MVNU is coming off a 22-14 campaign in 2007. The Lady Cougars went 5-9 in the American Mideast Conference South Division, but six of the team’s conference losses came by three runs or less. MVNU snapped a seven-game losing streak by winning its final two games of the year to give head coach Jeana Howald exactly 400 wins for her career.

“We have a lot of versatility and experience coming back this year,” said Howald, who has posted a 400-306 record as she enters her nineteenth season. “We have good leadership from our upperclassmen and we also have a talented sophomore class returning after gaining a lot of experience last year. Then, you add in the new players and we have a roster that has a chance to put together a good season.”

The Lady Cougars return 12 players including five starting position players and the team’s top pitcher from a year ago. Four freshmen and a junior transfer will also add to the depth and quality of the team.

On the mound, senior right-hander Kristin Eyerman (left) returns to anchor the pitching staff. She posted a 13-6 record with a 1.80 ERA and a team-high 85 strikeouts in 128.1 innings last year on the way to being selected to the AMC South Division First Team. Junior right-hander Candace White will join Eyerman to give MVNU a potent 1-2 punch on the mound as she transfers in from NCAA Division II Northern Kentucky University after going 28-19 the last two years there. Junior right-hander Kylie Rupert went 4-5 with a 3.19 ERA last year, while freshman lefty Stephanie Burlew was a four-time All-Conference First Team pick at Cincinnati Christian High School. Sophomore right-hander Colleen Potter went 3-3 a year ago, but an injury may force her to be relegated to pinch-running duties.

Sophomore catcher Caitlin Murphy returns behind the plate after earning AMC South Division First Team honors a year ago while batting .322 and throwing out 17 of 38 runners who tried to steal on her. Sophomore Staci Graham and freshman Liz Misich will provide depth behind the plate.

Sophomores Michelle Gastin and Lauretta Wallace will battle for the starting spot at first base. Gastin batted .324 with 21 RBI last year, while Wallace, a left-handed batter, hit .265 with nine RBI.

Freshman Kristin Kurelic appears to be the front runner to take over the second base duties vacated by the graduation of AMC South Division Player of the Year Laura Kot. Kurelic was a four-time All-Central District selection at Worthington Christian High School and batted .514 as a senior. Sophomore Leslie Banichar could also see time there.

Sophomore Tasha Konkle returns as the starting shortstop after starting all 36 games there as a freshman with just 10 errors in 164 fielding chances. She batted .327 with 15 RBI and 24 runs scored and was an AMC South Division Honorable Mention pick.

Junior Karly Clay (right) returns at third base after a breakout season in which she batted .376 with a team-leading 28 RBI, 14 doubles, four triples, and one home run as she earned AMC South Division Honorable Mention honors.

In the outfield, junior Whitney Clark and sophomore Leslie Banichar return after starting all 36 games last year in rightfield and centerfield respectively. Clark batted .241, while Banichar batted .296 with 14 stolen bases to make the AMC South Division Honorable Mention list. Wallace, Misich, junior Laura Morris, and freshman Amanda Montgomery will all compete for playing time and will add depth to the outfield.

MVNU is tentatively slated to get the season under way on March 8 when the Lady Cougars will host West Virginia Institute of Technology in a non-conference doubleheader if the weather cooperates. The team is also scheduled to host Taylor (Ind.) University on March 11 in a twinbill before traveling to Kissimmee, Florida, for 10 games at the Orlando Rebel Games on the team’s annual spring trip.

Upon returning north, MVNU will play non-conference doubleheaders against Wilmington College, Kenyon College, and Walsh University.

The Lady Cougars will also compete for the AMC South Division title with home and away doubleheaders against Urbana University, Shawnee State University, Cedarville University, Ohio Dominican University, and the University of Rio Grande.

MVNU will also look to qualify for the National Christian College Athletic Association National Tournament that will be held at Palm Beach Atlantic (Fla.) University on April 24-26. In order to get there, the Lady Cougars will play in the NCCAA East Region Tournament at Geneva (Pa.) College on April 18-19.