Monday Motivation: Benkert’s career day pushes Hoos to 2-1

TWO AND ONE, BABY! Virginia football took care of business on Saturday in dominating fashion, and they weren’t the only Hoos to rock the week. Let’s get to it.

Rapid Fire

-Winning record! Virginia football downed the UConn Huskies 38-18 on Saturday, improving their season record to 2-1 with one non-conference game remaining this season. The Hoos dominated from the get-go, out-gaining the Huskies 626-432. Several players hit milestones with both Olamide Zaccheaus and Doni Dowling crossing the 1,000 career receiving yards marker. Zaccheaus, Dowling, and Andre Levrone all had over 100 yards receiving - the first time in school history.

Defensively, Micah Kiser had 15 tackles and two sacks, the latter pushing him into 11th all-time in Virginia history with 18 career sacks. Kiser was also named the National Defensive Player of the Week for his performance.

Check out the full highlights:

Next up, the Hoos travel to Boise State for a Friday evening (8pm) game which will be televised by ESPN2.

-In case you missed it, Virginia’s basketball court got a refresher, and it looks goooood.

-Ryan Zimmerman kept his solid year cruising last night with two home runs, bringing his season total to 33 (good for 7th in the National League).

-Keeping in the “former UVA baseball players who are crushing it” theme, Derek Fisher had another strong performance for the Astros this week, hitting a 2-run home run and helping the ‘Stros clinch the AL West and a spot in the postseason.

-We see you, Brandon Waddell.

-Doesn’t matter which city, Chris Long is handing out sacks. The defensive end picked up his first sack of the season - and first as a Philadelphia Eagle - in their Week 2 loss to Kansas City.

-Virginia field hockey, now up to #5 in the rankings, kept rolling this week as they picked up two dominating wins.

First, the Hoos crushed #18 William and Mary to the tune of 7-2 as Greta Ell notched her first career hat trick and Erin Shanahan and Colleen Norair each had two goals. Tara Vittese and Izzy McDonough scored one apiece. Virginia led the Tribe 5-2 at the half, keeping their opponents from finding the back of the goal in the second half. Goalkeeper Carrera Lucas had seven saves in the game.

In their second win of the week, the Hoos destroyed Richmond, 7-0. First year Pien Dicke - from the Netherlands - had a hat trick in the win and Vittese had two goals and two assists.

With the pair of wins, the Hoos improved their record to 7-1 (1-0, ACC) for the season, and Vittese has bumped her goals total to 19 (with 11 assists).

Next up, the Hoos host #10 Boston College on Friday at 5pm.

-The #11 men’s soccer team also picked up two wins this week, remaining unbeaten for the season at 5-0-1. Sergi Nus and Raheem Taylor-Parkes notched goals for the Hoos in their first match of the week in a 2-0 win over Marquette.

Friday night, the Hoos headed to Blacksburg for a Commonwealth Clash showdown with Virginia emerging victorious, 2-1, behind two goals from Edward Opoku.

The victory gave Virginia head coach George Gelnovatch his 300th win, and gave the Hoos an early 1-0 lead in the Commonwealth Clash.

Team of the Week

Any time you get your third national championship ring (IN THREE YEARS), you deserve Team of the Week. Congrats to the UVA men’s tennis team for their boss week. First up, they received their baller natty champs rings in a ceremony on Friday.

Look at these beauties:

Then, the kings of college tennis took to the concourse before the UVA-UConn game on Saturday for a meet and greet with the fans...

...and then were recognized (with all the trophies) during the first quarter of action.

You know the trophies had to travel safely, though. SAFETY FIRST.

Wahoo of the Week

Congrats, Kurt Benkert...your record setting performance on the grid iron has earned you the Streaking the Lawn Monday Motivation Wahoo of the Week! Benkert finished with a Virginia record-setting 455 yards passing, connecting on 75% of his passes (30-for-40) and dishing out three touchdowns - all over 20 yards. He was one of just three quarterbacks to pass for three 20+ yard touchdowns this week.

He was also named the Althon Unsung Hero of the Week:

He responded to criticisms of not being able to connect on the long ball against Indiana by putting forth one of his best - if not the best - performances of his career. Benkert started the game 11-for-11 passing, and hit nine different receivers over the course of the game. I like this Kurt...he should stick around the rest of the season.

Enjoy your week, Wahoos.