Hoos Hittin' It: The UVa. Volleyball Podcast

With a stack of pictures chronicling her volleyball life from middle school to her senior year at UVA, we ask setter Jennifer Wineholt to have a conversation with her younger self about the triumphs and disappointments she'll face along the way. She's one of five graduating seniors who have shaped the program and who will bid farewell to their beloved Memorial Gymnasium in a final home match on Friday.

A second key player is lost for the season and the Wahoos must again adjust to adversity. First-year Jayna Francis is leaned on to perform, and third-year Tine Jarman is leaning on her faith.

We sit down with our favorite Serbian opposite, Jelena Novakovic, to talk about her final year as a Wahoo, how she's grown as a player, and why in the heck she's sometimes setting in matches. Plus, Mattie Matthews returns to the studio to talk about how first years are making a big impact on a squad full of veteran Hoos.

We introduce you to the final three first-years joining the Wahoo squad this year as they prepare to suit up for the Blue v. Orange scrimmage. It's the fans' first chance to see the 2019 team in action and to see how the five freshmen might fit into this experienced roster.

Five first-years take the court in pre-season and, already, there is controversy. There's a Maddie, a Mattie, a Coach Joe, another Coach Joe and a player who sometimes goes by Jo. The need for nicknames has taken on increased urgency.

The offseason brings a host of changes to the Wahoo volleyball squad in terms of players, positions and staff. We catch you up on all the moves as the Cavaliers start their first full week of practice!

More tears, more joy, more touching stories. Three more Wahoos get letters from home, words from special people in their lives expressing love and support in the season's final stretch.

Heading into the season's home stretch, Dana and Mike sit down to discuss the season so far, the individual players, and ask important questions like, "If you had to be a foster parent for one of the players, who would you pick and why?"

Some letters of support stir emotions for three Wahoos. The letters were penned by special and influential people in these players' lives. And for one Hoo, a letter hits particularly hard when it reveals a level of admiration and respect she didn't fully understand.

The Wahoos are going back to an offensive lineup -- uncommon in this conference -- that uses both setters and an extra hitter. The switch is meant to tally more kills and blocks, which the Hoos will need as they face tough ACC opponents at home.