June is upon us. What does that mean? The NCAA Tournament is on its way and the College World Series is right around the corner. And, in its 19th, and back to back, appearance, Virginia will have to battle its way through the Greenville Regional hosted by the East Carolina Pirates. UVA is one of six teams making their consecutive return to the NCAA tournament.

Though the first half of the season, which saw the Hoos go 26-3 over their first 29 games, had fans hoping to host a 2022 Regional, inconsistency in the latter half of the season has forced them on the road to take on a pod made up of No. 1 East Carolina (42-18), No. 3 Coastal Carolina (36-18-1), and No. 4 Coppin State (24-28). For all the background you need on each of these teams, check out Michael Curran’s piece ahead of the pool.

In preparation, Virginia coach Brian O’Connor has been putting the team to work, holding one of its most intense practices since the preseason this past Sunday. This intensity, particularly this late in the season, is a direct result of the Cavaliers’ poor performance in the latter half of the season and in the ACC Tournament. Dropping games to Florida State, 13-3, and Notre Dame, 3-0, UVA fans, coaches, and players were left wanting more. O’Connor said it best following the Florida State game when he commented that, “they beat us in every phase of the game … we weren’t ready to play.”

Despite the team’s recent struggles, however, the Hoos are still very strong contenders to win, and advance out of, the Greenville Regional. Here are the three biggest reasons why Virginia can advance to the Super Regional.

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