CHARLOTTESVILLE The Virginia Varsity Eight has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Crew of the Week, the league announced Tuesday. The Cavaliers, ranked No. 15 by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA), defeated No. 11 USC and No. 16 Harvard last weekend on the Charles River in Boston, Mass.

In a thrilling finish, the Cavaliers rallied from a boat length down to best the Trojans by nearly one second and the third-place Crimson by four seconds. In the morning session, the crew defeated Gonzaga and Northeastern at the competition to make it a 2-0 day.

Virginia’s Varsity Eight from Saturday’s competition consisted of coxswain Sidney Thorsten, Jennifer Cromwell, Amanda Chase, Lauren Hutchins, Augusta Stratos, Desiree Burns, Bridget Fowler, Lauren Shook and Victoria Burke.

It is the first crew of the week honor for the Varsity Eight. Virginia’s Second Varsity Eight won the award on March 31 after defeating California, UCLA and Stanford.

Virginia has two weekends off from competition to prepare for the 2009 South/Central Regional Championships, being held May 16-17 in Oak Ridge, Tenn.