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Is Virginia volleyball becoming a competitive ACC program?

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Is Virginia volleyball becoming a competitive ACC program?


With the offseason fully upon us, it’s time to take a look at the state of the many athletic programs at UVA and hand out some grades.

After a turbulent recent history, here’s how the Virginia Cavaliers volleyball program is shaping up heading into the fall.

Last five years: D

The past five seasons for Virginia volleyball have, to say the least, not been pretty. Off the court, the program dealt with a coaching scandal in the spring of 2021 that saw head coach Aaron Smith and his entire staff relieved of their duties and replaced with former University of Florida associate head coach Shannon Wells.

On the court, the results have been less than stellar. The ‘Hoos have finished below .500 in each of the last five seasons, have a cumulative record of 46-84 (.354 winning percentage), and have finished no better than 11th in the ACC during that span. The 2019-20 season was the last in which UVA had a winning home record, and the ‘Hoos haven’t been able to knock off a ranked opponent in the past five seasons.

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After a complete overhaul of the program just three seasons ago, it would be unfair to expect immediate dominance, especially in the always-competitive ACC. But it’s hard to justify a better grade considering just how mightily the ‘Hoos have struggled to remain competitive recently.

Coaching staff: B

Shannon Wells and her staff stepped into an extremely tough situation when they accepted the Virginia job in April of 2021. And while the on-court results haven’t been great so far, Wells has rejuvenated the program’s culture and taken important steps toward creating a winning environment.

By the numbers, the ‘Hoos are 31-54 (.365) overall and 9-45 (.167) in the ACC under the guidance of Wells, who came to Charlottesville after serving under Mary Wise for seven seasons (2014-20) at Florida. While those results aren’t incredibly inspiring, the squad has taken strides in each of Wells’s three seasons, and this fall will be the first in which she has a roster of entirely her own recruits.

There have been some shake-ups amongst the assistants since the new staff’s arrival, but the ‘Hoos will head into the 2024-25 campaign with Travis Magorien coordinating the offense, Sarah Bullock overseeing the recruiting and pin hitters, and Trevor Kennan managing the defense and liberos.

While the ‘Hoos went only 4-14 in the conference this past season, they showed a lot of growth in the non-conference portion of their schedule and managed to complete a season sweep of Virginia Tech. With Wells finally being able to hand-pick her entire roster this season, look for Virginia to take some more significant steps in the right direction.

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Current roster: B-

The ‘Hoos are returning ten players from last season’s squad including leading-scorer Abby Tadder, their assists leader Ashley Le, their top two servers: Le and Kate Johnson, and three-year starting outside hitter Brooklyn Borum. With another year to develop under Wells, the returning core has the talent to take a big step forward.

Wells has also brought in seven new faces this offseason. Four rising freshmen — Teegan Hogan, Zoey Dood, Sarah Brodner, and Becca Wright — and three transfers.

Among the transfers, the most impactful addition will likely be rising senior Elayna Duprey from Virginia Tech. Duprey led the Hokies in kills last season with 222 and was fourth on the squad in digs with 121 while registering 12 starts in 26 appearances.

Wells also snagged Kate Dean out of the portal this offseason, an intriguing 6’3 middle blocker from Eastern Illinois. The rising junior racked up 209 kills last season, finished the year with a .329 attack percentage, and was third in blocks (62) on an Eastern Illinois squad that reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2001.

This season’s roster is one of the tallest in recent memory, and with a combination of returning potential and incoming talent, should be in line for more tangible success in the fall.

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Future recruiting: B

Wells didn’t enroll her first class of freshman until last season when she brought in Lilly Gervase and Meredith Reeg, but the transfer portal has become just as important for future recruiting as high school recruiting, and Wells has shown a knack for bringing in talent each offseason.

Wells signed Alana Walker in 2021, who finished the 2021 regular season second in the nation in blocks per set (1.51), and Gabby Easton in 2022, who led that year’s team in assists. And with Duprey, Dean, and Tennessee transfer Kadynce Booth arriving on grounds this fall, Wells has yet another talented crop of transfers.

From the high school ranks, the ‘Hoos have four intriguing freshman from the class of ’24:

Outside hitters Sarah Brodner (6-foot-5) — the fifth-ranked prospect in the state of Florida — and Becca Wight — who stands at 6’6 and hails from Worthington, Ohio — will add even more height to a towering UVA squad.

