The University of Mary Washington volleyball team opened the 2005 season with many question marks. With the return of just two contributors from the 2004 team, Head Coach Dee Conway would need to rely on the strength and depth of a recruiting class that included eleven players. That group combined with the leadership of the upperclassmen, produced 15 victories for the young Eagles, and saw UMW advance to the Capital Athletic Conference semifinals for the first time in three seasons.
The veteran returnees - junior hitter Johanna Carpenter and sophomore hitter Acadia Owen - provided leadership on and off the court, and brought along a class that saw several players emerge into quality players. First team All-CAC freshman Kelley Hueber was perhaps the Eagles' best and most consistent player, averaging 4.13 kills per game and hitting .288 for the season - both marks ranked among the best in the CAC. Samanatha Harper and Kaitlyn Butler shared duties at setter, and both turned in top performances, highlighted by Harper's Most Valuable Player performance at UMW's tournament championship at Washington College in the Penny Fall Classic in early October.
Harper averaged 8.26 assists per game and hit a team-high .380, while Butler averaged 6.34 assists per game. Freshmen Kathryn Carter and Sarah Tighe provided a presence on the front line, as Carter scored 239 kills on the season and Tighe shored up the defense with 122 total blocks, best on the team. Carter also registered 106 blocks, giving UMW a top tandem defensively at the net.
Katy Foster used her versatile game as libero, with 64 service aces and 387 digs, both team highs. The young Eagles opened the season with three straight wins, which was a portent of things to come. The Eagles topped Washington College and Hood College in home matches before topping Lycoming College. UMW then ran into a bit of a rough spell over the next seven matches, but still managed a thrilling 3-2 win over Randolph-Macon College at Goolrick Gymnasium before several hundred fans.
After falling in a pair of non-conference matches at Catholic University, the Eagles went on their best run of the season, winning nine of twelve matches, including conference wins over Catholic and Goucher College, and the tournament title at Washington College. The Eagles also won a pair of matches at the McDaniel Invitational, over King's College and Susquehanna University. UMW entered the Capital Athletic Conference tournament on a positive note, defeating York College in a very important match for seeding the Saturday before the tournament began, winning 3-1. The Eagles defeated Catholic University for the third time in 2005 in the CAC Quarterfinals, 3-0, before dropping a deceptive 3-0 match at eventual tournament champion Gallaudet in the semifinals. UMW dropped the second and third games by the closest of margins, 31-29 and 31-29.