On Sunday in Sacramento, Calif., the Virginia women’s rowing team took fifth place in the NCAA Championships. While it was UVa’s eighth top-five finish in the last 11 years, it clearly wasn’t what coach Kevin Sauer was shooting for.

In the 12-year history of the NCAA Championships, UVa has participated 11 times and has finished as the runner-up three times — in 1999, in 2005, and again last year.

Virginia accomplished that and will reap the reward today — the Cavaliers open play as one of 30 teams at the championships, which are being held at Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex in West Lafayette, Ind. The Cavaliers enter as the event’s 30th seed.

UVa senior Somdev Devvarman became the first player to reach the NCAA singles semifinals in three straight years on Saturday, battling past Baylor sophomore Denes Lukacs, 6-0, 6-7 (2), 6-3.