Charlottesville, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW): We head into the final week of October, and with it, the end of the regular season for most sports on the fall program in Virginia Athletics.  Last week saw some great successes for the Tennis and the Soccer teams, and some colossal failures, most notably and sadly, on the Football field.   As we do every week, let’s run it down. 

Virginia Football, on family weekend, took to the field at Scott Stadium in front of what was reported to be the biggest crowd of the year.  UVA welcomed a North Carolina team against whom they were heavy favorites.  Sadly, midway through the first quarter, it took a turn for the worse for the Hoos, and the scoreboard at the end of it all read 41-14.  You can find Jay James’s full report on the game HERE, but the mood was not completely sour at the end of the day, as the collection taken up for relief supplies for those effected by Hurricane Helene, organized by UVA athletics, was remarkably successful.   

Women’s Tennis was well represented at the ITA Regional Finals at the Boar’s Head Resort in Charlottesville.  You can find my recap of all the action HERE, but the doubles team of Melodie Collard and Elaine Chervinsky, and grad student Sara Ziodato in the singles draw, all earned their tickets to the Waco, Texas NCAA Championships next month.   In other tennis news, Natasha Subhash, UVA tennis alumna, successfully made the Top 30 of the NCAA Women of the Year award.   

Volleyball was busy this week with two ACC clashes on the road, one of which was on national television.  The Hoos battled the Syracuse Orange on Wednesday evening on ACC Network.   The match went the distance and did not disappoint as the TV cameras began to roll.    Set one went back and forth with neither squad able to pull out to a sizable advantage, nine ties and four lead changes to be exact, the action reaches its climax with the match tied at 18-18, before the Orange went on a 7-0 run to close the set out and take the lead in the match 25-18.  The Hoos took the early advantage in the second set and held off a late push by the Orange thanks to an ace from Milan Gomillion and an authoritative kill from Lauryn Bowie.  The Hoos knotted the match up with a set two victory.  Despite never giving up the lead in set three, the Hoos were not able to put the Orange away until the final point, as they took the lead in the match with a third set victory, 25-22.  Set four was tied 8-8 before the cameramen could blink, and both squads traded short runs, with Syracuse going 3-0, then the Hoos going 4-0 to make it interesting.  The home team scored the final two points to put the set away and tied the match at 2 with a 25-21 victory.  With the match on the line, Syracuse jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but Elayna Duprey scored back-to-back aces to spur on a 7-0 run for the Hoos.  UVA took the lead and did not give it back to leave New York the victors over Syracuse, handing the Orange their tenth loss of the season.  The Boston College Eagles awaited them for a Sunday afternoon tilt, and Elayna Duprey was ready for them.  Her torrid weekend continued, earning a double-double on blocks and kills 15 and 14 respectively, as well as four aces throughout the match.  The Eagles were below .500 on the year but they came out swinging against the Hoos, fighting them tooth and nail in the first set to a 19-19 tie.  However, the Hoos surrendered only one point after that tie and won the first set 25-19.  The Hoos dominated set two as well, leading 10-1 at one point, and ultimately winning it 25-14.  There were 13 ties in set three, but it would be the Eagles who stayed resilient and scored the next eight points coming out of a UVA timeout in which the Hoos led 20-17, and the home team won it 25-21.  In a similar performance, BC forced a fifth set with another gutsy showing, coming out from a 14-14 tie to win the set 25-21.  An early Zooey Dood kill gave the Hoos early control of set five, and clinical, eased play, limited errors, allowed them to take the match with a measured 15-12 victory, bringing them to 17-4 on the year, their best record since 2003.  Two ranked opponents await the Hoos this week, with #12 SMU on Sunday on ACC Network, and a match against the best team in the country, the 19-1 #1 ranked Pitt Panthers on ACCNX.  The Panthers were victorious last time out against Notre Dame, 3-1, and face the Hoos Friday at 7:00 PM.  As for the Mustangs, who are the only team to beat Pitt this season, they are 15-6 on the year, lost last time out against Louisville, and will face the Hoos on Sunday at 6:00 PM.  Both games will be at Memorial Gymnasium on Grounds.   

