright, concerns linger in the paint.

Ryan could ask Abby Robertson, who missed the past season, to return or rely on newcomers such as Thompson and Simone Egwu, who is 6-foot-3.

As for her decision, Hartig said it was not with basketball in mind and playing the sport is not in her imminent future.

“I have chosen to leave the University of Virginia for personal reasons and at this time I have no plans to continue playing college basketball,” Hartig said through a released statement.

Ryan praised Hartig for her contributions during her two seasons.

“We will really miss Kelly, but we support her decision to change directions academically,” Ryan said. “She was an integral part of our program these past two years and we all wish her the best in the future.”

Hartig’s sister, Jayna, remains on the UVa team as a redshirt junior forward.
 

Virginia depleted by loss of experienced defenders
Swanson believes depth in backline will make up for lack of game-tested defenders; keeper will lead the way
Jack Bird, Cavalier Daily Senior Associate Editor
Published: Wednesday, August 26 2009

Sophomore defender Katie Carr did not start a single game last season, but this fall, she could be asked to step up into a more pivotal role for the inexperienced Cavalier backline.
Sophomore goalkeeper Chantel Jones will return this season as Virginia’s prodigal goalie after representing the United States at the U-20 World Cup — good news for a team that missed her presence between the posts. This year, however, the task of defending the Cavaliers’ net will come with an additional challenge.

In her first season as the Virginia keeper, Jones posted 71 saves, averaging an impressive 0.41 goals allowed per game. As she takes up her mantel this year, though, Jones will need to step up to an even greater level because she will be without the veteran backline she had in 2007.

All four starters that comprised the Cavalier defense used up their last years of eligibility in 2008, leaving Jones to captain a defensive squad that is mostly untested.

“Our backline was one of the best backlines in the conference,” sophomore defender Katie Carr said. “Losing them is a new change. It’s hard getting used to playing with a whole new line.”

Nikki Krzysik, Alli Fries, Sarah Senty and Alex Singer made up the starting defense for a Virginia squad that held opponents to a stifling 5.1 shots per game — less than one-third of the total shots Virginia averaged last season. Of the four defenders that played almost every minute of every game in 2008, three are now playing professionally.

“They are all very quality players,” Jones said. “Having them play together for four years just made them that much better,”
Last season, leadership of the defense fell primarily on the shoulders of Krzysik. The two-time All-American started all but four games in her four years on the team. Jones now needs to pilot the Virginia backline using her experience working with Virginia coach Steve Swanson.

“I’ve been working really hard over the summer and in the past with [Swanson] about leadership roles and how to approach people and how to be a better leader,” Jones said. “So I guess I’m taking on the load that [Krzysik and the other seniors] left. But it’s no problem for me — I’m happy to do it.”

Losing four starters could make forming a formidable backline more difficult. Without a single returning starter, the defense will see many different looks as Swanson shuffles his players around. In addition to mixing and matching different groups of defenders, Swanson plans to capitalize on the versatility of certain midfielders and forwards as well, giving them a chance to play on the backline.

“It’s a long process; it started last spring,” Carr said. “We had a whole new backline in the spring and now we have some incoming first years that are helping us out too. It’s just all about adjustments.”

There is, however, a solution to the backline’s weakness: time.

“If you look at the way our defense has been run the past four years ­— those lines didn’t change,” Swanson said. “There wasn’t a lot of turnover at all in those guys. We graduated a lot of players that had a lot of game experience.”

Although its lack of experience may hamper the Cavalier defense at the outset, Carr believes that team cohesion can only improve with game experience.

“I think the reason the backline was so good last year was because they had played together for four years,” Carr said. “The oldest [people] in the backline right now — we’re sophomores. I think we will have many more years to get to that level.”

Though it has meant a trial by fire for many of the young athletes on the team, the openings on the backline also provide a chance for freshmen like defender Morgan Stith to prove themselves.

“I was so happy to be able to start that last game,” Stith said, “I think all the defenders ... have really big shoes to fill.”

Furthermore, as Virginia works its way through the season, Swanson is ready to harness an in-game adaptability to challenging situations.

“Maybe we can use [the many options we have] to our advantage though,” Swanson said. “Maybe we have a couple looks and players that can offer us different things. We have to take time to sort that out a little bit ... I imagine through the course of the non-conference season we are going to try to give people opportunities and try to look at different combinations and see how things look.”

Coming off of a 1-0 loss to Penn State last week, the Cavaliers’ young backline will look to continue gaining experience against Liberty Friday.