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18 CAVALIER CORNER a lot more free time to just really devote to football, which has been different." In his first two seasons as Virginia's head coach, Bronco Mendenhall couldn't have asked for a better representative of his pro- gram and an ambassador of sorts who gave all he could to get things turned in the right direction. "Micah added experience, stability and influence," Mendenhall said. "When things were going well and when things weren't, Micah was a steadying force that lent per- spective to our program." "Coach Mendenhall, he's all about hard work," Kiser added. "When you get to the NFL, every single guy there wants to pro- vide for their family, they want to make the most money, it's every man for him- self really. It's not like that when you're in college, when it's all about the team and building camaraderie and things like that. … There's 53 guys on [an NFL] roster so you're working as hard as you can to be one of them. "Coach Mendenhall's just always preach- ing to go out there and work really hard and that's just what I've done. When it comes to special teams, you've got to go really hard, go really hard when you get your opportuni- ties on defense and just make the most of all of your opportunities." When he finally has a chance to look back at his career at UVA, winning the Campbell Trophy and being able to get his team back to the postseason will be big highlights. "Individually, it would be the Campbell," he said. "It's something I didn't go into col- lege expecting and I didn't really go into the season expecting. I didn't know much about that award. But once you get nominated for it and you read up on it, you see how important it is. What it encompasses, that just meant a lot. "For me and my whole career, it would probably be getting back to the bowl game. Even though obviously it didn't go the way we wanted it to go, just to propel the pro- gram in the right direction after so many ups and downs and so many what ifs, to leave the program better than I found it really means a lot." Kiser's focus, of course, is forward. And his former head coach sees a bright future ahead. "For a team that truly needs an inside line- backer — which is a part of the challenge in the NFL of being drafted or being selected by a team that has a true need — if given the opportunity, I think he can play and play for a long time," Mendenhall said. "When things were going well and when things weren't, Micah was a steadying force that lent perspective to our program." HEAD COACH BRONCO MENDENHALL ON KISER Fourth-year linebacker Micah Kiser was tabbed as UVA's top male athlete at the Hoos Choice Awards May 2. Here are four more that put together outstanding seasons during 2017-18. Dox Aitken, lacrosse — The second-year became the first Cavalier to be named a first-team All-American since 2012 when he received the honor from Inside Lacrosse. He was also tabbed as an All-ACC per- former and was one of 25 nomi- nees for the Tewaaraton Trophy, which goes to the top player in the country. Aitken started every game and ranked second in both goals (39) and points (51) while scoring in 16 of 18 contests. He also picked up 36 ground balls and caused five turnovers. His point total set a new single-season record for UVA midfielders, while his goal total ranks No. 2 on the single- season list for his position. He is just the 12th UVA mid- fielder all time to reach 30 goals in a season, and he scored his 50th career goal in just his 25th career game, making him the fastest UVA midfielder to the 50- goal plateau (Pete Eldredge had done it in 30 games). Quin Blanding, football — The fourth-year safety teamed with Kiser to give the Cavaliers a potent one-two punch that helped the program snap a six-year postseason draught. Blanding ranked second in the ACC and eighth nationally in tackles (137), plus tied for third in the ACC and tied for 25th nationally in interceptions (four), en route to earning first-team All-ACC recognition and All-America honors from nine different media outlets. He started all 49 games of his career and finished with a school-record 495 career tackles, which ranks sixth in ACC his- tory and is the most among defensive backs. Kyle Guy, basketball — The second-year guard led the way for UVA's balanced attack that produced a record-setting sea- son. He paced the Cavaliers in both scoring (14.1 points per game) and three-pointers (83), and reached double figures in 28 contests. The sharp-shooting Guy gar- nered first-team All-ACC acco- lades and ACC Tournament MVP honors after helping the Cavalier finish 20-1 versus league foes while sweeping the regular-sea- son and tournament champion- ships. He also earned third-team All-America honors from the As- sociated Press and National As- sociation of Basketball Coaches. Andy Weber, baseball — The third-year infielder was the model of consistency, reach- ing base in all but four of his 54 games played. At one point, he reached base safely in 32 straight contests and had two hit streaks of 10 or more games. Weber finished second in the ACC in batting (.344 average), plus was tied for second in doubles (19) and tied for seventh in hits (72). He also led UVA with five home runs and 50 RBI on his way to picking up first-team All-ACC accolades and being tabbed as a third-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball. BEST OF THE REST Third-year infielder Andy Weber hit .344 to finish second in the ACC in batting average, and also led the Cavaliers with five home runs and 50 RBI on his way to first-team all-league honors. PHOTO COURTESY UVA