We are counting on Ali's experience as a coach and from a player's standpoint. She brings an ability to wear many different hats and she has a great compassion for the game and competition. Her expectations are high.

If anything, we've maybe not gotten the recognition that we deserve. And then when you put the challenges of practicing indoors for this amount of time and not being able to have the team outside (unlike some of the West Coast and southern schools) I'm not sure how many of those guys can do what we do and be as good as we are.

No one knows this program better than Belinda. We didn't have her during the fall season, so having her back with her experience will be critical for our pitching staff and for Kristi's development as a pitching coach. And I love Kristi's passion for the game - she still wants to be out there on the field. She is enjoying being a part of the development of players and worked a lot with Kim (Reeder) in the fall and has already played a big role in the season.

Megan probably gets to the ball quicker than anyone in our outfield. Offensively she has good instincts and loves to hit with runners on base. Liz became our starting centerfielder by the end of the year last year and became an even better hitter through the fall. She has as good an arm as anyone in the Big Ten in centerfield.

Our biggest question is how do we replace the consistency at shortstop that we had the last four years with Jennifer Johnson . We also need to establish our pitching depth and the catcher position. Like last year, I feel very good about our offense, which is why our defense will be so important.

Alabama is a great program in the SEC and Louisville won a very good Conference-USA last year. Louisville beat us on our field in the fall so we'll be excited to play them again when we're at full strength.