CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Not content to see only Virginia swimming alumni break world records this year, fourth-year Claire Curzan broke the 100-meter backstroke world record at the Team USA Short Course World Championship Trials in Westmont, Illinois, over the weekend. 

Curzan’s time of 53.92 makes her the first woman to complete the race in less than 54 seconds, according to SwimSwam,

With her victory in the event, Curzan guaranteed a spot on the Team USA roster for World Aquatics Swimming Championship in Beijing beginning Dec. 1. 

Former UVA swimmers Gretchen Walsh and Kate Douglass also raced in the event.  Walsh bested Curzan in the 50-meter butterfly, with the former Cavalier taking the top step while Curzan finished second.  Walsh completed the race in 23.8 seconds, the second fastest time in the event ever, and also won the 100-meter individual medley. 

Douglass, meanwhile, won three races at the event — the 200-meter individual medley, the 50-meter freestyle, and the 200-meter breaststroke.   

Both Douglass and Walsh will join Curzan on the Team USA roster for Beijing. 

Soccer 

Addison Halpern scored twice in No. 19 women’s soccer 3-0 win over No. 12 Louisville Thursday night, ending the Cavaliers’ regular season home slate on a high note. 

Halpern led the offense, scoring on a cross from Kyra Koopman before knocking in a free kick goal from the edge of the box.  Jordyn Hardeman notched a goal of her own in between Halpern’s, hitting the net from 25 yards out.

The Cavaliers will now gear up to battle Duke on the road on Thursday for their final matchup of the regular season. 

Men’s soccer was also back in Charlottesville to conclude their season, taking on Pittsburgh in what turned out to be a 0-0 tie. 

Virginia took eighteen shots at the Pittsburgh goal, but keeper Jack Moxom and the Pittsburgh back line kept a clean sheet, giving up zero goals.  On the other end, Virginia keeper Caleb Tunks made four saves, and UVA’s defense stood tall, keeping a clean sheet of their own. 

Next, the Cavaliers will face Notre Dame on the road Wednesday at 7 p.m. for the first round of the ACC Tournament.  

Golf  

Men’s golf finished in seventh place at the Steelwood Collegiate Invite in Loxley, Ala.. First year Jager Pain had a stellar event, shooting 13-under-par to finish third place on the individual leaderboard.   

Pain, one of three first years on UVA’s roster for the event, had the best individual finish by a Cavalier in their four fall tournaments this year.

Meanwhile, women’s golf hosted and won the first ever Keswick Cup, finishing 25-under-par and beating Virginia Tech by a decisive 24 strokes. The ‘Hoos and Hokies were the only two teams that finished below par.

The Cavaliers also swept the podium, taking the first three places on the individual leaderboard.  Miranda Lu earned the first victory of her career shooting 9-under-par, beating Jaclyn LaHa by a stroke, and Zoe Cusack finished one stroke behind LaHa in third.

Both men’s and women’s golf have now concluded their fall schedules.  

Volleyball 

The Cavaliers took the court at John Paul Jones Arena to battle Miami on Friday, but only won one of the four sets as the Hurricanes took home a 3-1 win.

Heading back to Memorial Gymnasium for Sunday’s clash, Florida State swept the Cavaliers 3-0, despite UVA keeping each set within three points.

Next, Virginia will host Louisville on Friday at 7 p.m., and Notre Dame on Sunday at 1 p.m. Both matches will take place at Memorial Gymnasium. 

Cross Country 

Third year Stella Kermes and first year Sean Gray took home All-ACC honors for UVA, with both Cavaliers finishing in the top 20 of their respective meets at the ACC Championships in Blacksburg over the weekend. 

Gray finished 18th in the 8k, finishing in 23:09, while the men’s team finished in ninth place with 248 points.

Kermes took 13th in the 6k, finishing in 19:29, the best finish on the women’s team, which placed seventh overall with 200 points. 

Wrestling 

The Cavaliers got their schedule underway at the Navy Classic in Annapolis and the Southeast Open in Salem on Sunday afternoon.

Rocco Hayes, Ethan Timar, Jayce Paridon, Adam Butler, Jimmy Harrington, Michael Murphy, Dylan Newsome, and Nate Consigli all went undefeated in Annapolis during pool action.  

Preston Wagner, Will Etu, and Jack Myers finished in fourth, fifth, and sixth respectively at the Southeast Open. 

Next, the Cavaliers will face Gardener-Webb and Glenville State next weekend in Charleston, S.C.