The University of Mary Washington volleyball program opened the 2004 season with high expectations after placing third in the Capital Athletic Conference in 2003, and with a very talented incoming freshman class, looked to go even higher. Led by senior Jackie Durr, the Eagles aimed for another CAC championship appearance, but a string of injuries to key players kept the Eagles out of the first division in the league standings for the first time ever.
On the bright side, the Eagles saw the emergence of freshman Acadia Owen, who garnered attention in CAC Rookie of the Year balloting after ranking first on the team in hitting percentage (.213) and finishing second in kills (219) and blocks (73). The 6'2" product of St. John's at Prospect Hall will certainly be a key component to the Eagles' success in the next three seasons. Another highlight in 2004 was the play of senior libero Jackie Durr, who concluded her four-year career as the all-time leader in digs in Mary Washington history, with 1,530. Durr became the first UMW player to ever record 600 digs in a season in '04 as well.
Freshman hitter Jessica Mims (2.15 kills per game, 2.38 digs per game) showed flashes of brilliance before a back injury curtailed her season after just 35 games played. Ashley Bull (2.33 kills per game, 92 blocks), Megan Linn (74 kills), and Allison Hahn (51 kills) were stalwarts on the UMW front line as well. Kate Feldmann (a 2003 All-CAC selection), Johanna Carpenter (154 kills), and Nicole Berry (92 kills) provided versatile production from both the front and back lines, as did setter Sarah Blehm (team-high 723 assists).
The team concept instilled by Coach Dee Conway was evident, as five different players averaged at least two kills per game, three players had at least one hundred assists, ten players saw action at least fifty games. The Eagles opened the season winning three of four, including wins over Goucher College, Hood College, and Villa Julie College. Playing against a challenging portion of their schedule, UMW then went on to face top opponents such as Randolph-Macon College, Catholic University, and Washington & Lee University.
The Eagles rebounded at the ultra competitive Lycoming College tournament, with victories against Hartwick College and Kean College. After avenging their season-opening defeat against Washington College, went on to defeat Capital Athletic Conference foes St. Mary's College (twice) and Goucher, before playing one of their best matches of the season in a 3-0 victory over Virginia Wesleyan College, one of the top teams in the ODAC conference.
A pair of late season 3-1 losses against York PA Collge and Gallaudet University placed the Eagles in the sixth spot in the CAC Tournament, and the Eagles uncharacteristically fell in the opening round at Marymount University in three games. The 2005 campaign is eagerly anticipated, as the hopes of a healthy season by Mims and Feldmann, as well as the continued top play of the rest of the returnees should equate to UMW returning to the upper echilon of the conference and challenging for the NCAA Tournament automatic bid given to the CAC champion.