Men's Lacrosse Eyes NCAA Title

UVa Athletics Media Relations Official Release

The Virginia Cavaliers (12-5) enter the final round of the 2011 NCAA Tournament as the No. 7 seed, the program's lowest seed since 2001 when UVa was the No. 8 seed. This weekend is the program's fourth-straight semifinal appearance and first trip to the finals since 2006. In the final regular season polls, UVa was ranked No. 10 in the USILA coaches poll and No. 9 in the Nike/Inside Lacrosse media poll. UVa will face the unseeded Maryland Terrapins (13-4) on Monday for the NCAA title. Maryland, the ACC Champion, was ranked No. 7 in the final media poll and No. 8 in the final coaches poll. The neutral site game will be contested at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Md. The game is set to face off at 3:30 p.m. Live stats will be available at VirginiaSports.com.

There will be a live radio broadcast in the Charlottesville area on WINA 1070 AM, which will be simulcast as an audio webcast on VirginiaSports.com through Virginia Sports Online Radio. John Freeman will bring the play-by-play and Doug Tarring will provide the analysis.

The game will be televised on ESPN in HD. Sean McDonough will provide the play-by-play, Quint Kessenich will add analysis and Eamon McAnaney will patrol the sidelines.

This is Virginia's 34th tournament appearance overall, second all-time behind Johns Hopkins (40). Virginia won the national championship five years ago (2006) and has received a bid in 18 of the last 19 seasons. UVa has made it to the semifinal round in each of the past four seasons and 13 times in head coach Dom Starsia's 19 seasons in Charlottesville. This is UVa's ninth appearance in the NCAA title game.

Read the full release here.

This Week In Recruiting
By Chris Horne

An impressive week for University of Virginia athletics extended to the recruiting front, where the basketball and football programs picked up commitments.

After a week of speculation, Justin Anderson revealed that he had indeed switched from the University of Maryland to the University of Virginia. The 6-6, 220-pound rising senior, a previous commitment to Maryland before Gary Williams retired, is a Rivals.com 5-star prospect as well as a 4-star prospect by ESPN.com and Scout.com.

TheSabre.com basketball guru CVilleHoops13 provided his take on Anderson in last week's EDGE Breakdown piece.

When you first see Anderson play it is impossible not to notice his athleticism, he has a great combo of leaping ability, speed and strength. He is also a fearless slasher and isn't afraid to use that athleticism attacking the rim - if he gets the slightest opening he isn't afraid to just put his head down and go. He rebounds well and I expect he'll be able to make a difference as a rebounding guard very early in his career, particularly on the offensive glass.

This week, I plan to have more in a "Q&A" piece with Virginia's newest basketball commit, so stay tuned.

Virginia football scored its fifth commitment in the 2012 class this past Saturday, when 6-3, 305-pound offensive line prospect Ryan Doull pledged to the Hoos while visiting. Doull, who hails from Kanata, Ontario, Canada, transferred to Fork Union Military Academy (VA), where he will attend a full year next year and play for John Shuman's postgraduate football squad.

Today, I'll have more on Doull and his commitment to the University of Virginia. Doull, who projects as an offensive guard, started at right offensive tackle last season for the Ottawa Sooners. He also plays lacrosse and scored 30 goals for Fork Union's varsity squad this spring.

This week, I'll also have a write-up on the coming June 5 Elite Junior Day, a football recruiting event that has been successful in recent years. I'll have the latest in terms of who plans on attending as well as any thoughts on possible commitments.

Today, I'll have an article up on Woodberry Forest (VA) defensive back Carlson Milikin, a rising senior who plans on attending camp at UVa in June. Milikin has committed to Virginia's lacrosse program but is open to any opportunities that may arise on the football front. Gridiron interest is picking up for Milikin, so June could be an interesting month for him.

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 ...

Breakdown: Justin Anderson

Athletic Lineman Accepts UVa Offer

More recent recruiting updates on The Sabre ...

• Anderson To UVa
• Harold Talks Camp, Recruiting
• Broad Run 2012: UVa Interested in Jessop
• UVa First To Offer Fork Union Lineman
• Diary: Prosise Reaches Double-Digit Offers
• Offers Mount For Centreville's Ekanem

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ACC Champions!

UVa Athletics Media Relations Official Release

The Virginia baseball team won the 2011 ACC Championship with a 7-2 victory over Florida State Sunday afternoon at Durham Bulls Athletic Park at the ACC Baseball Championship. Virginia went unbeaten in the tournament (4-0) and defeated three top-20 foes (Miami, North Carolina, Florida State) en route to the title and the ACC's automatic berth to the NCAA tournament. Virginia captured its third ACC tournament title (1996, 2009, 2011). Ironically, all three championships have come at Durham Bulls Athletic Park against Florida State. Virginia now has won 11-consecutive games at DBAP.

"I am obviously extremely happy for our ball club," Virginia head coach Brian O'Connor said. "Florida State has a tremendous team. The fact that we won the conference championship of the toughest conference in the country and went 4-0 in the tournament and still don’t have 10 losses on the season is something that shows that these players come to play every day. There are multiple guys who stepped up for this team today. It was a collective team effort, and I am proud of them because a championship like this is something that they will always remember."

