Let's catch up on some news from different Virginia sports teams and see how others are doing.
Women's basketball welcomes Tina Thompson: The Cavaliers went 19-14 overall and 10-6 in regular-season ACC competition. For the first time in coach Joanne Boyle's seven years guiding the program, UVa went to the NCAA tournament, where it defeated the team Boyle previously coached in the first round, Cal, then lost to No. 1 seed and 2017 NCAA champion South Carolina, which is coached by former UVa great Dawn Staley. After the season, Boyle surprisingly retired at only 54 years old. The reason is because her adopted daughter from Africa, Ngoty, has yet to become an official U.S. citizen. Boyle and her daughter must travel back to Senegal to file appropriate paperwork, and Boyle doesn't know when she will be able to return to the U.S. It is a complicated story, and you can read more about it here: click
Boyle's abrupt departure meant that UVa had to find a coach. It was the first coaching search under
new Virginia athletics director Carla Williams, who was hired in the fall to replace Craig Littlepage, who retired. Williams went outside of the box and hired Tina Thompson, the WNBA's all-time leading scorer, two weeks ago. She was the league's first collegiate draft pick in 1997, the year the league held its first season. She was a part of four straight WNBA titles won by the now-defunct Houston Comets and also has two Olympic gold medals. Thompson only recently became a coach, getting hired as an assistant at Texas in 2015. Last year, she was named associate head coach. She seems to be regarded as a rising star in the coaching ranks, and it looks like Virginia pulled off quite the coup in getting her to come to Charlottesville. If she can be a solid coach, UVa could be very good, I believe, because having the all-time leading scorer of any league as a coach should be a major recruiting draw. I am far from very knowledgeable about women's hoops, but when I saw who UVa hired, I thought, "I know that name." She should get parents and kids alike excited about playing for the Cavaliers women's program, which is still trying to get back to the heights it achieved under coach Debbie Ryan in the 1990s.
Baseball struggles: Injuries and inconsistencies on offense have caused the Cavaliers to struggle on the diamond this season. UVa is just 24-19 and 9-14 in the ACC and is in danger of missing the conference tournament, which takes 10 of the league's 14 teams. Coach Brian O'Connor has made the NCAA tournament in each of his first 14 seasons with the program, but might not make it this year. The Wahoos picked up a big road series victory over Louisville last weekend by winning two of three games, each result coming by one run (5-4 loss, 5-4 win, 3-2 win). The Cavaliers were involved in two more close games Friday and Saturday, losing to Clemson at home, 3-2, and 5-4, respectively. Any win over the Tigers would be big because they are 33-11. UVa needs to figure out a way to pick up at least a victory today against Clemson and then finish up the season strong to try to get to the ACC tournament and possibly eke out an NCAA berth. Either way, hopefully next season will be a return to prominence for the 'Hoos.
Men's lacrosse in ACC title match: In their second season under coach Lars Tiffany, the Cavaliers went 10-4 and 1-3 in the ACC, getting their first conference victory since 2014 by beating North Carolina in the regular season. On Friday, UVa defeated Syracuse in the ACC tournament semifinals, 11-10, in Charlottesville, where the tournament is being held. The 'Hoos face Notre Dame on Sunday in the final at noon. I believe they are now in line for an NCAA tournament berth even if they lose to the Fighting Irish.
Women's lacrosse: The Wahoos went 9-9 and 4-3 in the ACC and lost in the conference tournament quarterfinals, 11-10, to Notre Dame on Thursday. They will find out if they made the NCAA tournament May 6.
Men's tennis: My, how the mighty have fallen. Just last spring, Virginia won a third consecutive NCAA title and fourth in five seasons, sending coach Brian Boland out a winner. Boland decided to leave UVa and coach with the USTA program in Florida. Former UVa assistant Andres Pedroso took over as head coach. This season, the Cavaliers are just 13-12 and 5-7 in the conference and lost 4-1 on Friday to Wake Forest in the conference tournament quarterfinals. They will await the NCAA tournament selections Tuesday to see if they made it.
Women's tennis: UVa is 15-8 and 9-5 in the ACC and lost 4-2 to Wake Forest on Thursday in the conference tournament's second round. The Cavaliers, coached by first-year coach Sara O'Leary, will await NCAA tournament selections Tuesday.
