Virginia Set to Host NCAA Regional

Just hours from now, the Virginia baseball team will host its second NCAA Regional in three years when it welcomes Lehigh, Evansville, and South Carolina to Davenport Field. The Hoos face Lehigh at 3 p.m. to start things off today.

Virginia head coach Brian O'Connor is excited to be the host and he understands the importance of playing at home. After all, UVa finished 31-3 at Davenport Field in the regular season.

"We've been very successful at home and there's comfort in playing on your own field, in front of your fans, dressing in your own locker room and sleeping in your own bed. I'm glad the NCAA committee saw that through the course of the entire year [we were] deserving of being a host site," he said.

The winner of the Charlottesville Regional advances to take on the winner of the University of Georgia Regional. That could set up a Virginia-Florida State rematch if the ACC teams advance. The Cavs and Seminoles split a pair of games in the ACC Tournament.

Stay tuned to theSabre.com for all the information on the Hoo baseball team's progress in the NCAA Tournament.

Schedule of Games

Friday Game 1: Lehigh vs. UVa, 3 p.m. Game 2: Evansville vs. S. Carolina, 7 p.m.

Saturday Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 1 p.m. Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 6 p.m.

Sunday Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 1 p.m. Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 6 p.m.

Monday (If necessary) Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 6 p.m.

Virginia kept the commitment run rolling this week when Pottsville (PA) OL Brad Hallick pledged to the Hoos. The 6-6, 282-pound prospect chose Virginia over offers from Rutgers, Temple, Indiana, Stanford, and Vanderbilt. In the end, his decision came down to UVa and Vanderbilt.

Hallick is a versatile prospect who could potentially play any of the offensive line positions - guard or tackle have been the most talked about spots. In his junior season, he earned all-region and all-league honors for his performance along the offensive line. Brad saw time at offensive guard and offensive tackle his junior season.

An excellent student, Hallick carries a 4.0 GPA.

Hallick becomes the first offensive line prospect to commit to Virginia in the 2007 recruiting class and the 10th overall commitment. Look for UVa to land about 7-8 more new recruits in this year's class to go along with the prep school players from the 2006 class.

Offensive line is a key position for Virginia this year, so landing the versatile Hallick seems like a solid start. Look for Virginia to try and land 2-3 more offensive line prospects in this year's class.

Among the remaining OL targets are John Elliott and Andrew Nuss.

UVa made the first cut for Elliott, a 6-4½, 290-pound East Meadow (N.Y.) offensive lineman. Elliott, who has 23 written offers, is one of the top offensive line prospects in the East. Joining the Hoos in the final nine are Boston College, Florida, Florida State, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Rutgers, and West Virginia.

Andrew Nuss

Elliott earned first-team all-state honors as a junior last season. He also earned the Martone Award, given to the best lineman in the Nassau Conference.

This is a key weekend in the recruitment of Nuss, a Stone Bridge (Ashburn, VA) star offensive line prospect. The 6-6, 285-pound Nuss will participate in a combine at Notre Dame on Saturday and could learn whether or not the Irish will be extending an official scholarship offer.

If Notre Dame offers and pushes for a commitment, it very well could land Nuss. Otherwise, Georgia, Maryland, Virginia, and Virginia Tech will continue to battle for his commitment. Nuss is hoping to make a decision this summer.

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Post of the Week

Subject: First-timers guide to message board recruiting process
Posted by: KemHOOsabe on Thu Jun 1 2006 6:54:13 PM
Message: As a 4 year veteran of the Sabre message board recruiting process, I feel it is important that rookie subscribers be warned of what is about to occur on this board. What is about to occur? The Rivals ranking of players. By the end of June, Rivals should have their stars awarded and their first rankings by state. Why is this important? Because it marks the official end to the recruiting honeymoon season on the message board. For all you rookies, here's how the process works:

Before June: Everybody is excited about every recruit. Hell, everyone is going to be a future star and Al Groh is a genius. The message board is abuzz with talk of 5 and 4 star recruits and a top 10 recruiting class. There is speculation about how many stars each recruit will get. Despite Chris Horne's cautionary wisdom, message boarders will still guess that the player with offers from Temple, Akron, and UVA will be labeled a four star player.

Month of June: Rivals slowly releases its five and four-star recruits. Indignant message-boarders wonder where half of our recruits are.

Later in Month: Three-star recruits are named on Rivals and yet even more of our recruits are missing, sending the message-board into a frenzy as to why Rivals can be so ignorant.