The game was a matchup of the tournament's top two seeds - No. 1 Virginia (49-9) and No. 2 FSU (42-17). With its 49th victory this year, Virginia tied the 2009 squad for the second-most wins in program history. The 2010 team holds the record with 51 wins.

Read the full release here.

TheSabre.com was on hand in Durham for the Hoos' title run. Check out our coverage here.

K-Mart Presents WWE Raw World Tour

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) returns to the John Paul Jones Arena at the University of Virginia on Sunday, June 5 at 5 p.m.!

Tickets are on sale now at the JPJ web site linked here. Prices range from $17-$62 and groups of 10 or more receive $5 off tickets (discount does not include P1 tickets).

The card, subject to change, includes John Cena vs. R Truth for the WWE Championship! Other WWE superstars expected to appear are Rey Mysterio, Kofi Kingston, Alberto Del Rio, Dolph Ziggler, "The All American-American" Jack Swagger, John Morrison, Drew McIntyre, Eve, and more.

Stay tuned to TheSabre.com's message boards as well as our Facebook and Twitter pages for chances to win two tickets to the show!

Football Game At Indiana Set For 7 p.m.

UVa Athletics Media Relations Official Release

Virginia's road opener at Indiana on Saturday, Sept. 10 will start at 7 p.m. EST, the Big Ten Conference announced. The game will be contested inside recently expanded Memorial Stadium and televised live nationally on the Big Ten Network. This is the fourth game time and broadcast announcement involving Virginia that has been released for the 2011 season. UVa opens up the campaign at home against William & Mary on ESPN3 at 6 p.m. Also released this season is a Sept. 17 contest at North Carolina on ESPNU at 3:30 p.m., and a Thursday night game at Miami on Oct. 27 to be televised on ESPN at 8 p.m.

Run Into Scott Stadium!

Ever wanted to run on to the field at Scott Stadium like your favorite Hoos? Now you can! The Charlottesville Men's Four Miler's 7th annual race will be held on June 19, 2011 at 7:30 a.m. and will finish on David A. Harrison III Field at Scott Stadium. The course will wind through the surrounding areas of the stadium and the grounds of the University of Virginia before the participants enter the facility from Stadium Road and "run through the tunnel" to finish at the 50-yard line.

Previously held in December, the race will now start on Father's Day for the first time. The event will also become the first ever running event to finish in Scott Stadium and on David A. Harrison III Field.

Founded in 2004, by the University of Virginia's Department of Urology, the race's primary purpose is to encourage men in the community to become more physically active and to take a proactive role in the management of their health. All funds raised will go towards the development of the Virginia Men's Health Improvement and Performance Initiative (VMHIPI) at the University of Virginia.

Online registrations for the training program and the race are being accepted and are available on the official race web site www.mensfourmiler.com.

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Around the World of Wahoo Sports ...

• Virginia Finishes Sixth at 2011 NCAA Championships: The Virginia rowing team finished sixth in the final team standings with 69 points at the 2011 NCAA Championships, held on Lake Natoma in Gold River, Calif. NCAA Champion Brown finished with 85 points. Virginia, last year's national champion, finished second in the Varsity Four, fifth in the Second Varsity Eight and seventh in the Varsity Eight.
• Shabaz Falls in NCAA Singles Semifinals: Virginia senior Michael Shabaz had his run at the 2011 NCAA Singles Championship come to an end with a 7-6(4), 4-2 (ret.) loss to top-seeded Steve Johnson of USC in the semifinals. In the second set, both players held easily through the first five games, with Johnson holding a 3-2 lead. As Shabaz served at 2-3, he faced the first break point of the set at 30-40. After his first serve was long, he hit Johnson's return out of the way to prepare for a second serve. That swing caused the ball to leave the stadium and Shabaz was given a point penalty for ball abuse, giving Johnson the break and a 4-2 lead. Following the call, Shabaz chose to retire from the match. With the loss, Shabaz concludes his career and Virginia's 2010-11 season comes to an end.
• Virginia Women's Tennis Individuals Fall at NCAA Championships: The Virginia women's tennis team's historic season came to an end on Friday during day three of the NCAA Individual Championships at the Taube Tennis Center. Lindsey Hardenbergh lost in the singles round of 16, while Emily Fraser and Hana Tomljanovic lost in the doubles round of 16.
• Virginia Selected as Host Site for 2011 NCAA Baseball Regional: The NCAA announced that Charlottesville has been selected as one of 16 regional host sites for the 2011 NCAA Division I Baseball Championship. The four-team, double-elimination tournament will run June 3-6 at UVa's Davenport Field. Two games each will be played Friday (June 3), Saturday (June 4) and Sunday (June 5). If necessary, a single game will be played Monday (June 6). Game times will be announced Monday (May 30).
• Stanwick Headlines UVa's Five USILA All-American Selections: Steele Stanwick headlines five Cavaliers who were named to the 2011 USILA All-America team as a first-team honoree, as announced by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association. Stanwick is a Tewaaraton Trophy finalist and the reigning ACC Player of the Year. Virginia placed Colin Briggs on the second team and Chris LaPierre on the third team. Goalie Adam Ghitelman and attackman Chris Bocklet round out UVa's All-America selections on the honorable mention squad.
• Downs and Gardner Named to All-South Region Team: The Virginia women's lacrosse team placed two Cavaliers on the All-South Region team, as announced by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA). Senior Liz Downs was named to the first team, while junior Julie Gardner was honored as a second team selection.
• Nine Cavaliers Advance to NCAA Championships: The Virginia track and field team qualified four more Cavaliers for the 2011 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on the final day of the NCAA East Preliminary Round at Indiana University. In total, Virginia will send nine Cavaliers to this year's NCAA Championships at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Events are scheduled to run Wednesday through Saturday, June 8-11.
• Virginia Inks Two Divers for 2011-12: Virginia diving coach Rich MacDonald announced the addition of two divers who will join the Cavalier program in 2011-12. JB Kolod will become a member of the men's team while Laura Gartrell is set to join the women's squad.

