May 13, 2005

CHARLOTTESVILLE - The University of Virginia women's rowing team returns to action this weekend (May 14-15) at the South/Central Region Championships in Oak Ridge, Tenn. Preliminary competition is scheduled for Saturday (May 14) and the finals for Sunday (May 15) on Melton Hill Lake.

Competition is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. both days with 21 teams participating in the championships. Ten of the teams are in the South Region, including Virginia, and 11 are in the Central Region.

Virginia crews will compete in the varsity eight, the second varsity eight, the varsity four, the open four, the first novice eight and the second novice eight at the South/Central Region Championships. The Cavaliers have not competed since winning three of five races in competition against Princeton and Southern California in Princeton, N.J., on April 30.

Virginia won the overall championship and the South Region Championship last year. The Cavaliers won championships in the second varsity eight and the varsity four competitions. UVa crews also finished second in the first varsity eight and the open four, third in the second novice eight and seventh in the first novice eight.

The Cavaliers are currently ranked first as a team in the South Region. Virginia's second varsity eight and varsity four boats are also ranked first in the region, while UVa's varsity eight boat is ranked second.

Virginia's first varsity eight crew is currently ranked ninth in the nation in the latest Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association/USRowing NCAA Division I Varsity Eight Coaches Poll. Seven other crews ranked in the poll are scheduled to compete in the South/Central Championships, including Michigan State (#3), Ohio State (#4), Michigan (#7), Tennessee (#11), Wisconsin (#14), Minnesota (#15) and Louisville (#20).