Your guide to breaking news, recruiting updates and important offers from TheSabre.com!
 
 
 
   SabreMail - April 14, 2008
Sabre Links

  Home Page
  Message Boards
  SabreMail Archives

Football Recruiting

  Recruiting Home
  Recruiting Updates
  Prospect Database

Basketball Recruiting

  Recruiting Home
  Recruiting Updates
  Prospect Database

Sabre Edge

  Articles/Features
  Subscriber Board
  Photo Gallery
  Multimedia

Sabre Products

  Sabre Edge
 

WCAV Highlights Somdev Devvarman, Busy Weekend

It was a busy sports weekend at the University of Virginia with several teams in action. The big winners? Men's tennis completed an undefeated ACC season and women's lacrosse notched the program's 400th victory. Of course, the football team was also in action with the Spring Football Festival.

As always, WCAV TV hustled around town to provide highlights of the Cavalier teams. The FREE video is always available on TheSabre.com. Check it out here daily! Currently, highlights of the men's tennis team's win over Wake Forest, the women's lacrosse team's win over Johns Hopkins, and the football team's spring action are the hot items on the list.

But the must see video of the week is a feature piece on UVa tennis star Somdev Devvarman, the defending National Champion. WCAV produced an in-depth look at the Cav senior and his contributions to the University's athletic scene. Make sure to watch "A Champion's Story" on the video page.

Kris Wright
Editor
TheSabre.com


   Recruiting News

This Week In Recruiting
By Chris Horne

Football recruiting

The University of Virginia enjoyed a successful Spring Game on Saturday, scoring its fifth commitment in the 2009 class in Liberty (Bealeton, VA) safety Corey Lillard. Lillard, a 5-11, 208-pound prospect, chose Virginia over offers from Arkansas, Boston College, Duke, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Rutgers, and West Virginia.

All five of Virginia's 2009 commits hail from the state of Virginia. Lillard is the only prospect designated for defense, as he is a hard-hitting safety who tallied 67 tackles, including 52 solo efforts, last season as a junior for head coach Tommy Buzzo.

"He is a very physical kid," Buzzo told TheSabre.com in an earlier interview. "He has the gift of knowing how to hit. Everybody he is in contact with goes backwards."

For more on Lillard's commitment, check out the Sabre EDGE. EDGE subscribers can also view Lillard's junior year video highlights.


Deep Run (Glen Allen, VA) wide receiver/defensive back Antone Exum, Hun School (Princeton, N.J.) defensive end Anthony LaLota, Henry Clay (Lexington, KY) offensive lineman Samuel Simpson, Deep Run (Glen Allen, VA) defensive end Jake Snyder, and Charlotte Catholic (Charlotte, N.C.) outside linebacker Tucker Windle were among the other top prospects in attendance for Saturday's Spring Game.

EDGE subscribers can check out updates on LaLota, Simpson and Windle on the EDGE message board. All three enjoyed their experiences in Charlottesville and UVa is certainly in contention for all three. Stay tuned for articles on each as well as updates throughout the week on other prospects in attendance.


Also stay tuned for an update on 6-6, 260-pound offensive/defensive lineman Brennan Williams, a standout from Catholic Memorial in West Roxbury, Massachusetts. Williams was not able to make it for Virginia's Spring Game, but he plans to make a return visit to UVa very, very soon.

EDGE subscribers will also be able to check out the latest installment of "Recruiting Roundtable." JHoo, Kamikaze Hoo, Mikeysurf, and I reflect on last year's recruiting class and discuss the 2009 class in this latest feature.


Basketball recruiting

UVa hosted 5-11, 175-point guard Paul McCoy on an official visit this past Thursday through Saturday. The Grant (OR) star discussed his official visit and EDGE subscribers can check out his comments in Sunday night's article.

McCoy, who averaged 16 points and six assists per game this past season, is a quickly rising prospect who is considering offers from Kentucky, Loyola Marymount, SMU, Virginia, and Washington State. Arizona and California have recently come in with significant interest with offers presumably on the way.

McCoy heads to Kentucky this coming weekend for another official and plans to make one more official visit before coming to a college decision.


Chris Horne, our resident recruiting expert, provides updates throughout the week for Edge subscribers about UVa's commitments and recruiting targets in football and men's basketball. To sign up for an Edge subscription, please check out the Sabre Edge Sign Up and Information Page. If you're already on board as an Edge subscriber, click the links below to catch up on recruiting.

Sabre Edge recruiting updates from the past week ...