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

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Issue No. 168 - December 9, 2004

Many coaches in the College Football Hall of Fame won more games than George Welsh. Many coached more years and won more championships. But not many coaches accomplished what Welsh did in his 28-year career.

After all, a lot of coaches can boast that they won a national championship. Not many can say they turned around not one, but two dreadful programs. In some ways, that's a more remarkable achievement, the fact that Welsh churned out winning teams at Navy (1973-81) and Virginia (1982-2000) even after many people told him it couldn't be done.

Welsh was inducted into the Hall of Fame on Tuesday at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. He will be enshrined at the Hall in South Bend in August of 2005.

Years from now, fans may wander into the Hall and look at Welsh's plaque and compare his record to that of Bear Bryant, John Heisman and Bobby Bowden. They may wonder what he's doing there. But those of us who are familiar with his career, who realize the magnitude of the rebuilding projects he successfully completed, we know there's no doubt he belongs in the company of those coaching greats.

I could go on and on about Coach Welsh, but his own words about his career and the Hall of Fame are far more interesting. My interview with Coach Welsh in April, when he was named to the Hall of Fame class, was previously just available to Edge subscribers. Now anyone can read it, as long as you promise to check out the rest of this SabreMail, which has all of the latest UVa athletics news and great gift ideas from the SabreShop.

John Galinsky
Then Editor
TheSabre.com

Check Out SabreMail #168.

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 soon:

• Summer Reading: JHoo's offseason series on the football team began last week with the QBs! Stay tuned this week for the next installment.
• Lacrosse, Baseball: The men's lacrosse team is in Baltimore for the NCAA Championship, while the baseball team is gearing up for an NCAA Tournament appearance at home as the newly crowned ACC Champion. The Sabre will be at both events!

In Case You Missed It ...

Sabre articles since the last SabreMail

Cavs Clip Carolina, Face FSU For Title
DURHAM, N.C. - Chris Taylor went 1 for 3 and drove in two runs while sophomore Whit Mayberry improved his record to 5-0 by striking out five in two scoreless innings. Reliever Branden Kline picked up his league-leading 17th save. Performances like that helped Virginia take down North Carolina 3-2 and finish 3-0 in pool play at the ACC Tournament. The Hoos play for the tourney title Sunday.

Virginia Routs Denver In NCAA Semifinals
BALTIMORE - Coming into Saturday's game against No. 6 Denver, Virginia coach Dom Starsia repeated multiple times that the Cavaliers were the underdogs. After the game, you would probably have to disagree with him. UVa showed what many had expected of the team from the beginning of the season, beating the Pioneers in a rout by a final score of 14-8 in the NCAA Tournament Semifinals.

Hoos Hold Off Hurricanes
Things didn't start well for Virginia on Friday at the ACC Tournament. By the time Will Roberts secured the final two outs of the first inning, UVa trailed 2-0. And then the rain came. It stayed for a while. After a 7.5 hour wait and that 2-0 deficit, however, the Hoos rallied to top Miami 6-4 and put themselves in favorable position to earn a shot at the title game.

Hoos Get Back On Track
DURHAM, N.C. - When hit with adversity, what separates good teams from champions is how they respond. When pressed, championship caliber clubs respond with statement games that remind all that they are the big dog and plan on remaining as the big dog. Virginia (46-9) played like a No. 1 club and a team locked into an NCAA Tournament top-8 seed by disposing of Wake Forest at the ACC Tournament on Wednesday.

Notes: Stanwick Shows Passing Touch
In sports it's obvious when certain players simply have a knack for something, like a running back finding the hole or a shooter that rarely misses. In the case of Virginia lacrosse, when you think of guys that could put the ball in the cage maybe someone like Matt Poskay comes to mind. Well when you think of passing, there's Steele Stanwick.

JHoo's Summer Reading 2011: Quarterbacks
Summer is here ... I think ... and so it is time for Summer Reading, our annual breakdown of next year's squad on a unit-by-unit basis. As always, we start with the quarterbacks for the simple reason that we always start there. There is an irony to starting with the quarterbacks this time around, however, as we probably know as little about that unit as any other on the team.

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