Hoos Hittin' It: The UVa. Volleyball Podcast

First year Sarah Billiard is back in solid form just weeks after knee surgery. But another Hoo goes down with a season-ending injury. The coaches are shuffling lineups with success as the Hoos swept two ACC opponents at home and have won three of their last four matches.

The Hoos' losing streak is snapped on the road to start the second half of conference play! It's a much-needed bright spot in a struggle of a season. The Hoos won't end with the kind of record they wanted, so we dialed up a former standout player to talk about what the Cavaliers should be playing for now.

What does it take to get a daughter onto a Division I volleyball team? And more important, what do the players need to do to become part of the one percent who successfully transition from high school to the top level of university play? Three dads talk about the journey this week.

One West Coast Hoo gets to see a sister on the court and family in the stands at last weekend's match at Pitt. It's was a rare treat, but in reality, the players treat each other like family. And, yes, that includes goofy nicknames. Who is this Cheezo, anyway?

UVa. faced cross-town ACC rival Virginia Tech in a mid-week match, and Dana and Mike recorded the podcast live at Mem Gym. It's a collection of our thoughts on the individual players, the team, and the coaches, from the semi-insightful to the downright banal. Enjoy!

The Wahoos have switched -- at least for now -- to an offensive system that can produce more kills and blocks. In Florida, they put a scare into an undefeated Miami team and played tough against No. 19 Florida State. Can this new offense power them past cross-town rival Virginia Tech?

Injuries, a low hitting percentage, and some struggles on defense have the Cavalier coaches considering different lineups. Some first years will have to step up as the team heads to ACC play while volleyball veterans must boost their production and show even more leadership. Guests this week include Harley Sebastian and Kiley Banker.

The Hoos returned to Mem Gym, but still on a rollercoaster. In back-to-back tournaments, they've been flat and inconsistent in the early matches only to turn it all around in the final match. Head Coach Aaron Smith is working to smooth out the Jekyll-and-Hyde squad as they close in on conference play. Hitters Jelena Novakovic and Kat Young also talk about the season so far and what the Hoos must do to get ready for ACC play.

The Hoos ran into problems on the season's first road trip. They lost two of three matches, but have returned home with a new sense of purpose. Can they get back on track for the Jefferson Cup tournament this weekend in Mem Gym? This is the season's first true test of a young team and a new head coach, but the players say they're ready to bounce back and rock their home court.

The 2017 season is underway! The Cavaliers log a 2-1 record in the opening tournament and head now to a three-match stand in Boone, N.C. Dana and Mike breakdown the tournament highlights and challenges with the help of Coach Aaron Smith and players Sarah Billiard and Kelsey Miller.