Is Virginia Still in the Running with Savage?
Image: Tom SavageCardinal O'Hara (Springfield, PA) star Tom Savage has become one of the most highly recruited quarterbacks in the 2009 class, having received over 20 Division 1A scholarship offers. The 6-5, 220-pound signal caller still hopes to narrow his long list of schools down by the end of spring with a decision ideally coming before the start of his senior season.

Virginia Scores Top Safety Prospect
Image: Corey LillardThe University of Virginia football staff received some excellent news shortly after today's Spring Game, when another in-state standout verbally committed to the Cavaliers. In today's commitment, Virginia gets a top safety prospect known for his hard-hitting ability.

McCoy Talks Virginia Visit
This past Thursday through Saturday, the University of Virginia played host to Grant (OR) senior point guard Paul McCoy. The 5-11, 175-pound was in Charlottesville on an official visit, which was also his first ever experience at UVa. McCoy came away impressed by the experience, but he still plans on making two more official visits before he makes his college choice.

More recent recruiting updates on The Sabre ...


   Support TheSabre.com's Sponsors

Today's SabreMail is brought to you by our sponsor:

Please welcome our newest sponsor Chase to TheSabre.com! Show your true colors and support your community. Apply for the Flexible Rewards Card that let's you choose your reward. CHASE Cards provide great benefits and deliver the superior service you deserve. Choose your design, sign up and support your community. Apply Today!

Email and thank Chase for their support!

Thank you again for supporting the sponsors of TheSabre.com. Please remember that TheSabre's sponsors are YOUR sponsors! They directly contribute towards our ability to bring you a better web site.

   News, Notes, and Fan Discussion

Blog Banter: Spring "Game" Rolls On

Virginia's annual Spring Football Festival rolled into Scott Stadium on Saturday and for once the weather cooperated as fans were treated to sunshine and blue skies. Due to roster depth at certain positions, there was no "game" this year, only scrimmage style drives of offense vs. defense. Scott Deke, Marc Verica, and Peter Lalich all played quarterback and there were few running plays at all. The Good Ol' Blog followed the action from the press box. Check out the notes on the QBs, captains, Rock Weir winners, and more on The Good Ol' Blog.

Robert Mahini (Vandy-Hoo)
TheSabre.com

SabreMail Archives

Interested in a past SabreMail issue? Never fear - we keep 'em archived! Check out the SabreMail home on TheSabre.com where you can see the current issue, past issues, and any breaking news releases that we've emailed in the past as well.


Cross, a former UVa assistant, Now A Head Coach

The University of Toledo has hired former University of Virginia and Notre Dame assistant Gene Cross as its head men's basketball coach. Toledo Athletic Director Mike O'Brien announced the news on Friday.

"We are very pleased that Gene Cross has agreed to join our family at the University of Toledo as the head men's basketball coach," said O'Brien. "Gene has all the characteristics we are looking for in a head coach. He is a bright, hard-working young man with a great love for the game of basketball. He has been associated with programs that have been consistently outstanding on the basketball court, and also have a strong emphasis on academics and personal integrity. I think Gene is a perfect fit to lead our men's basketball program."

Read more about Cross and his new job in the MAC Report Online.


Advertise With The Sabre!

TheSabre.com has come a long way since its conception in 1996. We are the #1 media source and community covering UVa athletics, producing an average of 95,000 unique viewers and over 4 million page views each month. We reach a coveted demographic (you know Hoo you are) 24/7, 12 months out of the year. Rooting for their team clearly represents one of the big passions in the life of our Sabre community members. This site greatly enhances this never-ending passion through information, analysis, and most importantly through communal dialog/networking.

Our advertising approach is different in that we make it abundantly clear in a direct and honest way that your company's commitment of sponsorship dollars is what enables the site to continue existing and improving into the future.

To learn more, please contact [email protected].

The Sabre is a vital part of a unique collegiate sports network that reaches nearly 2 million individuals per month. Like the Sabre, each site in the SportsWar network is an organically grown community and the emotional home for its fans.

To learn more about SportsWar network sponsorship opportunities, please contact [email protected] and visit the SportsWar media guide www.sportswar.com

To view a list of our sponsors, please visit our Sponsors Page.


Around the World of Wahoo Sports ...

