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April 23, 2005

CLEMSON, S.C. – The University of Virginia women’s rowing team defeated teams from four ACC schools to capture its sixth consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference Championship title on Saturday (April 23). The Cavaliers won the varsity eight, second varsity eight, and varsity four competitions, finishing the regatta with a total of 49 points. Virginia was the top seed in every race except the novice eight competition, and placed second to Clemson in that event. Clemson rowing hosted the sixth annual regatta at Lake Hartwell in Clemson, S.C.

Clemson finished second overall at the regatta, earning 41 points. Duke placed third with 24 points, Miami was fourth with 19 points, and North Carolina was fifth with 17 points. The Cavalier’s second varsity eight boat was honored as ACC Crew of the Year and remains undefeated this season. Beth Clark and Launa Forehand of the second varsity eight, and Carolyn McMillan and Margaret Matia of the first varsity eight were named to the All ACC Team. Clemson head coach Susie Lueck was named ACC Coach of the Year.

Virginia’s varsity eight, ranked tenth nationally, won that event in a time of 6:37.0. At the 1,250 meter mark, UVa was 20 meters ahead of Clemson, who finished second (6:45.5). Duke placed third (6:49.5), Miami finished fourth (6:50.4), and North Carolina was fifth (6:56.1). UVa’s boat was comprised of Katie Hilton (coxswain), Catelyn Coyle, Ashley Jones, Margaret Matia, Andria Haneman, Yvonne Epp, Mary Dobmeier, Carolyn McMillan, and Melanie Kok.

The Cavaliers’ second varsity eight crew, which was named ACC Crew of the Year and had twice earned ACC Crew of the Week honors earlier this spring, cruised to a 6:58.8 finish in that event. Clemson took second place (7:12.2), followed by Duke (7:17.4). North Carolina finished in 7:20.3, and Miami’s time was 7:20.9. The Cavaliers competing in the event included Launa Forehand (coxswain), Beth Clark, Crystal MacLeod, Libby McCann, Kerry Maher, Heather Gardner, Sara Lippa, Katie Yrazabal, and Chrissie Monaghan.

Despite severe wind conditions, Virginia maintained an early lead in the varsity four competition and won that event in a time of 7:55.4. The Tigers landed in second (8:06.3), Miami placed third (8:24.5), North Carolina took fourth (8:33.8), and Duke finished the race in fifth place (8:53.8). The Cavalier’s varsity four boat was manned by Michelle Ellison (coxswain), Mindy Fiesler, Mieke Pitts, Allison Brennan, and Katrin Sydlik.

Clemson was victorious in the novice eight race, becoming the first team to defeat Virginia in that event in the history of the ACC regatta. The Tigers and the Cavaliers were even at the 1,000 meter mark, however Clemson took a slight lead heading into the final 500 meters, winning the event in 7:20.2. UVa placed second in the competition (7:25.1), followed by UNC (7:34.3), Miami (7:46.7), and Duke (8:25.3). Rowers in the novice eight boat included Mary Eddy (coxswain), Lindsay Arnold, Schafer Bomstein, Lindsey Fletcher, Adrienne Egge, Laura Laycock, Kelsie Chaudoin, Kirsten Graslie, and Maria Micocci.

Virginia and Clemson held a second varsity four race Friday evening, which Virginia won (7:32.5 to 7:59.1). This event did not count towards the overall regatta scores.

UVa has won all but two events in the history of the ACC Championships, which were the varsity four event that Clemson won in 2001 and this year’s novice eight race. Virginia’s first varsity eight and second varsity eight boats are undefeated in the history of the regatta.

UVa head coach Kevin Sauer commented he was “pleased with the effort today,” and that Virginia “did a nice job in very challenging conditions.”

The Cavaliers return to action on Saturday (April 30) against Princeton, USC and George Washington. The regatta will be held on Lake Carnegie in Princeton, N.J.

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