OAK RIDGE, Tenn. No. 11 Virginia’s Second Varsity Eight and Novice Eight earned victories at the 2009 ACC Championships, but No. 14 Clemson came away with the team title with wins in the Varsity Eight and Varsity Four.

Clemson (55 points) broke a streak of nine-consecutive ACC titles by Virginia (54 points) to earn its first-ever rowing championship. Miami (34 points) was third, followed by Boston College with 23 points, Duke with 21 points and North Carolina with 19 points.

After the Tigers began the day with a victory in the Varsity Four, Virginia battled back with victories in the Novice Eight and Second Varsity Eight.

It came down to the Varsity Eight race, which Clemson won with a time of 6:38.4. Virginia was second with a time of 6:47.02, followed by third-place Miami (7:00.01).

“I thought our Second Varsity Eight and Novice Eight did fantastic jobs for us,” Virginia head coach Kevin Sauer said. “But it came down to the Varsity Eight. All the credit goes to Clemson’s crew and head coach Rich Ruggieri. We’ve got to get back to work and find a way.”

Following the races, the ACC awards were announced. Virginia’s Martha Kuzzy, who rowed with the Second Varsity Eight, was named the Rookie of the Year. Kuzzy is the second Cavalier to earn the honor, as Jennifer Cromwell won it in 2007.

Varsity Eight members Augusta Stratos, Amanda Chase and Bridget Fowler earned All-ACC honors.

Ruggieri was named the ACC Coach of the Year, while Clemson’s victorious Varsity Eight was named Crew of the Year.

Virginia returns to action on Saturday, April 25, when it travels to Boston, Mass., to take on Harvard, Yale, Northeastern and USC.

2009 ACC Championships
April 20, 2009 | Oak Ridge, Tenn. (Lake Melton)

Varsity Eight: 1. Clemson (6:38.40), 2. Virginia (6:47.92), 3. Miami (7:00.01), 4. Boston College (7:03.6), 5. Duke (7:09.03), 6. North Carolina (7:11.62)
UVa lineup: Coxswain Sidney Thorsten, Jennifer Cromwell, Bridget Fowler, Desiree Burns, Amanda Chase, Lauren Hutchins, Augusta Stratos, Lauren Shook, Victoria Burke

Second Varsity Eight: 1. Virginia (6:49.3), 2. Clemson (6:57.1), 3. Miami (7:18.42), 4. Boston College (7:25.45), 5. North Carolina (7:42.99)
UVa lineup: Coxswain Cristine Candland, Claudia Blandford, Marie Long, Cara Linnenkohl, Martha Kuzzy, Helen Tompkins, Christine Roper, Nora Phillips, Susie Chalker

Varsity Four: 1. Clemson (7:43.10), 2. Virginia (7:47.82), 3. Duke (7:57.08), 4. North Carolina (8:14.94), 5. Miami (8:20.24), 6. Boston College (8:34.35)
UVa lineup: Coxswain Taylor Gilmore, Ruth Retzinger, Megan Hooley, Summers Nelson, Caroline Sweeny

Novice Eight: 1. Virginia (7:04.8), 2. Duke (7:11.85), 3. Clemson (7:17.19), 4. North Carolina (7:30.53), 5. Miami (8:12.02)
UVa lineup: Coxswain Chloe Delaney, MacKenzie Leahy, Carolyn Glandorf, Morgan Joseph, Hannah Silver, Keziah Beall, Ana Tucker, Chelsea Simpson, Sarah Borchelt

Open Four: 1. Virginia A’ (7:41.7), 2. Virginia B’ (7:48.98), 3. Clemson (7:56.53), 4. Duke (8:20.87), 5. Boston College (8:41.93)
UVa A’ lineup: Coxswain Laura Hendrie, Mariana Lima, Pamela Baylor, Marelle Myers, Colleen Bauk
UVa B’ lineup: Coxswain Sarah Pichardo, Hannah Jenkins, Erin Hawes, Lieve Pitts, Lauren Heimburg

2009 All-ACC Team
Carla Englund, coxswain (Clemson), Jessica Leidecker (Clemson), Brittany Cummings (Clemson), Hilary Cumbest (Clemson), Michelle Nance (Clemson), Augusta Stratos (Virginia), Amanda Chase (Virginia), Bridget Fowler (Virginia), Laura Cordner (Miami), Emily Wingrove (Miami), Tracy Maciolek (Boston College), Laura Harvey (Boston College), Lesley King (Duke), Megan McMulin (North Carolina)

ACC Crew of the Year - Clemson Varsity Eight
Carla Englund (c), Jessica Leidecker (8th), Meg Bendik (7th), Liz Robb (6th), Michelle Nance (5th), Stefanie Kozuszek (4th), Grace Wolff (3rd), Brittany Cummings (2nd), Hilary Cumbest (1st)

ACC Coach of the Year
Richard Ruggieri (Clemson)

ACC Freshman of the Year
Martha Kuzzy (Virginia)