After a tough 2021-22 season, the Virginia volleyball staff is trying to proceed rebuilding in its second season beneath the command of Coach Shannon Wells. Regardless of a key departure, the Cavaliers usher in quite a lot of new faces that may hopefully put the staff in place to win a number of video games in a fiercely aggressive ACC that has seen them win only one recreation over the previous two seasons.
Following a 2-12 (0-12 ACC) season in 2020-21, the Cavaliers determined to scrub home earlier than the 2021-22 season by eradicating the complete teaching workers and hiring Coach Shannon Wells to implement a brand new tradition and assist rebuild the struggling program. Within the first 12 months of her tenure, Virginia completed with an 8-20 (1-17 ACC) document.
The Cavaliers have been capable of carry out pretty properly to start the season, beginning with a 7-3 document earlier than getting into ACC play. As soon as convention play started towards among the nation’s greatest competitors, nevertheless, wins turned a lot tougher to come back by for Wells’ squad. Virginia completed their schedule with only one win of their remaining 18 contests.
The Cavaliers will convey again a number of proficient gamers from final season, together with sophomore exterior hitter Brooklyn Borum who made the ACC All-Freshman staff in 2021, graduate exterior hitter Grace Turner, and sophomore setter Ashley Le who led final 12 months’s squad with 506 assists.
Virginia additionally introduced in some key transfers in the course of the offseason, which ought to assist bolster the roster and supply invaluable veteran management. Graduate scholar setter Gabby Easton and junior exterior hitter GG Carvacho be a part of the Cavaliers after stints at Ole Miss, junior exterior hitter Chloe Wilson transferred from ACC foe Wake Forest and graduate scholar center blocker Veresia Yon joins Virginia after a four-year profession at Division II powerhouse West Florida.
Essentially the most notable departure from final 12 months’s roster is center blocker Alana Walker, who led the ACC with 1.51 blocks per set. Yon, with assist from sophomore center blocker Abby Tadder, will most certainly be charged with filling the void left by Walker. The Cavaliers will little doubt want Yon to step up in an enormous approach.
The Cavaliers’ 2022 marketing campaign kicks off Friday with a match towards ETSU as a part of the Gators Invitational in Gainesville, Fla. Virginia will face a comparatively simple non-conference schedule this season with just one contest towards a top-25 ranked opponent once they face No. 15 Florida Saturday night.
The competitors ought to as soon as once more develop into harder when the Cavaliers transfer into convention play in late September. After a robust displaying final season, the ACC enters 2022 with three groups ranked within the top-25 — No. 4 Louisville, No. 6 Pittsburgh and No. 9 Georgia Tech.
Virginia followers will hope to see indicators of enchancment in 12 months two beneath Wells. Will probably be tough to beat the lack of Walker, however the brand new switch additions ought to assist create a extra well-rounded, veteran roster. Moreover, with the event of a number of standout freshmen from final season, the Cavaliers ought to see extra indicators of life.
Virginia has a superb probability to get some wins beneath their belt in the course of the non-conference portion of their schedule and can hopefully decide up extra victories than final 12 months of their ACC slate.
