CHARLOTTESVILLE – In its season-opener, the No. 2-ranked Virginia rowing team won three varsity races and swept the novice events against Bucknell Friday at the Rivanna Reservoir.

“I thought it was a good start to our season,” head coach Kevin Sauer said. “In the first race, you never know how it will go and I thought our crews handled it well. We thank Bucknell for the trip down and wish them well the rest of their season.”

Virginia’s Varsity Eight earned a first-place finish with a time of 6:39.2, while the Varsity Four (7:37.4) and the second Varsity Four (7:51.8) also had strong showings for victories. Virginia’s “B” boats in both those races came in second place, with the Bison coming in third.

The second Varsity Eight was also victorious with a time of 6:51.9.

In the novice events, Virginia got victories from its Eight (7:10.7), Second Eight (7:26.8) and Four (8:14.8) boats.

Bucknell at Virginia Results
March 21, 2008
Rivanna Reservoir

Novice Eight: 1. Virginia (7:10.7); 2. Bucknell (7:25.0)
Second Novice Eight: 1. Virginia (7:26.6); 2. Bucknell (7:58.5)
Novice Four: 1. Virginia (8:14.8); 2. Bucknell (8:18.1)
Second Varsity Four: 1. Virginia “A” (7:51.8); 2. Virginia “B” (7:55.6); 3. Bucknell (8:00.3)
Varsity Four: 1. Virginia “A” (7:37.4); 2. Virginia “B” (7:39.3); 3. Bucknell (7:44.9)
Second Varsity Eight: 1. Virginia (6:51.9); 2. Bucknell (7:10.6);
Varsity Eight: 1. Virginia (6:39.2); 2. Bucknell (6:54.5)