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OCTOBER 2022 19 activities, like swimming and games, an en- vironment that allowed teammates to get to know each other as people. Other events included team-bonding exercises such as "Bach to Rock," an organi- zation that offers group music lessons. The intent of these exercises should not come as a surprise: develop chemistry with one another, capitalize on strengths, minimize weaknesses, do your part and everyone else will be on the same page. Upon returning from the team retreat, Borum and the Cavaliers knew that they'd have their work cut out for them. The upcom- ing 2022 season will be the program's 44th overall, which held its inaugural season in 1979. Their schedule features four American Volleyball Coaches Association preseason top-25 teams. Three of those ranked teams are in the preseason top 10 in No. 4 Louis- ville (Oct. 21), No. 6 Pittsburgh (Sept. 28) and No. 9 Georgia Tech (Oct. 7). Additionally, the Cavaliers will face seven 2021 NCAA Tournament teams in Florida (Aug. 27), Florida State (Oct. 14), Miami (Oct. 16) and North Carolina (Sept. 25), on top of the Car- dinals, Panthers and Yellow Jackets. "Yeah, it's definitely a lot harder," Borum noted. "Every team in the ACC is getting better, [like] how we did in the spring, and I think it's going to be just as hard — even harder than it was last year. "I'm really excited to play Pitt and Lou- isville — the top-five teams — and just see what we can do against the best, and then continue to play our game." If there is one thing that is going to propel Borum and the Cavaliers toward the top half of the ACC standings, it's competition. Of course, the challenge of playing against a handful of the nation's premier teams will build experience and grit, but so will the con- stant battle for playing time amongst team- mates every day in practice, and this is where Borum asserts herself as a true competitor. "I want to be on the floor every play — that will never change. But I'm also excited to see what they [teammates] do, too. It's going to be a fight to see whoever is going to fill in a role and I think we're all excited to compete against each other." Borum's signature performances correlated with the key UVA victories last season. In arguably the Cavaliers' biggest win of 2021, a four-set victory at North Carolina, Borum recorded a season-best .318 hitting percentage. (Photo courtesy UVA)