Men's golf: Junior Thomas Walsh won the ACC individual title at Old North State Club in New London, N.C., posting the best 54-hole score in the 65-year history of the ACC championships at 16-under 200. As a team, Virginia finished fourth and will await its NCAA regional destination.
Women's golf: The Cavaliers finished fourth in the conference as well and will head to the Madison, Wis., NCAA Regional on May 7-9.
Women's basketball welcomes Tina Thompson: The Cavaliers went 19-14 overall and 10-6 in regular-season ACC competition. For the first time in coach Joanne Boyle's seven years guiding the program, UVa went to the NCAA tournament, where it defeated the team Boyle previously coached in the first round, Cal, then lost to No. 1 seed and 2017 NCAA champion South Carolina, which is coached by former UVa great Dawn Staley. After the season, Boyle surprisingly retired at only 54 years old. The reason is because her adopted daughter from Africa, Ngoty, has yet to become an official U.S. citizen. Boyle and her daughter must travel back to Senegal to file appropriate paperwork, and Boyle doesn't know when she will be able to return to the U.S. It is a complicated story, and you can read more about it here: click
Boyle's abrupt departure meant that UVa had to find a coach. It was the first coaching search under
 |
| Tina Thompson brings a wealth of experience as a player to the UVa women's basketball program. |
Baseball struggles: Injuries and inconsistencies on offense have caused the Cavaliers to struggle on the diamond this season. UVa is just 24-19 and 9-14 in the ACC and is in danger of missing the conference tournament, which takes 10 of the league's 14 teams. Coach Brian O'Connor has made the NCAA tournament in each of his first 14 seasons with the program, but might not make it this year. The Wahoos picked up a big road series victory over Louisville last weekend by winning two of three games, each result coming by one run (5-4 loss, 5-4 win, 3-2 win). The Cavaliers were involved in two more close games Friday and Saturday, losing to Clemson at home, 3-2, and 5-4, respectively. Any win over the Tigers would be big because they are 33-11. UVa needs to figure out a way to pick up at least a victory today against Clemson and then finish up the season strong to try to get to the ACC tournament and possibly eke out an NCAA berth. Either way, hopefully next season will be a return to prominence for the 'Hoos.
Men's lacrosse in ACC title match: In their second season under coach Lars Tiffany, the Cavaliers went 10-4 and 1-3 in the ACC, getting their first conference victory since 2014 by beating North Carolina in the regular season. On Friday, UVa defeated Syracuse in the ACC tournament semifinals, 11-10, in Charlottesville, where the tournament is being held. The 'Hoos face Notre Dame on Sunday in the final at noon. I believe they are now in line for an NCAA tournament berth even if they lose to the Fighting Irish.
Women's lacrosse: The Wahoos went 9-9 and 4-3 in the ACC and lost in the conference tournament quarterfinals, 11-10, to Notre Dame on Thursday. They will find out if they made the NCAA tournament May 6.
Men's tennis: My, how the mighty have fallen. Just last spring, Virginia won a third consecutive NCAA title and fourth in five seasons, sending coach Brian Boland out a winner. Boland decided to leave UVa and coach with the USTA program in Florida. Former UVa assistant Andres Pedroso took over as head coach. This season, the Cavaliers are just 13-12 and 5-7 in the conference and lost 4-1 on Friday to Wake Forest in the conference tournament quarterfinals. They will await the NCAA tournament selections Tuesday to see if they made it.
Women's tennis: UVa is 15-8 and 9-5 in the ACC and lost 4-2 to Wake Forest on Thursday in the conference tournament's second round. The Cavaliers, coached by first-year coach Sara O'Leary, will await NCAA tournament selections Tuesday.
Men's golf: Junior Thomas Walsh won the ACC individual title at Old North State Club in New London, N.C., posting the best 54-hole score in the 65-year history of the ACC championships at 16-under 200. As a team, Virginia finished fourth and will await its NCAA regional destination.
Women's golf: The Cavaliers finished fourth in the conference as well and will head to the Madison, Wis., NCAA Regional on May 7-9.
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