By Adam Kelly
As winter sports come to a close, watch out because the exciting spring sports schedule is officially here!
Men’s Tennis
Coming off a respectable season last year, the men’s tennis team is looking to keep the momentum going. They finished the fall season undefeated, but with Daniel Blonquist graduating and Benton Drake transferring, this upcoming spring season, the men’s team will need to rely on their work ethic and chemistry to succeed. This will be the last season for senior Marcos Diaz. He has been a vital part of the team the past few years, receiving multiple national rankings in doubles and will be a big help in the ’23 season.
Women’s Tennis
In the ‘21-’22 season, the women’s tennis team finished third in the USA South Conference East Division. Captains Paula Snelson (‘25) and Jillian Arnold(‘25) look to lead this team further than they finished last year. Solid and consistent doubles and singles play will be the key to their success. With practice already here, come support the women’s team this spring!
Baseball
The baseball team looks to improve this season with 17 incoming freshmen added to the roster. Last season, they wrapped up with a record of 10–22, ending on a high note with three straight wins. Entering his fifth consecutive season with the Knights, Coach Jerry Schlegelmilch hopes to set big goals with his new assistant coach, Tom Bennett. With some late-game thrillers last season, the team will rely on their leaders to start this season strong.
Softball
After bringing in three wins last season, the team looks to improve this year. Individual leaders Adisen Webster(‘24) and Chloe Nelson(‘25) look to lead this team to new heights as they continue to build and make a run at the conference title. With some new players added, keep an eye out for the Knight’s softball team this spring!
Men’s Lacrosse
In ’22, the Southern Virginia University men’s lacrosse team finished with a historical season (and the best season in program history) by winning their first Conference Championship. The team hopes to keep this momentum going for many seasons to come. With a very tough schedule this season, the Knights will fight to defend their conference title.
Women’s Lacrosse
Coming off a successful 2022 season, the women’s lacrosse team plans to keep moving forward. With their first game on March 4, the team is eager to get things going. This team has a strong incoming class with the ambition to take their program to the next level. Their main goal is to get back to the championship game and to walk out of it victorious.
Rugby 7
With a 3–6 record last season, the rugby team looks to improve for this upcoming season. Despite this only being their second year as a Division I team, they look forward to playing against very talented teams. The team closed last season with a huge win against Virginia Tech and they look to open this spring season just as strongly. The Knights will be hosting their first tournament of the year on February 25.
Spring Sports: Southern Virginia’s Next Big Thing was originally published in The Herald on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.