In the biggest match of the year to date, the UVA Field Hockey team took on the #1 ranked undefeated North Carolina Tar Heels in Chapel Hill.  The Hoos started out compact and steady on defense, with keeper Tyler Kennedy making some marvelous saves.  However, Ryleigh Heck struck late in the first half to give the Heels the lead on one of only three shots total that both teams took in the first two periods of play.  The Hoos could not find any sort of attacking form, and on the other end, their defensive shape began to crumble.  They conceded three penalty corners, and all three were converted by Charly Bruder.  4-0 proved to be a hill the Hoos could not climb, and a chance to climb up the national rankings eluded them in Chapel Hill.  They’ll have one final chance before the playoffs begin this week against Wake Forest on the road.  The Deacons are 7-9 on the year but are coming off a thrilling 2OT victory against Cal last time out in Berkeley.   

#24 Women’s soccer to the friendly confines of Klockner Stadium one final time in 2024 regular season action against the Clemson Tigers on Sunday night.  The Hoos and Tigers traded blows throughout the first half, with both teams taking a total of nine shots, and each forcing a save out of the opposing keeper.  Neither team could find a breakthrough in the attacking third as the interval ended.  25 minutes into the second half Ella Carter truly struck a stunning ball from Annamarie Williams off a corner into the net, but a call of obstruction of the keeper’s line of sight disallowed the goal.  The clock continued to tick, and the fans were worried that the full three points would get away from the home team.  Sometimes however, it takes the composure of a veteran to carry the day, and UVA got just that.  Meredith McDermott received a pass with her back to the net, executed a difficult move to free up space, and found the run of Lia Godfrey at the back post, who then knocked the ball in to give the Hoos the well-earned lead, and minutes later, the victory.  The Hoos will end the regular season with a Halloween Night showdown in Blacksburg at Thompson Field to face the #19 Virginia Tech Hokies.  Last time out VT put two past Notre Dame in a road victory, bringing them to 11-3 on the year.   

Finally, the UVA Men’s soccer team tangled with the #5 Pitt Panthers on Friday in Pennsylvania, and it was a day everyone in a Wahoo uniform would like to forget.  After a promising first 20 minutes, Luis Sahmkow knocked home a low cross to give the home side the lead.  Then, Casper Svendby ran in behind to finish off a stellar through ball to double Pitt’s advantage.  Lasse Dahl and Casper Grening each found the net for Pitt to bring the host’s lead to 4-0 before the halftime whistle blew.  All four goals were scored in fifteen-minute window.  Joaquìn Brizuela made sure that the Hoos would not go home sitting with a shutout, but the damage was done.  Complete defensive breakdown against an attack of this caliber was never going to end well.  The attackers were marginally better, remaining dangerous throughout the game, but after the recent run of form, it would be easy to think the squad had turned a corner.  After a sobering wake-up call, the challenge will be to turn to the next opponent and finish the season out strong.  The Hoos will head home this Wednesday, and welcome the Mary Washington Eagles to the pitch at Klockner as their final match of the regular season.  Kickoff is at 3:00 PM on ACCNX.  The Eagles are coming off a Homecoming victory against Salisbury, 3-2, and are 15-0-1 on the year.   

Wrapping the remainder of athletics news, Women’s Basketball and Softball are both in exhibition action this week, with Basketball welcoming Barton college at John Paul Jones arena at 6:00 PM on Halloween night, admission is free. Softball hosts a team from Richard Bland Community College at 3PM on Saturday. Wrestling begins its season with a duel against North Dakota State on Friday, beginning at 4:00 PM, then they’ll head to the Southeast open all day on Saturday.  Men’s Tennis will play at the Wake Forest Invitational this weekend November 1-3.  Rowing heads to New Jersey for the Princeton Chase on Sunday.   Finally, Swim and Dive continues their season on Friday in Chapel Hill against North Carolina.  Both men’s teams are unranked, but the women’s meet will feature a battle between #18 and #1.  The Heels are #18, and the Hoos remain at #1.  That concludes your weekly Wahoo rundown, Happy Halloween and see you in November!  Go Hoos!