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Virginia Women’s Rugby (UVA) is coming in light – both in attitude and numbers. The Mason-Dixon champion is traveling to the DI Spring College Championship with 16 players for back-to-back games in California, but the fact that this young team is competing at this stage in the season means the year is already a success. So the team’s going to enjoy it.
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“This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for us, so everything is gravy,” Virginia Women’s Rugby coach Nancy Kechner said. “Everyone’s upbeat and looking forward to the trip and hanging out with each other. … The team is so fun to be around, and they really enjoy each other. It’s why we’re playing so well.”
The veterans respect the newcomers, the rookies feel valued, and a good game results. First-years have been starting all year, with notables like prop Robin Watkins, loose forward Caitlin Dozier, center Moriah Hairston and fullback Natalie Ha developing into key contributors.
“We’re going with as strong a team as we could have. We have all but one of our starters, but we have a good back-up,” Kechner referenced the absence of 6’1″ flanker Emily Battle. “It is what it is. They’re thrilled to be going. … And whatever happens, we’re one of the top four [spring] teams in the country.”
UVA guaranteed its berth to Fullerton, Calif., after defeating North Carolina 53-20 in the Spring Round of 16.
“They were inspired,” Kechner said. “UNC came amped for that game. We threw a few different things at UNC that they hadn’t seen before – loading up forwards where they weren’t expecting it – and it resulted in Alajiah [Cheeseman] scoring three tries. We added a couple more wrinkles to the game plan, too.”
Kechner praised UNC’s vigor, in particular the work of Tar Heels center Tavoiya Whitworth, who was a menace. In addition to UVA prop Cheeseman, wing Abigail Duff scored multiple tries and handled the conversions, while No. 8 Anna Thillairajah and wing Sierra Parks also scored tries.
That set up a DI Spring Quarterfinal against Penn State, which used its Saturday match against James Madison to work its depth. The Eagles and All-Americans returned to their starting positions against UVA and a 57-0 victory evolved. But all things considered – i.e., post-season results between DI Elite and DI teams – the outcome was respectable.
“When you play someone so much better than you, you play to their level. And you can see it when the kids are so involved in the game. We were getting our asses handed to us but attacking until the final minute,” Kechner said.
“We played them in the fall. It wasn’t triple digits, but it felt awful. We had no control over anything,” the coach reflected on the progress.
While UVA does have its share of newcomers filling starting positions, veterans like Hannah Turley, Cary Wingo, Heather Thompson and Sierra Parks all competed in the 2016 DI Spring Championship in Moraga, Calif., against UC Davis. They should be influential players against Chico State, the team’s spring semifinal opponent on Friday. On the other side of the bracket, UC Davis and Central Florida will fight for a final’s berth.
At the conclusion of the spring 15s season, UVA will not be vying for a spot to the USA Rugby College 7s National Championship, as it conflicts with school (Kechner is already proctoring 10 exams for the upcoming California trip), but will feature in the CRC 7s in Chester, Pa.
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