  • Virginia Completes Undefeated Regular Season With Win Over Wake: Top-ranked Virginia completed an undefeated regular season with a 7-0 win over No. 30 Wake Forest Sunday afternoon before a Snyder Tennis Center record 859 fans. The Cavaliers (25-0, 11-0 ACC) finished the ACC regular season unbeaten for the second consecutive season and the third time in the past four years. "To go through an entire regular season undefeated is so hard to do," said men's tennis coach Brian Boland. "It doesn't happen very often so this is obviously a big moment for our program. It is a special accomplishment and we realize what an achievement it is."
  • Cavalier Women's Tennis Suffers Loss to Duke in Finale: The Virginia women's tennis team concluded its regular season schedule with a 7-0 loss to No. 9 Duke Sunday at the Snyder Tennis Center. With the loss, Virginia falls to 9-12 overall and 5-6 in the ACC. For the second consecutive match, however, the Cavaliers scored an upset at No. 1 doubles. Lindsey Pereira and Maggie Yahner, a day after topping the No. 3 ranked team from North Carolina, upset No. 5 Melissa Mang and Amanda Granson 8-4 at the No. 1 position.
  • No. 24 Baseball Wins 11-4 at Maryland, Sweeps Series: The Virginia baseball team finished off a three-game sweep of Maryland with an 11-4 victory Sunday on a chilly afternoon at Shipley Field in College Park. Andrew Carraway pitched a career-high seven innings, while the Cavaliers' offense racked up 14 hits, including three home runs, to cruise to the win.
  • Tar Heels Sweep Series with 7-1 Win Over UVa Softball: The Virginia softball team (13-31, 4-11 ACC) was swept by No. 15 North Carolina (40-8-1, 13-1 ACC) Sunday after the Tar Heels defeated UVa 7-1 in the final game of the series at The Park. Cavalier shortstop Carly Winger scored the only run off the only hit for Virginia, a solo shot to left in the second inning.
  • UVa Golfers Climb to Seventh-Place Finish at River Landing: The Virginia men's golf team shot 6-under 282 during the final round of N.C. State's River Landing Intercollegiate to climb up the leaderboard for a seventh-place finish in the 15-team field. The Cavaliers' final round score was the team's second best 18-hole total this year.
  • Cavaliers Dominate Blue Jays for 400th Program Victory: History was made in Klöckner Stadium Sunday afternoon, as the Virginia women's lacrosse team dominated No. 16 Johns Hopkins, 17-6. The win extended the Cavaliers' win streak at home to 11 straight games, while it also brought the program its 400th win and head coach Julie Myers her 100th win in Charlottesville. "To be able to hit this 400-win milestone is incredible," Myers said. "It is a direct reflection of the program that I have inherited from Jane Miller and of the players that have played for Virginia in these first 34 years of being a program. It takes a lot of teamwork to get a win. To be in front of a program that has worked together with great discipline to get to this point and to get this win, it's something I'm really proud to be a part of."
  • Duke Runs Away from Virginia 19-9: Second-ranked Duke exploded for 10 unanswered goals to gain a convincing 19-9 win over Virginia before a record crowd of 8,000 fans at Klöckner Stadium. The loss is Virginia's first ever night loss at Klöckner after 21 consecutive wins dating back to 1993. With the victory, Duke earns the top seed in the upcoming Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament and improves its record to 12-1 this season. Virginia is now 10-2 this season and will be the third seed in the conference tournament in two weeks.
  • No. 3 Rowing Completes Virginia Invitational With Four Victories: The No. 3-ranked Virginia rowing team wrapped up action at the Virginia Invitational with four victories over Oregon State on Sunday at Lake Monticello. The Varsity Eight, Second Varsity Eight, Varsity Four and Novice Eight rowed to wins over the Beavers. UVa's Varsity Eight (Coxswain Caitlin Mixter, Jennifer Cromwell, Rebecca Ryall, Lauren Hutchins, Kelsie Chaudoin, Desiree Burns, Augustra Stratos, Bridget Wandelt, and Katrin Sydlik), finished with a time of 6:17.8, defeating OSU's time of 6:26.3. So far this season, the Varsity Eight has lost just one race, to top-ranked California.
  • Dr. Danny Mistry To Work With U.S. Swimmers In Spain: Dr. Danny Mistry, co-medical director of Virginia's sports medicine program, will be the team physician for USA Swimming May 2-9 at the Open Water World Championships in Seville, Spain. Dr. Mistry has also traveled with various men's and women's soccer U.S.A. national teams as an athletic trainer and massage therapist for the U.S. Soccer Federation. "We are extremely fortunate to have Dr. Mistry as part of the medical staff covering the student-athletes at UVa," said Ethan Saliba, Associate Athletics Director for Sports Medicine and Head Athletic Trainer at Virginia. "He has a tireless passion for providing care and he is extremely versatile in the type of care he can provide. He is a director, a clinician, an educator and he is not hesitant to get in the trenches if needed."

