Elmhurst University Athletics

After a rebuilding year in 1984, Coach Bill Walton knew his 1985 Bluejay team had the makings of a national champion. While the roster counted only three seniors and 11 underclassmen, senior Shelli Swaim and sophomores Therese Dorigan, Carmi Frankovich and Michelle Greaves Rathbun were returning starters. Elmhurst started out slowly at 10-5 as Dorigan missed the first 15 games due to injury. After Dorigan returned, the Bluejays won 30 of their final 34 matches and finished with 17 straight victories on their way to winning a second NCAA Division III National Championship in three years. Leading Elmhurst were all-tournament honorees senior Sue Birdsey Hempe, sophomore Melanie Hollander Moore, Swaim and Dorigan. Four Bluejays -Dorigan (3rd), Swaim (5th), Moore (7th) and Laurie Austin Flanagan (8th) -ranked among the top-10 hitters in national tournament play. Also contributing were senior Sherry Bradbury Martin, sophomores Lori Farrey Kulczycki, Natalie Ganser Holder, Steph Miszewski, Diane Price and Nancy Tuhy, and freshman Sandy Harris.