The University of Mary Washington volleyball team entered the 2007 season with high hopes. Coming off a 12-10 season the year before, the Eagles welcomed back the majority of the roster and returned for fall practice with an air of optimism for success.
Led by All-CAC junior Kelley Hueber and sophomore Anne Lutkenhaus, the Eagles raced to 19 wins, winning the Catholic University Guetle Invitational and the Roanoke College Invitational along the way. UMW opened the season in a very competitive tournament at Averett University against some of the top teams in the region. The Eagles managed a 3-1 win over Roanoke College in the event, which set them on a course which would see them win four of their next five contests.
A 3-1 win over Randolph-Macon College in the home opener precluded a 3-1 mark at the Buttermaker Tournament, with wins over Centenary College, Susquehanna University, and Fairleigh Dickinson University. A pair of CAC losses to York and Gallaudet University were sandwiched around the tournament title at Catholic, where the Eagles topped the Cardinals, as well as Messiah College and Trinity University.
After victories over Washington College and Trinity, the Eagles dropped a 3-2 decision to St. Mary’s College before splitting matches with Villa Julie College and Bridgewater College. The CAC win over the Mustangs propelled the squad to seven wins in their next eight matches, bringing its conference record to 4-3 and overall mark to 19- 9.
Included in the streak were wins over Sweet Briar College, Catholic, Mary Baldwin College, Roanoke, and Eastern Mennonite University, as well as CAC wins over Hood College, Marymount University, and Wesley College. After dropping road contests at Salisbury and Lynchburg to close the regular season, the season came to a close with a 3-1 loss at St. Mary’s College. Despite a late-season injury to setter Lindsey Scott, the Eagles battled to the very end, with hitter Kathryn Carter assuming some setting duties in the final matches of the year. Hueber, a three-time all-conference selection, led the team with a .317 hitting average with 364 kills and added 330 digs. Lutkenhaus, the MVP of the Catholic Tournament and an All-CAC pick, came into her own in 2007, hitting .278 with team-highs of 373 kills and 444 digs. Both were named to the All-Capital Athletic Conference team for their impressive seasons.
Carter also turned in a consistent season, hitting .263 with 280 kills and a team-high 68 service aces, as well as 119 blocks. Junior Sarah Tighe scored 185 kills and posted a team-high with 145 blocks. Scott and fellow sophomore Rita Beale handled the setting duties, with Scott collecting 649 assists and Beale adding 571 helpers. Sophomore libero Caitlin Oshida provided 355 digs as well.