Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/206826
hoo's hot Recognizing the "Who's Hoo" in UVa athletics — Cava‑ lier student-athletes, past, present and future who are making news around the world of sports. Eric Bird ◆ Soccer Bird, a third-year from Virginia Beach, Va., started 29 of the 30 games he played in during his first two years on Grounds, but began this year as a reserve in the season opener. He returned to the opening lineup in the next game and has been in a starting spot since. The midfielder totaled a team-leading 15 points in UVa's first 16 games, tallying six goals and two game-winners — both of which also led the team — to go along with three assists. He was tied for fifth in the ACC in goals and seventh in points as of Nov. 5. Danielle Collins ◆ Tennis Collins was a part of a UVa trio that swept the singles' and doubles' titles at the ITA Atlantic Regional, which wrapped up at the Snyder Tennis Center in Charlottesville, Oct. 22. In the championship match, Collins, a second-year who competed at Florida last year, topped rookie teammate Rachel Pierson, who teamed with second-year Julia Elbaba to claim the doubles' title. Collins, who finished last year ranked No. 103 nationally as a singles player, had a record of 11‑1 this fall and the title earned her an automatic bid into the ITA National Indoor Singles Championship. Mitchell Frank ◆ Tennis The third-year from Annandale, Va., opened the season as the team's second-highest-ranked player at No. 15 in the ITA preseason rankings, but he made a case to move up in the first major individual tournament of the season. Frank won the second ITA All-American Singles Champi- i8-11.V-Sports.indd 3 onship of his career Oct. 6 to become just the fourth double-winner in the event's 35-year history. Although Frank started as the No. 12 seed in the tournament, he dropped just one set in his six victories. Between Frank and fourth-year Alex Domijan, the defending national champion Cavaliers have won an unprecedented four straight singles' crowns at the event. Akil Mitchell ◆ Basketball Lindy's Sports' College Basketball Pre‑ view loves Mitchell, the fourth-year forward from Charlotte. They named him the top rebounder in the conference, said he was arguably the ACC's most improved player from a year ago and noted he also leads all returning league players with an average of 8.9 boards per game. The magazine also ranked Virginia's frontcourt as the fourth-best in the land, with Mitchell playing a key role after he was named third-team All-ACC last season and ranked in the league's top 20 in rebounds (third), field goal shooting (fourth, 54.5 percent), steals (10th, 1.3 per game) and scoring (18th, 13.1). Barbara Strehler ◆ Cross Country The fourth-year from Richmond, Va., led the women's squad to a runner-up finish at the ACC Championships, crossing the finish line in fourth place with a time of 20:20.8. She led the way for four Cavaliers that earned All-ACC laurels with top-21 finishes in the six-kilometer race (seven of the top 30 finishers hailed from Virginia). Strehler's All-ACC mention was the third of her cross country career, and she was looking for her third allregion honor in the sport when the Cavs host the NCAA Southeast Regional Nov. 15. 11/5/13 3:51 PM