Rest of recruiting season: Message board bemoaning the fact that 5 and 4 star recruits don't pick us over Notre Dame, PSU, USC and Fla Schools. Groh's fitness as a coach is questioned and his ability to land a big-time recruit is severely doubted. Several defections occur and venom is directed to the defectors. As the recruiting season winds down in January, renewed excitement over 2 and three star recruits is generated as we need to fill spots.

Signing Day 2007: Everybody says great things about each player and excited to have all aboard once again. Everyone trusts in Al's judge of talent.

This, of course, is just a good-natured overview of the process. Yes, it is highly exaggerated as well. It is just fun for some of us to sit back and observe the excitement over recruits most of us know nothing about.

Cautionary wisdom to the rookies on the Board: if you can't be with the one you love, love the one your with. These kids want to play for us and just maybe some of those two-star chumps like Heath or Elton may surprise us. Chances are that our recruiting class will land somewhere between Fla State's and Duke's.

Good luck to Al and the gang and Go HOOS!

Hoos the Best?

O.K., Virginia wrapped up a dream season in men's lacrosse with a 17-0 record and the NCAA Championship. Before the season even ended, people were comparing this year's squad to the best ever in the sport of lacrosse. What do you think? Share your opinion on the Sabre's Lacrosse Message Board

Fan of the Week

Every week, theSabre.com features a Fan of the Week photo on the front page of the Web site. (Archives are available in the Wahoowa! section.) So you want to be the fan of the week? It's easy - be the loudest Hoo at a live UVa event, wear some crazy Cavalier gear, or do something else to catch our attention. If Mike or Kris spot you and take your picture, you'll be in the running for Fan of the Week honors!

Around the World of Wahoo Sports ...

Matt Ward led the Hoos in goals and assists this season with 42 and 25, respectively.

• Matt Ward Wins Tewaaraton Trophy: Virginia attackman Matt Ward was named the winner of the 2006 Tewaaraton Trophy, given annually to the top lacrosse player in the nation. A team captain for the second year in a row, he led the Cavaliers with 42 goals, 25 assists, and 67 points. This is the third consecutive year he led the team in goals and total points.
• Three Cavaliers Selected in First Round of Major League Lacrosse Draft: Five members of the Virginia's national champion men's lacrosse team were selected in the 2006 Major League Lacrosse (MLL) Collegiate Draft. Midfielder Kyle Dixon, attackman Matt Ward, and defenseman Michael Culver were among the first seven players selected in the first round. Midfielder Matt Poskay went in the second, while midfielder J.J. Morrissey was chosen in the third round.
• Wright Invited to USA Basketball U18 Team Trials: University of Virginia incoming freshman Monica Wright is one of 34 invitees to USA Basketball's U18 Women's National Team Trials, USA Basketball has announced. A 5-11 guard from Forest Park H.S., Wright is a two-time Street & Smith's All-American as well as a USA Today Junior All-American.
• Three Cavaliers Named ITA All-Americans: Three members of the Virginia men's tennis team received All-American honors from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. Somdev Devvarman earned All-American status in singles, while Rylan Rizza, and Nick Meythaler were All-Americans in doubles.
• Biladeau Qualifies for NCAA Track Championships: Andy Biladeau, the ACC's Cross Country Freshman of the Year, qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 5000-meter run and will join four teammates at the 2006 NCAA Championships. Biladeau will join fellow ACC Champions Soeren Lindner and Jan Foerster, both of whom will compete in the steeplechase, as well as 2005 All-American Billie Jo Grant, who will throw the shot put, and Virginia record holder Erin Crawford, who will compete in the intermediate hurdles.
• Kickoff for Thursday Night Games Set for 7:30 p.m.: The two Virginia contests on Thursday evenings this football season will both start at 7:30 p.m. The Cavaliers will visit Georgia Tech on Sept. 21 and host North Carolina on Oct. 19. Both games are set for ESPN.
• Two Cavalier Rowers Earn All-America Honors: Two members of the University of Virginia women's rowing team have been honored with All-America honors from the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association. Junior Heather Gardner earned first-team recognition, while junior Melanie Kok was named a second-team All-American.

To read the full stories or gather more information on Virignia athletics, check out Virginiasports.com.

The Virginia men's lacrosse team completed a perfect 17-0 season with the NCAA Championship this past weekend. Join the celebration with your own NCAA Championship gear from the UVA Bookstore. Selection includes long-sleeve shirts, T-Shirts, and Caps. Hurry and get yours today!

Sabre articles from the past week

Charlottesville Regional: Know the Teams
The Virginia baseball team is hosting an NCAA Regional for the second time in three years this weekend. The top-seeded Cavaliers open with Lehigh at 3 p.m. on Friday. The Sabre.com takes a closer look at the region's teams: Virginia, South Carolina, Evansville, and Lehigh.

