After a mediocre first three seasons, seniors Kat Blair, Biffy Cornelison, Mia Link, Lindsay O'Bannon, Erin Hayes and Alyssa Curmaci may have thought that a winning record, a top-10 rank in the nation and a potential berth in the NCAA tournament would be somewhat unrealistic. However, after a productive off-season -- initiated by the signing of new head coach Michele Madison -- the team elders find themselves in a position that they had yet to experience in their careers.
Virginia has finished the regular season 12-6, achieving a 6-2 regional record, and a No. 10 national ranking. The Cavaliers have also put themselves in a good position to qualify for the NCAA tournament, something that this year's seniors have yet to do in their career.
The seniors have "been here the longest and now we have a successful team," Blair said. "We have the drive and will to succeed after having a couple of years where we weren't doing so well."
During their freshman, sophomore and junior years, the Cavaliers compiled a 28-31 record while going 0-13 in the ACC. Now, under the direction of a new coach, and with support from the freshman and sophomore class, this year's seniors have taken the lead and turned what could have been considered a transition year into a success.
The process of adapting to a new system in their final year of play, however, has not come without difficulty.
"I think it was very difficult and challenging," Madison said. "The demands that were put on them since day one were high and they've handled it well and tried to understand the direction of the program. They've jumped in with both feet."
Madison will continue to rely on the play and leadership of Link and Blair as the team heads into the ACC Tournament. Both of these seniors have put up some of the most impressive career numbers, as well as receiving plenty of national attention.
"Mia [Link] and Kat [Blair] may have the opportunity to play after college," Madison said. "But that's something that we'll have to evaluate after the season is over."
Link, who has accumulated 75 career points, was named to the USA Developmental Squad in July. She was also a member of the USA Under-21 team that came in seventh place in the Junior World Cup and was a National Field Hockey Coaches Association All-American in 2004.
Blair, meanwhile, has played alongside of Link as the starting goaltender for the USA Under-21 team. She also played on the national team that won the silver medal in the Junior Pan-Am Games in 2005. Blair has also been named to the NFHCA National Academic Team for three straight seasons.
Perhaps sometimes overshadowed by Link, Blair and Cornelison are Hayes and O'Bannon. These two seniors have experienced arguably the most productive seasons of their careers. O'Bannon has been selected to play in the senior All-Star game.
Hayes, meanwhile, has been a utility player for the Cavaliers. She has recently been moved from back to forward. Despite the change in position, Hayes has made an immediate impact -- scoring the game-tying goal in the overtime win over Stanford.
The most important accomplishment of this senior class has been the ability to gel with the new players -- including freshmen Traci Ragukas and Fenna Breitbarth and sophomore Inge Kaars Sijpesteijn. While not the most tangible achievement, it certainly has been the willingness of the senior class to adapt to a new coaching style and play with new teammates that has allowed for their success.
"It's been very natural," Blair said. "We all get along. It's great and it couldn't be better to have a couple of foreign players on the team [Breitbarth and Sijpesteijn]. They bring a different perspective. I can't say enough about my teammates."
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