Abby Whittenburg is no stranger to excelling through the rigors of daily competition. Long before she became the starting setter for the Virginia women's volleyball team, Whittenburg was the youngest member of another team, the family of George and Ann Whittenburg.
The youngest of nine siblings from Amarillo, Texas, Abby remains close to her family and siblings even after she joined a new team at Virginia. She sees parallels between the two that have helped to shape not only her energetic and resilient attitude but her on-court play as well.
"I can't imagine being an only child," Whittenburg said. "I guess it is the same thing, coming from a big family and being a team player. It's important to have someone to fall back on. [As with family] there's going to be bickering, but when all is said and done you're going to come together as a unit."
Judging by her play at last weekend's Hi-IQ Classic Tournament in Williamsburg, her performance has never been better. Collecting 90 assists, 24 digs and 4 blocks over three matches, including a double-double (25 assists, 10 digs) in the final match against William & Mary, Whittenburg was selected as the all-tournament setter.
"She had the game of her life in the third game against William & Mary," Virginia coach Melissa Aldrich Shelton said. "Abby is starting to realize how hard and how much emotion must be invested in being great, and that night she had another emotional breakthrough."
Whittenburg's most noticeable characteristics - her intense drive and determined work ethic - provide her with the leadership qualities necessary to be a top-notch setter.
For those unfamiliar with the many responsibilities of the setter, Aldrich Shelton compared the setter to the point guard in basketball or the quarterback in football.
"The setter must execute the offensive game plan," Shelton said. "Every time the ball is on our side of the net, the setter touches it and decides who hits it, so it is very important that the setter know our strengths and weaknesses, know what we can do, and is someone who can lead."
There is more than steely focus, however, in Whittenburg's play and demeanor. Every day, the Cavaliers see her leadership mixed with the great sense of humor that helped her win last year's Wahoowa award for team spirit.
"Abby brings a certain kind of spunk to the team," outside hitter and co-captain Jenny Harmon said. "Whether it is a sly comment to get you going, or her aggressive nature, or just her undying, hard-working ethic, she's a little spark that lifts us up when we need it."
"Our whole class is very close," sophomore middle Shannon Boyle said. "We did everything together last year. Abby and Paige [Davis] are both from Texas, they are both sort of spacey, they are the space cadets that make us laugh."
Whittenburg first came to the University in the eighth grade when her older sister and role model Angie came on a recruiting trip. Angie played collegiate volleyball at both the University of Texas and the University of Pennsylvania, but Abby never forgot Charlottesville. When it was her turn, she chose to become a Cavalier.
"My whole family went to the University of Texas." Whittenburg said. "I wanted to get away from that scene, to go out on my own and see what it was like."
Whittenburg faced enormous responsibilities last year, arriving on Grounds as a member of the top recruiting class in Virginia volleyball history, as ranked by Volleyball Magazine. Her hard work over the past year and a half is now beginning to pay off in spades.
"She definitely came in young, and she had to work hard," Harmon said. "She had a lot asked of her the first season and she played very well. But over the last six to eight months she's matured a lot. She's leading very well on the court and she knows the system more. She has more confidence in herself, and that shows in her performance. She's always been hard-working, willing to go the extra mile, but now her court sense is better, and she's doing great things."
Heading into tonight's tough match at Georgetown, Boyle thinks Whittenburg is an indispensable member of the Virginia squad.
"We need her so much, in every aspect of the game," she said.
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