Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
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JUNE 2017 ◆ 9 CAVALIER SPORTS ◆ June 2, 1994 — Outfielder Brian Buchanan becomes the Cavaliers' first first-round pick in the MLB Draft, going 24th overall to the New York Yankees. Buchanan made the big leagues in 2000 for the Minnesota Twins, and also played for the Padres and Mets during his time in MLB from 2000-04. After serving as a coach for some of the Kansas City Royals' minor league affiliates, he is now a hitting assistant for the big league club. ◆ June 1, 2007 — The men's tennis team wraps up a historic season with the highest ranking in school history — up to that point — with a No. 2 finish in the ITA final listing, which also marked an ACC squad's highest finish ever. The Cavaliers went 30-4, setting a school record for team victories, and were the first from the league to reach the NCAA semifinals, while Somdev Devvarman became the first Wahoo to claim the No. 1 spot in singles after winning his first national title. ◆ June 13-17, 2009 — The UVA baseball team advances to the College World Series in Omaha for the first time in program history after winning the Irvine Regional and Oxford Super Regional with a combined 5-1 mark. The Cavs then fell 9-5 to No. 1 LSU June 13 before taking a 7-5 victory over No. 2 Cal State Fullerton two days later. However, BRIAN O'CONNOR'S team was eliminated in a 4-3 defeat at the hands of Arkansas that required 12 innings. The Cavs tied for fifth at the CWS, but would return to Omaha in 2011, and for its runner-up finish in 2014 and its national championship run a year later. UVA HISTORY "Virginia's 33-year streak of having a player picked in the draft ended, but Miz- zell was its best shot. He rushed for 2,075 yards and 12 touchdowns in his career, but didn't earn a combine invite. The Ravens were one of the worst rushing teams in the league a year ago." — ESPN's NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. on listing former UVA running back TAQUAN MIZZELL as one of his 25 undrafted free agent rookies to watch "I'm going for the No. 1 tackling record in school history. I'm going for intercep- tions this year. I'm going to be a dominant player. I'm going to be the playmaker that everyone knows." — Rising fourth-year safety Quin Bland- ing on why he returned to Virginia instead of going to the NFL Draft; the two-time first-team All-ACC pick noted he had "some unfinished business" and wanted to prove he is "the best safety out there" (ESPN.com) "What Brian has accomplished is his- toric. … What is most remarkable is the vision he had when he took the Virginia job. He inherited a very weak team and knew that no matter what he did, he wasn't going to be very good that first year. But he hit the road recruiting like nobody else has ever done." — Legendary Notre Dame tennis coach Bobby Bayliss, who ranks fifth in colle- giate tennis with 765 career victories on UVA mentor Brian Boland, who stepped down after 16 years at the helm to become the United State Tennis Association head of men's tennis (The Daily Progress) "If there were a Mt. Rushmore for coaching legends at Virginia, a spot would be reserved for Brian Boland." — Daily Progress columnist Jerry Rat- cliffe on the coach who led the Cavaliers to the NCAA men's tennis semifinals in nine of the last 10 seasons, won six national ITA indoor crowns and captured 14 ACC championships HOO'S TALKING PHOTO COURTESY UVA PHOTO BY MATT RILEY/ COURTESY UVA