Elastic scattering measurements were performed for the Li7+p system in inverse kinematics at energies of 16, 25, 35, and 38.1 MeV and for the Li7+d system at 38.1 MeV. The heavy ejectiles were detected by the large acceptance MAGNEX spectrometer at the Laboratori Nazionali del Sud in Catania, Italy. The results are analyzed using the Jeukenne-Lejeune-Mahaux and continuum discretized coupled channel frameworks. In the latter case the cluster structure of Li7 proves to be critical for the theoretical interpretation of the experimental results.