Good morning. As Vin Diesel once said: “I don’t have friends, I have family.”

Virginia women’s tennis is taking a page out of the Fast & Furious star’s book and hosting Youth Day today for their match against No. 20 Georgia Tech. Face painter? Check. Balloon animals? Check. Free admission? Double check.

Now the only thing we need to decide is if we ask to get our face painted like a lion, tiger, or bear. (It’s lion. It’s always the lion.)

What else is steeping in today's Brew?

🏈 Spring (football) in our step
⚾ Commonwealth Clash on tap
​⚔️ And much, much more!

📈 STOCK UP

🔼 Spring (Football) In Our Step. There are 154 days… or 3,696 hours… or 221,760 minutes until Virginia football kicks off its year against Tennessee (yes, we have a running timer on our computer) and the next step in gearing up for the season opener is the 2023 Blue & White Spring Game on Saturday, April 15th at 2:00pm ET. Need something to tide you over for the next couple weeks? We’ve got you right here…

• Virginia running back Mike Hollins talked about his return to the Cavalier program at the start of spring practices. The fifth-year running back also reflected on the tragic events of last November and what the process of healing has looked like for him personally.

• Assistant coach Clint Sintim discusses the linebackers’ performance along with James Jackson and Stevie Bracey and talks about how spring practice is getting them ready for this next season.

• New faces are emerging from the wide receivers position this spring along with first-year coach Adam Mims. Get an all-access look at how Virginia football is poised to improve this fall.

🔼 The Eleventh? Ours. Virginia men’s lacrosse attackman Xander Dickson has been named one of 11 Tewaaraton Award Watch List second round additions, which highlights the top players across all three divisions of NCAA lacrosse. The Greenwich, Connecticut native leads the Cavaliers with 32 goals on the year and is second with 40 points, having scored six goals in three different games this season. He’s currently third in the nation (and first in the ACC) averaging 4.00 goals per game (4.00) and his 5.00 points-per-game average ranks 10th nationally.

🔼 Kick Up Your Heels. Virginia softball is back home this weekend and North Carolina is on tap. The Cavaliers will be looking to match last weekend’s performance and secure the sweep—and with pitchers Eden Bigham, Molly Grube, and Jenny Bressler providing a 1-2-3 punch that has Virginia holding steady at a 1.84 team ERA (second in the ACC) and an offensive lineup that’s top-5 in the conference in extra base hits, home runs, and stolen bases, the Hoos have everything they need to boost their spot in the ACC standings.

🔼 Movin’ On Up. Virginia sophomore golfer Amanda Sambach advanced to the final round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur following yesterday’s 36-hole cut. She tied for 21st place in the field of 72 golfers at 1-over 145 while playing at Champions Retreat Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. The top 30 players (plus ties) advanced through to the final round.

🔼 The Kids Are Alright. No. 12 Virginia women’s tennis is hosting a pair of conference opponents this weekend, starting with No. 20 Georgia Tech today at 4:00pm ET and closing the weekend against No. 30 Clemson on Sunday at 12:00pm ET. We suggest making time for both matchups (you can’t beat a forecast that calls for sunny skies and temperatures in the low 60’s) but today is Youth Day—complete with free admission, face painting, balloon animals, and more.

🤔 HOOS TRIVIA

The Commonwealth Clash. Virginia baseball is hosting Virginia Tech for an interstate rivalry this weekend. The team currently leads the ACC with a 23-2 record because their offense and defense both lead the conference in some pretty impactful statistics. Any idea what either of them are? Scroll down to the bottom of this email for the answer!

⏪ ICYMI

We like our Brew hot n’ fresh. But we’re not opposed to you reheating your cup. Here’s some news you may have missed recently…

⚔️ Cav Futures has been named the official NIL collective of Virginia athletics, helping University of Virginia student-athletes capitalize on their Name, Image, and Likeness and create opportunities to maximize their own personal marketing and branding efforts.

⚔️ Former Virginia men’s soccer player Daryl Dike was called back to the U.S. Men’s National team on March 15 for two CONCACAF Nations League games at the end of the month. The striker made an appearance as a substitute in the 57th minute of a 7-1 victory over Grenada.

⚔️ Virginia men’s tennis junior Iñaki Montes was named the ACC Men’s Tennis Player of the Week. He picked up a pair of victories on the top singles court last week, winning in straight sets against No. 70 Ryan Fishback of Virginia Tech and Boston College’s Max Motlagh and he clinched UVA’s victory at No. 13 Harvard with a 6-4, 6-4 victory against No. 30 Harris Walker.

📬 STICK WITH US

Did someone send you the Hoos Brew? Well, the first thing you should do is thank them. The next thing you should do is subscribe here and get it in your inbox every weekday morning just in time for your first cup of coffee!

📅 THE WEEK AHEAD

Friday 3/31

🥎 Softball vs. North Carolina @ 2:00pm ET on ACC Network Extra | Tickets From $8

🎾 Women’s Tennis vs. No. 20 Georgia Tech @ 4:00pm ET | Free Admission

🥍 Men’s Lacrosse vs. No. 4 Duke @ 5:00pm ET on ESPNU | Tickets From $8

🚣‍♀️ Women’s Rowing vs. No. 14 Ohio State @ 5:30pm ET

⚾ Baseball at Virginia Tech @ 8:00pm ET on ACC Network

Saturday 4/1

⛳ Men’s Golf @ Augusta-Haskins Invitational

🚣‍♀️ Women’s Rowing vs. No. 9 Michigan @ 9:00am ET

🥎 Softball vs. North Carolina @ 1:00pm ET on ACC Network Extra | Tickets From $8

🎽 Track & Field at Virginia Quadrangular @ 2:00pm ET

🥍 Women’s Lacrosse at Syracuse @ 6:00pm ET on ACC Network Extra

⚾ Baseball at Virginia Tech @ 7:00pm ET on ACC Network Extra

Saturday 4/2

⛳ Men’s Golf @ Augusta-Haskins Invitational

🎾 Women’s Tennis vs. No. 30 Clemson @ 12:00pm ET

⚾ Baseball at Virginia Tech @ 1:00pm ET on ACC Network Extra

🥎 Softball vs. North Carolina @ 4:00pm ET on ACC Network | Tickets From $8

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: Offense leads in fewest strikeouts. Defense leads in team ERA.

Virginia batters are averaging just 7.3 strikeouts per game, and the pitchers have combined for a 3.93 team ERA. Not striking out and holding your opponents to the fewest earned runs per game leads to wins. Who’d have thought?

Have a good Friday and a great weekend, y’all.