CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 SPORTS)-- With their sixth College World Series appearance in close memory the Cavaliers begin the road to Omaha once again, this time starting with a home visit from Hofstra. 

"I think we all have that same mindset," said junior pitcher Jay Woolfolk, "We're so bought into what we want to do, we don't get distracted by anything else honestly."

It will be a long road as always, with 56 games standing in between the Cavaliers and another post season push. It's a difficult balancing act handling the overarching goal of another College World Series appearance with the every day mechanics of practice and games but over the course of Brian O'Connor's 21 seasons as skipper, he's got it down pat. 

"Every season starts out for every college baseball team their goal is to get to Omaha Nebraska to have a chance to compete for a national championship and that's what we want to do as well," said UVA baseball head coach Brian O'Connor, "That said we have had the conversations with the players about what that looks like what do you have to do on an every day basis to not take any game for granted because all of those stack up to have opportunities at the end of the year to host a regional and super regional."

In the UVA locker room there is a board where every time they win a game they get to put a ball there. The wins stack up to make a triangle, hopefully leading to a national championship. It's a fun decoration but its point is to show that every win has a purpose, it all stacks up and leads to something bigger. 

"We just have this whole format and we all kind of understand what it takes from the beginning," said UVA sophomore pitcher Jack O'Connor, "So it doesn't really matter what the game is or who we are playing, it's you got to win a certain amount of games...it's right there."

The Cavaliers have gotten their own share of preseason accolades, coming into this season they have been ranked no. 14 by D1 Baseball and were picked to repeat as ACC Coastal Division Champions in a poll voted by ACC coaches. In addition to team accolades Ethan Anderson and Griff O'Ferrall have gotten some preseason nods as well. The pair of juniors both landed on the Golden Spikes Watchlist and both received preseason All America nods. 

Virginia returns a core of veterans as well as a promising group of newcomers. On the mound Virginia's arms will be anchored by a group of returners with sophomore RHP Jack O'Connor, sophomore LHP Evan Blanco and junior RHP Jay Woolfolk. All three are expected to start this weekend in that respective order. Coming out of the bullpen O'Connor expects Bradley Hodges and Joe Savino to make an immediate impact while Kevin Jaxel and Bryson Moore could play a bigger role as the season goes on. 

Behind home plate Ethan Anderson will finally get his time to shine replacing ACC Player of the Year and MLB first rounder Kyle Teel. Anderson will not catch every game as Teel did but can be expected to trade off with Salisbury transfer Jacob Ference.

Other questions for the Cavaliers starting lineup include first base, but all signs point towards first year Henry Ford making his debut there. Ford also saw time at third base this summer for the Charlottesville Tom Sox and in fall ball but with the Charlottesville native likely at first, it will be fellow freshman Eric Becker who will replace Jake Gelof at third. 

The Cavaliers are not immune to positions battles either. Sophomore Harrison Diddawick and Indiana transfer Bobby Whalen are both vying for center field. Whoever wins out will have big shoes to fill taking over for First-Team All-ACC selection and a Gold Glover Ethan O'Donnell. 

This marks the second year in a row that the 'Hoos open the season at home. First pitch for game one against Hofstra is scheduled for 3pm.