Zoey Dood, a 6-foot-2 setter from Grandville, Michigan, was named a 2023 AVCA First Team High School All-American and was twice recognized as an All-State playe. Meanwhile, Teegan Hogan was an All-State Honorable Mention in North Carolina as a defensive specialist.

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Down the road, the ‘Hoos already have several commitments in the classes of 2025 and 2026 as Wells continues to put her signature on the program.



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Snow expected tonight across DC, Maryland, Virginia: Forecast, totals, winter weather alerts

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Snow expected tonight across DC, Maryland, Virginia: Forecast, totals, winter weather alerts


A quick-moving winter storm will likely bring the first meaningful snowfall of the season to the D.C. region tonight, with slippery travel expected overnight into early Sunday as temperatures stay cold enough for snow to stick.

What we know:

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The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for Washington, D.C., central and northern Maryland and northern Virginia from 8 p.m. tonight through 7 a.m. Sunday.

Forecasts call for:

  • 1 to 3 inches of snow for much of the Washington–Baltimore region
  • 4 to 5 inches possible in parts of Baltimore County and northeastern Maryland
  • A brief period of rain at the start in some spots before quickly changing to snow

Meteorologists say a narrow band of heavier snow could set up late tonight, briefly dropping visibility to less than half a mile and allowing snow to pile up faster.

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Snow totals and impacts

Once the precipitation turns fully to snow, travel may become slippery across the region.

Expected snowfall amounts:

  • D.C. metro: 1–3 inches
  • Montgomery and Prince George’s counties: 1–3 inches
  • Howard and Anne Arundel counties: 1–3 inches
  • Baltimore region: 2–4 inches, with isolated 5-inch totals
  • Northern Virginia (Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria): 1–3 inches

Temperatures fall into the upper 20s and low 30s, helping the snow accumulate on untreated roads, sidewalks and bridges.

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Why this storm matters

This system marks the first snow of the season that will actually stick for the D.C. area. The storm arrives as yet another blast of Arctic air drops into the Mid-Atlantic.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, the weakening of the polar vortex is allowing cold air to spill south, setting the stage for any moisture tonight to fall as snow.

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What’s next

Snow is expected to taper off by mid to late Sunday morning. A Gale Warning is also in effect for the Chesapeake Bay and tidal Potomac starting Sunday morning, and wind chills near 0°F are possible late Sunday night into Monday.

Residents should monitor local forecasts and plan for slower travel overnight and early Sunday.

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The Source: This story is based on forecasts and advisories from the National Weather Service Baltimore/Washington and the FOX Forecast Center.

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Virginia mosque attacked, Muslim advocates call for hate crime charges

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Virginia mosque attacked, Muslim advocates call for hate crime charges


Community members are calling for the man accused of attacking a Muslim community center in Virginia to be charged with hate crimes after he was recently arrested. The mosque says the man has attacked its members multiple times.

Virginia mosque attack

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What we know:

The latest attack happened on Nov. 28, at the Dar Al Nur Community Center in Fairfax County. In security footage shared by the mosque, a man can be seen berating a group of women leaving prayer. When they see the man, they run back through the door and threaten to call the police.

The man is then seen swatting at the camera, while shouting, “F—ing Muslims! Get the f— out of here!”

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Police arrested Dr. Tony Hsiao shortly after the incident, charging him with assault, trespassing and destruction of property. Hsiao was arrested last year on similar charges. 

What they’re saying:

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Hsiao has not been charged with a hate crime, and advocates say that’s unacceptable.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) called pubically Friday for state and federal officials to charge Hsiao with a hate crime.

“[F]ederal authorities must hold him fully accountable by filing hate crime charges,” CAIR attorney Ahmad Kaki said in a statement. “no one should be able to get away with repeatedly attacking the same house of worship. We must send a message that all faiths are welcome and safe in Fairfax County and throughout our nation.”

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The Source: Information in this story is from the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Fairfax County Police Department.

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Virginia Sports Hall of Fame announces Class of 2026

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Virginia Sports Hall of Fame announces Class of 2026


HENRICO, Va. (WWBT) – The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2026 on Wednesday.

This year’s group of athletes, coaches, administrators, and contributors whose influence spans generations, levels of competitions across the state. This includes one man from Richmond, who has also been named the 2026 Distinguished Virginian.

