Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1478998
18 CAVALIER CORNER outside hitter in 2021. Not only did Borum shoulder a heavy load as a true first-year last season, she led the team in kills per set (2.39) and reception percentage (.972), a clear indicator that, "she was the best passer on our team," according to UVA head coach Shannon Wells. Borum also recorded a team-leading 7 double-doubles on the season. Her signa- ture performances correlated with the key UVA victories. In arguably the Cavaliers' big- gest win of 2021, a four-set victory at North Carolina, Borum recorded a season-best .318 hitting percentage. In UVA's five-set win at VCU, she turned in her first career double-double with 14 kills and a whopping 24 digs, her season high. As for Borum entering 2022, she feels her first-year campaign is just the tip of the iceberg. Upon returning to Grounds in Janu- ary 2022 after more than a month to de- compress from the end of the 2021 season, Borum and the Cavaliers welcomed a fresh start. She and her teammates reconvened to Grounds embracing the opportunity to train with Wells and her staff for the entirety of spring for the first time. "I think I had a really good first year and now that we had a whole spring together with the coaches to put in our system, I think this year is going to be really good for not only me, but also the team," Borum said. "Just seeing how much improvement I have made individually and along with the team, we're going to be really good this year, and it's really exciting to see that." Not only were the Cavaliers able to build cohesion with each other and the coach- ing staff this offseason, they were given the opportunity to build bonds with their new teammates, starting with Ole Miss transfers GG Carvacho and Gabby Easton, both of whom enrolled at UVA in the spring of 2022. Both Carvacho and Easton bring a wealth of experience at the Power Five level and — like Borum — athleticism. Carvacho is a 6-foot-3 outside/right-side hitter, while Easton is a left-handed setter who can at- tack the ball at a moment's notice. Wells and her staff continued to reach into the transfer portal with the additions of Vere- sia Yon and Chloe Wilson, who joined the pro- gram this past summer. Yon transferred from West Florida, one of the most successful Divi- sion II programs in the nation, where she was named AVCA South Region Player of the Year in 2021. Wilson, who stands 6-foot-5 and is the tallest Cavalier on the team, came to UVA as a right-side hitter from Wake Forest. Rounding out the Cavaliers' group of new- comers is Kate Johnson, a defensive spe- cialist who was originally committed to play college soccer before flipping to volleyball. Including Borum, the Cavaliers return five of their seven starters from last season, including fellow pin hitters Grace Turner and Mary Shaffer. Additionally, Jayna Francis and Simone Dominique, who like Turner and Shaffer are experienced attackers, are also set to return for the Cavaliers in 2022. Another plus for Borum will be the return of setter Ashley Le, who quarterbacked the Virginia attack as a true first-year in 2021. Le started in all 28 matches for the Cava- liers last year and was the team's leader in assists per set (5.16) in a 5-2 rotation sys- tem, which features two setters. The blend of Le's experience in Wells' system and developed chemistry with UVA's returning hitters in addition to Easton's athleticism and elite-level experience seems promising, especially for a player like Borum. With the depth that Wells and her staff have added to the 2022 roster, Borum is confident it's just a matter a time before the Cavaliers are firing on all cylinders, which naturally could alleviate some of the pres- sure a six-rotation outside hitter, such as Borum, could face during competition. "It definitely does take a lot of pressure off me because I know we have a lot more talent and a lot more work we've all put in," she said. "So, it's nice to know that they have my back and I'll always have theirs." In addition to their regularly scheduled spring training, which permits coaches to spend up to 20 hours per week with their student-athletes, members of the UVA vol- leyball team took it upon themselves to remain in Charlottesville over the summer to work out together. After voluntary summer workouts concluded, the team reported for its first official practice on Aug. 9. Prior to classes beginning on Aug. 23, the Cavaliers' practice slate generally consisted of two practices per day for six days a week. The highlight of Virginia's preseason training featured a four-day team retreat to Lake Nor- man, located 20 miles north of Charlotte. Borum and her teammates surrendered their phones to the coaching staff and immersed themselves into being present with each other. The getaway featured fun " I think I had a really good first year and now that we had a whole spring together with the coaches to put in our system, I think this year is going to be really good for not only me, but also the team." BORUM