TOURNAMENT CENTRAL | LIVE STATS | 2014 SCHEDULE
 
KENNESAW, Ga. – The prospects of the 2014 season is one full of optimism and high expectations for the Kennesaw State softball team and head coach Wes Holly Jr., who begins his first full year as Owls head coach after the retirement of Coach Scott Whitlock at the conclusion of the 2013 season.
 
KSU is set to open the 2014 season at the Troy Subway Invitational on Feb. 7-8, in Troy, Ala. The Owls opening game is Friday against Middle Tennessee at 9:30 a.m. ET.
 
With a squad that has 16 returning players and three newcomers, Holly and the Owls are looking to take the next big step forward as a program.
 
"For the last couple of years, we have been a game or two away but could not put it away when we had the opportunities," said Holly. "If they can do that, it will set a different tone for the game and for the season."
 
After finishing fifth in the conference during the regular season and seeing their 2013 season end with a 6-4 loss against Florida Gulf Coast in the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament, Holly has set the bar high for KSU this year.
 
"We have raised the goals and are trying to get into postseason this year, which will be NCAA Regionals," Holly said. "These are the goals for this team. They have accepted it, and they are going for this goal."
 
Leading the path for the Owls will be a pitching staff led by Senior Amanda Henderson, junior-college transfer Paige Mathews and sophomore Morgan Sikes.
 
Henderson was selected to Preseason All A-Sun Conference team and is seen as the anchor for the Owls' staff. 
 
"Amanda has been a huge part of the Owls pitching staff since her arrival here," explained Coach Holly. "She has been very deserving of the pre-season honors she has received and I am looking for her to really pick it up and trying to have a 20-plus win year."
 
Looking to replace key bats from last year's squad, the offense will look to rely on key contributions from sophomores Caitlin Fowler, Kara Chambers, and Alexis Collis. Fowler produced a .472 slugging percentage in19 games last year, while Chambers and Collis provided solid production as well.
 
Holly also noted to keep an eye out for incoming freshman utility player Taylor Denton, who he believes has a very good chance of becoming an extremely good softball player.
 
The Owls infield will have veteran leadership with senior shortstop Carly Van Auken, senior catcher Angie Dascoli and sophomore Missy Perkowski.
 
Sophomore Courtney Sutter is being looked at as a key contributor with the bat as the Owls' DH after impressing coaches in fall practice.
 
The Owls outfield will feature three veterans that will cover plenty of ground. Senior Sara Sikes led the team with 12 doubles last year, while junior Natalie Rhodes returns after accumulating a .311 batting average in 2013. Bianca Durant will be looked at as a contributor on offense as well.
 
The 2014 schedule will prove to be challenging for KSU as they will face an array of talented Southeastern Conference (SEC), Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and Pac-12 teams, along with eight opponents that participated in the 2013 NCAA Tournament.
 
KSU begins the season on Feb. 7-8 at the Troy Subway Invitational, where the Owls take on SEC powerhouse Alabama among other formidable opponents including season-opening opponent Middle Tennessee, Troy and Memphis.
 
The following two weekends, the Owls will play host to back-to-back tournaments, including the Phyllis Rafter Memorial Tournament on Feb. 14-16 in Woodstock, Ga., as well as the Kennesaw State-Georgia Tech Crossover on Feb. 21. In the Crossover, KSU will play a doubleheader vs. Tulsa, an NCAA regional qualifier, host regional qualifying Stony Brook and in-state rival Georgia State.
 
Others notable teams scheduled for non-conference play include NCAA regional qualifiers Stanford, Georgia Southern, UAB and ACC powerhouse Georgia Tech.
 
KSU then starts is campaign for an A-Sun championship with its conference opening series against North Florida on March 8-9 at Bailey Park.
 
Season tickets are on sale for the entire home slate at $39, with single game tickets available for $6 for adults and $4 for youth (ages 3-12). To order season tickets contact the KSU Athletics Ticket Office at 770-423-OWLS (6957) or click HERE.
 
Keep up with Owls softball by following KSU on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsSoftball or by liking Kennesaw State Owls on Facebook.
 
 

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