No Debate Needed: Ward Should Win
In Washington, D.C., tonight, the Tewaaraton Award Foundation will award the Tewaaraton Trophy to the top collegiate lacrosse players in the United States. Before we go any further, let me save you the trouble of debating the men's race - Matt Ward should be the run-away winner. And the fact is, it shouldn't be close.

8 Things to Know About the Charlottesville Regional
There's a lot to like about Virginia's draw in the NCAA Tournament and a lot to like about playing at home. But there are some concerns with the Charlottesville Regional field as well. The Sabre.com takes a look at some of the best and worst of Charlottesville Regional.

Best Seat in the House: Ronde Barber
Ronde Barber had one of the best careers in Virginia football history before moving on to stardom in the NFL with Tampa Bay. Barber, who said he tries to visit Charlottesville at least once a year, was back in town Tuesday and he joined Jed Williams on the Best Seat in the House to talk about football, his Sirius Satellite Radio show with brother Tiki called "The Barber Shop", the John Paul Jones Arena, and more.

Photo Gallery: NCAA Championship
The Virginia men's lacrosse team wrapped up a perfect 17-0 season on Monday by defeating Massachusetts 15-7 in the NCAA Championship. Matt Ward and Matt Poskay scored 5 goals each in the victory, but as was the case all season long, the Hoos' superior depth and balance made the difference. Check out photos from Monday's title game in this 92-image EDGE Gallery featuring Kyle Dixon, Drew Thompson, Ricky Smith, Ben Rubeor, Danny Glading, Ward, Poskay, and more.

National Champions: UVa Rolls Over UMass
PHILADELPHIA - Unbeaten, untied, and virtually untested, the Virginia men's lacrosse team wrapped up a storybook season Monday with a convincing 15-7 victory over Massachusetts in the NCAA Championship. It proved to be the sweet conclusion to a magical season as the Cavaliers finished the season a perfect 17-0, winning every game in the NCAA Tournament by at least four goals.

Hoos Try to Close the Deal Against UMass
PHILADELPHIA -- After losing to Johns Hopkins in last season's NCAA Tournament Semifinals, the Virginia men's lacrosse team has had one goal in mind: Return to the Final Four and win the National Championship. The Cavaliers' chance to capitalize on that year-long quest finally comes today when they take on Massachusetts at 1 p.m.

Photo Gallery: Men's Lacrosse NCAA Tournament Semifinals
PHILADELPHIA -- The Virginia men's lacrosse team's dominant run through 2006 continued in the NCAA Tournament Semifinals with a strong 17-10 win against Syracuse on Saturday. It was the second convincing victory over the Orange this season for the Cavaliers, who play for the National Championship on Monday. This Sabre EDGE gallery brings you 90 exclusive photos from Saturday's action, including images of Ben Rubeor, Matt Ward, Will Barrow, Matt Poskay, and more!

Virginia Ousts Syracuse
PHILADELPHIA - The Virginia men's lacrosse team had waited one year for this stage of the season to arrive. That's a long time for emotions to build. So when the moment arrived for this year's NCAA Tournament Semifinals, the Cavaliers weren't just ready to play - they were ready to explode. That's exactly what happened Saturday as the Hoos erupted for eight first quarter goals en route to a 17-10 victory against Syracuse.

Sabre Edge recruiting updates from the past week ...

Big Time OL Narrows List
Having received written scholarship offers from 23 Division 1A programs, East Meadow (N.Y.) star John Elliott is one of the most highly recruited offensive linemen in the East. Most of these programs are no longer in contention, however, as he was recently able to narrow his choices down to nine.

Big Weekend for Nuss
This weekend will be an important one in the recruitment of Stone Bridge (Ashburn, VA) offensive line recruit Andrew Nuss. The 6-6, 285-pound will head to Notre Dame later this week for a one-day camp/combine event and could hear soon as to whether or not the Irish will extend a scholarship offer.

Hallick Talks About His Decision
6-6, 282-pound Pottsville (PA) star Brad Hallick says a number of factors went into his decision to commit to UVa yesterday. He discusses his decision, what key factors went into it and his budding relationship with offensive line coach Dave Borbely.

Hallick Joins 2007 Class
Offensive line is an area the UVa staff is looking to address in this year's class, and the staff has gotten off to a solid start in that department with today's verbal commitment from 6-6, 282-pound prospect Brad Hallick. Hallick, a star for Pottsville High School (PA), chose the Hoos over Vanderbilt and becomes the 10th player to commit to the 2007 recruiting class.

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