In all sports, injuries can derail the entire season of a team, and the mark of a program that succeeds season after season comes in part from its ability to overcome unexpected personnel losses. To make up for midseason roster losses, programs most often look within, drawing on less experienced freshmen and sophomores. It is not often that a midseason replacement player happens to be a former member of the squad. Sophomore forward Kaitlyn Hiltz’s sister Liz Hiltz, a member of the squad in 2005 and 2006, rejoined the team last week as a senior forward after a one-year hiatus.
“It was exciting and unexpected,” Kaitlyn Hiltz said. “I think everybody is pretty positive about it, and [Liz] knows the system.”
Liz Hiltz’s return had an immediate impact on the team, as she was able to record an assist in last week’s win against Longwood. Her experience and maturity also will aid the team at a time when the Cavaliers are stretched a little thin because of player injuries sustained throughout the season.
“Liz is real feisty in the goal cage, and she is mature,” coach Michele Madison said. “So it helps with our leadership a little bit. She is just always right there with her stick down in front of the goal.”
During her previous tenure on the team, Liz Hiltz made 24 appearances for the Cavaliers, tallying three assists and one goal. She saw time in all 22 games in her sophomore season. Her sister appeared in 21 games as a freshman and had four goals and four assists.
This is not the first time the sisters have played together throughout their careers; they also were on the same high school team at Frank W. Cox High School, located near their hometown of Virginia Beach.
“It’s nice because I played with her for a year in high school,” Kaitlyn Hiltz said. “She was a senior, and I was a sophomore, and part of the reason why I wanted to come to U.Va. was to play with her.”
The two did not have a chance to play together at Virginia until this season because Liz quit the team, Kaitlyn said, adding “it’s nice that she can jump right in there, and we can finally play at Virginia. She is one of my best friends ... [and] my roommate.”
Both sisters bring impressive résumés to the Cavaliers: They have experience at the national level and they both have the potential to be scoring threats for Virginia. Kaitlyn led the nation in scoring during her senior year in high school with 50 goals and a 23-game scoring streak. Liz led the Beach District in scoring and was named the Offensive Player of the Year in 2004. Both were Junior Olympians and have some international experience.
Liz was both happy to get the call from Madison and eager to jump on to the team.
“It’s exciting,” Liz Hiltz said. “It’s good to be back. I miss it. I miss the girls. They are family; I’d love to help them out if they need it. I was honored to get the call from Michele.”
It remains to be seen if the Hiltz sisters will combine to create more scoring chances for Virginia. The Cavaliers have a tough slate ahead of them to close out the season; however, Kaitlyn Hiltz said she believes in her sister’s ability to get the job done.
“She is one of those players that works hard,” Kaitlyn said. “She is ready, she gets in there. She is in the right place at the right time.”
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