Virginia's Varsity Eight Named ACC Crew of the Week

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CHARLOTTESVILLE – Virginia’s Varsity Eight was named the season’s final Atlantic Coast Conference Crew of the Week, the league announced Tuesday (May 17). The Cavalier crew of coxswain Sidney Thorsten, Kristine O’Brien, Christine Roper, Fiona Schlesinger, Martha Kuzzy, Keziah Beall, Sarah Borchelt, Claudia Blandford and Carli Goldberg won both its races at the Oak Ridge Invitational to garner the honor.

UVa’s Varsity Eight began its competition at the Oak Ridge Invitational on Lake Melton in Oak Ridge, Tenn., on Sunday (May 15) by winning its heat (6:35.20) by more than eight seconds over No. 20 Notre Dame (6:43.41). Third-place in that race went to Oklahoma (6:46.21), followed by Rhode Island (6:46.64) and Tulsa (6:47.44).

In the grand final of the Varsity Eight later that day, Virginia won with a time of 6:26.00, more than five seconds faster than second-place and 11th-ranked Clemson (6:31.86). Third-place in that race went to Duke (6:34.78), followed by No. 20 Notre Dame (6:35.18), Louisville (6:38.84) and Oklahoma (6:47.27).

It is the first ACC Crew of the Week honor for Virginia’s Varsity Eight. Previously this season, Virginia’s Second Varsity Eight (March 29 and April 18) and Varsity Four (May 4) earned the accolade.

The Cavaliers await the 2011 NCAA Championship announcement, being made Tuesday (May 17) at 5 p.m. The selection show can be viewed at NCAA.com.