For more Hoo news or to read full releases, check out Virginiasports.com.


   UVa Bookstores - The Place for Wahoo Gear!

Ladies' University of Virginia Watch
$79.99

The ladies classic chrome and blue designer University of Virginia and Rotunda watch is a beautiful watch with printed roman numerals, raised silver dots, and three hand calendar movement. This is a great Mother's Day gift!

   SabreMail History

Issue No. 234 - October 24, 2006

Basketball recruiting

West Side (Gary, IN) couldn't overcome the loss of key players from last year's squad to have the year it wanted, but Virginia bound Jamil Tucker played well in what was his senior season. The 6-9, 210-pound forward averaged 22 points, 10 rebounds and three assists per game for West Side.

"He had an outstanding year as an individual player but, as far as the team goes, I think he was a little bit disappointed," West Side head coach John Boyd said.

According to Ford, Tucker will likely be a power forward for Virginia next season. Known for his outside shooting touch, Tucker is a versatile player who should bring an array of skills to the UVa team in 2006. Ball-handling will be one asset, as Tucker played the point guard position at times throughout his high school career.

Tucker has already met qualification standards, so he is now just preparing to get to the University of Virginia. Stay tuned for an EDGE update on the talented big man over the weekend.

Football recruiting

Virginia is off and running in 2007 class recruiting, as the staff has already landed three verbal commitments. The latest one came last weekend, when 6-1, 200-pound Yorktown (Arlington, VA) running back Max Milien pledged to the Cavs over heavy interest from Virginia Tech and Maryland, among others.

Milien, who is the second prospect from the state of Virginia to commit to UVa, rushed for 1,067 yards on 140 carries (7.6 yards-per-carry average) and scored 12 touchdowns. He added 26 catches for 414 yards and nine scores.

While other programs were recruiting Milien more as an athlete, the Virginia staff is recruiting him to play running back. This was a factor in his decision according to Yorktown head coach Bruce Hanson, who praised the UVa staff for the job they did in recruiting his star.

   What's New on TheSabre.com?

Coming Soon

The Sabre has you covered when it comes to Hoo news. Here are a few of the articles to expect on the site in the coming days:

  • Best Seat Audio: WINA radio has several Virginia guests lined up this week and we'll have select audio available for free to Sabre-ites!
  • Spring football: The Sabre will help wrap up spring practice. Look for several articles about the Hoos.
  • Around the Horn: Fresh off a sweep of Maryland, the baseball team tries to keep it rolling this week. The Sabre's Greg Waters takes his weekly look at the Cavs.


In Case You Missed It ...

Sabre articles since the last SabreMail

Blue Devils Too Much For Hoos
Image: Ben Rubeor"Midway through the third quarter, I think everybody in the stadium thought 'We have a game here.' I felt that way. We were fighting and we had a shot. But then they just strike so suddenly. ... They turn everything into a good scoring opportunity." Virginia coach Dom Starsia's postgame thoughts sum it up succinctly. Duke blew open a 9-9 game Saturday night in front of 8,000 Klockner Stadium fans with 10 goals in approximately 11 minutes to win 19-9. UVa's Ben Rubeor had 2 goals and 1 assist.

Passing Highlights Saturday's Action
Image: Scott DekeThe action at Scott Stadium on Saturday may only have been an extension of spring practice and not an actual game, but the scrimmage style exhibition proved entertaining for fans of the passing offense. The Cavaliers attempted 70 passes on a day that obviously highlighted quarterbacks, tight ends, and receivers. The quarterbacks, led by Scott Deke's two touchdown tosses, combined to complete 42 of 70 passes for 358 yards.

Best Seat In The House: Roger Mason Jr.
Image: Roger MasonFormer Virginia star Roger Mason Jr. is having his best season yet in the NBA, playing a key reserve role for the playoff-bound Washington Wizards. Mason joined The Best Seat in the House to talk about the season, defending players like Kobe Bryant, and more. Check out free audio from the show regularly on The Sabre!