The Class of 2026 inductees are as follows:

  • Bobby Ukrop (Richmond): Robert S. “Bobby” Ukrop has been named the “2026 Distinguished Virginian” presented to an individual with a sports background who is a distinguished citizen of the Commonwealth based on outstanding life accomplishment”. A former basketball player at the University of Richmond, Ukrop has been a transformative community leader, leading initiatives throughout Central Virginia including the founding of Richmond Sports Backers, construction of the Diamond baseball stadium, efforts to “Drown-proof Virginia” learn to swim initiative.
  • Grant Hill (Reston): ACC Player of the Year; two-time consensus All American; two-time NCAA Champion; one of the ACC’s 50 Greatest Players; 19-year NBA career – 17,137 points -7-time NBA All-Star- 3-time NBA Sportsmanship Award; Olympic Gold Medalist; member of the College and Naismith Memorial Basketball Halls of Fame. National broadcaster for both NCAA and NBA games. Co-owner of the Atlanta Hawks (NBA) Orlando City SC (MLS), Orlando Pride (NWSL) and the Baltimore Orioles (MLB).
  • Marcellus “Boo” Williams (Hampton): Widely regarded as one of the most successful and influential youth basketball coaches in the nation, Williams has helped shape the careers of countless young men’s and women’s players. Walt Disney Wide World of Sports named Williams its 2001 Volunteer of the Year; The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame presented him with its 2013 Human Spirit Award. Williams currently operates his youth basketball programs from the 135,000 sq. ft. Boo Williams Sportsplex in Hampton.
  • Michael Vick (Newport News): The former Virginia Tech standout and NFL quarterback, Vick became one of the most dynamic players of his generation. At Virginia Tech, Vick led the Hokies to the 1999 National Championship game and was a 1st team All-American and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. The #1 overall pick in the 2001 NFL draft, Vick played in the NFL for 13 seasons, earning 4 Pro Bowl selections and the 2010 NFL Comeback Player of the Year. After his retirement, Vick was a commentator for Fox NFL Sunday. He is currently the head coach of the Norfolk State University Spartans.
  • Wally Walker (Charlottesville): Often credited with starting the prominence of UVA basketball, Walker led the Cavaliers to their first NCAA tournament berth in 1976 when he was the MVP of the ACC Tournament. Walker was the #5 overall pick of the 1976 NBA draft and played for 8 NBA seasons winning two NBA Championships. Following his playing career, Walker moved to the front office, to become the President of Seattle SuperSonics.
  • Kristi Toliver (Harrisonburg): One of the most accomplished basketball players in Virginia history. Toliver was the 2009 ACC Player of the Year, a 2-time All-American, NCAA National Champion, 1st round WNBA selection, 2-time WNBA Champion and a 3-time WNBA AllStar. Toliver is currently the associate head coach of the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA.
  • Terry Driscoll (Williamsburg): A visionary leader in collegiate athletics, Driscoll served with distinction as the Director of Athletics at William & Mary for 22 years, during which the Tribe won 114 Conference Championships, had 118 teams with 100% graduation rates and oversaw a dramatic increase in funding for new facilities and the College’s endowment. A true “Scholar-Athlete” himself, Driscoll was an Athletic and Academic All-American, the #4 overall pick in the 1969 NBA draft, and a championship professional coach in Europe.
  • Roland Lazenby (Wytheville): A former reporter with the Roanoke Times, Lazenby is best known for his award-winning author of over 60 sports books that has vaulted him to the top of his profession. Widely regarded as an “expert or authority” on NBA basketball, several of his most prominent books are “go to” references on Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
  • Tony Bennett: Former University of Virginia basketball coach, two-time Naismith Coach of the Year, and national championship coach as long stood among college basketball’s most respected leaders. Over an 18-season head coaching career, including stops at Washington State and the University of Virginia, he compiled a remarkable 433-and-169 overall record. He took over Virginia in 2009 and transformed the Cavaliers into a powerhouse, amassing a 364- 136 record while becoming the programs all-time wins leader. His crowning achievement came in 2019, when his team captured the NCAA national championship- a milestone that delivered Virginia its first ever national title in men’s basketball. Under Bennett’s stewardship, Virginia won six regular season conference titles, two conference championships, and made 10 NCAA Tournament appearances.

The 53rd induction events are set for Saturday, April 25, 2026, at the Hilton Richmond Hotel and Spa/Short Pump.

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