Safety Battle Competitive For Cavs
Image: Corey MosleyThe Virginia football team has multiple starting jobs up for grabs this season, but one of the most notable battles to get on the field is at safety. The departures of Nate Lyles and Jamaal Jackson have left plenty of playing time available, meaning the likes of Brandon Woods, Rico Bell, Matt Leemhuis, and Corey Mosley are in daily competition to line up alongside Byron Glaspy. While nothing will be officially decided this spring, Al Groh said the progress has been "encouraging" along the back line.

Around The Horn: A Defining Moment Needed
Image: Brian O'ConnorFormer Cavalier football coach George Welsh never liked to use the word 'huge' in reference to a game. Brian O'Connor diligently tries to keep his charges from getting too hyped up over big wins or too down following disappointments. But this upcoming weekend series with Maryland, with all due apologies to Coach Welsh, is huge.

Best Seat In The House: Ben Rubeor & Bud Petit
Image: Ben RubeorThe Virginia men's lacrosse team is gearing up for an ACC showdown with Duke on Saturday night at Klockner Stadium. Jay James caught up with Ben Rubeor and Bud Petit to talk about the match-up with the Blue Devils, the most recent win at North Carolina, close games, season goals, and more. As always, select Best Seat audio is free on The Sabre!

Do You Dazzle? UVa Needs Spring Boost
Image: Jed WilliamsIn the movie "21", an MIT wiz interviews for the most lucrative scholarship at Harvard Medical School. The Dean's impressed. But when it's Harvard Med you're talking about, well, everyone is impressive. So he leaves our hero with this question to ponder: "What makes you dazzle?" It's exactly the question that university athletics departments and college football programs far and wide, big and small, must ask themselves when it comes to "selling" their Spring Football product to the masses. This should strike a chord at the University of Virginia.

Photo Gallery: Spring Practice 2008
Image: Peter LalichWith Virginia's spring game ready to kick off this Saturday, spring football is winding down at UVa. Fans only received two chances to see the team in open practices, but those that took in the sessions saw plenty of new faces battling for playing time. Of course, players like Peter Lalich, Joe Torchia, Aaron Clark, and others hit the field in games last year but are looking to make a greater impact this time around. Check out this photo gallery to see some of the action from practice.

Hey, Remember When ... UVa KO'ed KU
Image: Curtis StaplesWithout question, Virginia's 67-58 'upset' win over Kansas in the Midwest Region Semifinals of 1995 NCAA Tournament stands out as one of the men's basketball program's defining moments of the last 20 years. After all, beating No. 1 seed Kansas in Kansas City still shines as a remarkable tourney accomplishment even though it was more than a decade ago. Junior Burrough, Jason Williford, and Curtis Staples are still fan favorites today. It's certainly a moment most Hoos will never forget.

Best Seat In The House: Starsia, O'Connor Call-in 1
Virginia lacrosse coach Dom Starsia and baseball coach Brian O'Connor joined Jay James on The Best Seat in the House on Monday night for the start of The Best Seat Call-in Shows this spring. The show airs every Monday through June from 6 to 8 p.m. live from the Wild Wing Cafe in Charlottesville. Have a question for the Cav coaches? Call in to the show at 800-688-9462 or 434-977-1070. Audio highlights from the show will be available on The Sabre.

Torchia In Line For Tight End Torch?
Image: Joe TorchiaVirginia's recent tight end lineage started when Heath Miller put up some incredible numbers en route to winning the Mackey Award as the nation's top tight end. In 2007, departing tight ends Tom Santi and Jonathan Stupar combined to produce some impressive statistics: 76 catches, 777 yards, 5 touchdowns. Returning end John Phillips, who is expected to be in the leading role this season, chipped in with 193 yards and 2 TDs. Entering the spotlight next could be sophomore Joe Torchia, a 6-5, 255-pound product of Queen of Peace High School.


   Sabre Edge

Get your Wahoo fix. Subscribe to Sabre Edge!

Every week, Sabre Edge provides you with exclusive articles, columns, special features, interviews and recruiting news, including daily recruiting updates. There's even a special message board just for subscribers. And to top it off, you get 10 percent off all of your UVa Bookstores purchases during your subscription.

All of the great Sabre Edge content can be yours for the price of $5.99 per month or $59.99 per year. Try it for a month and cancel if you like. But we think you'll get hooked on the Edge and find out for yourself why the most knowledgeable Cavalier fans are Edge subscribers.

If you're a true Wahoo, then the Sabre Edge is right for you. Check it out!


 
    SabreMail is a trademark of TheSabre.com - Copyright © 2001 - 2007 - All Rights Reserved