MVNU got the season under way with the team’s annual spring trip to Florida. After many years of playing at the Orlando Rebel Games, the Lady Cougars traveled to Clermont for what would prove to be eight challenging games against teams who all had winning records at the time including two against then No. 23 Columbia (Mo.) College. MVNU finished 3-5 on the trip, but the Lady Cougars were in each game and the experience would prove beneficial down the road.

Upon returning north, the team turned its focus towards one of its main goals which was making the AMC Tournament after advancing to the championship game of the NAIA Region IX Tournament the previous year. MVNU went 7-7 over its next 14 games - all conference contests - as the Lady Cougars’ overall record stood at 10-12.

Then, things really began to click for MVNU. The Lady Cougars went 9-3 to close out the regular season and stand at 19-15 overall and 12-8 in the AMC as the team earned a berth in the AMC Tournament. A doubleheader sweep of the University of Rio Grande was one of the highlights during that span and propelled the team into the postseason.

As the No. 4 seed in the five-team, double elimination AMC Tournament, MVNU began play with a 9-1 win over No. 5 seed and defending tournament champion Walsh University. After a 2-1 loss to No. 1 seed and regular-season champion Notre Dame College, the Lady Cougars bounced back to eliminate Walsh 3-1 and then No. 2 seed Ohio Dominican University 3-1 to snap a string of seven straight losses to the Lady Panthers. The team came up just short against Notre Dame, who was ranked No. 25 in the final NAIA poll, with a 4-2 loss in the championship game, but for the second straight year MVNU finished the season playing its best softball.

"Our season was really a three-part season,” said MVNU coach Jeana Howald, who has posted a 448-343 record in 20 years at her alma mater. "The first part was our trip to Florida and a new experience with a new group of teams and complex. We handled the competition well and learned a lot about ourselves. When we got back home, we hit the second part which was basically just playing mode. We did not play badly, but we struggled to find consistency.”

"Then, we really started to click right around the time we played Kenyon,” Howald continued. "We began to play together as a team and we really peaked at the right time. We beat some really good teams down the stretch and in the tournament, and I was so proud of the way that our kids represented themselves and the university. We were definitely playing our best when the season ended and came up just short of advancing to the NAIA National Tournament.”

Individually, five seniors wrapped up their playing careers this season for the Lady Cougars. Karly Clay, a third baseman who played in all 160 games during her career at MVNU - the third-highest total in school history, batted .285 with eight doubles, 19 RBI, and 13 runs scored. She finishes her career ranked fourth in school history in assists (335) and fifth in at bats (495).

Candace White, a pitcher, was a workhorse for the Lady Cougars on the mound as she pitched in all but two of the team’s 39 games with 26 starts, 24 complete games, and four shutouts. She posted a 20-12 record as only the second pitcher in school history to reach the 20-win mark in a season, and she finished with a 1.80 ERA. She set school records for strikeouts (146), innings pitched (198.2), and appearances (37) as she was named the AMC Pitcher of the Year among several other honors. Despite playing just two years at MVNU, she finishes fifth all-time in strikeouts with 254 to go with a 32-23 record and a 1.89 ERA in 347.1 innings of work.

Outfielder Whitney Clark posted a .300 batting average with two triples, two RBI, and nine runs scored in her final season, while Laura Morris, another outfielder, batted .208 with three doubles, one triple, three RBI, and six runs scored. Kylie Rupert, a first baseman, also batted .240 with two RBI and two runs scored in her final year.

"Our seniors will be greatly missed next year,” said Howald. "Not only are we losing key players, their leadership on the field and in the classroom has been outstanding. They have been a tremendous group to have as a part of our program.”

The junior class posted outstanding numbers and should provide the framework for another successful season next year. First baseman Michelle Gastin returned from an injury-plagued sophomore year to start ever game and post a .342 batting average with a team-high 12 doubles, 10 runs scored, and 25 RBI as she was named a National Christian College Athletic Association Honorable Mention All-American.

Leslie Banichar, an outfielder, led the team with a .347 batting average that included eight doubles, three triples, two home runs, 19 RBI, and 21 runs scored. She also stole 10 bases to move into a tie for the top spot all-time in that category in school history with 43 steals. Caitlin Murphy, a catcher, had another stellar season behind the plate as she batted .333 with 10 doubles, two triples, two home runs, 24 runs scored, and 25 RBI while also throwing out 13 of the 33 runners who tried to steal to go along with seven pickoffs and no passed balls.

Shortstop Tasha Konkle also batted .333 with five doubles, 15 RBI, and 23 runs scored, and she committed just six errors in 154 fielding chances to anchor the MVNU defense that equaled the best single-season fielding percentage in school history at .954 that was set previously last year. Lauretta Wallace, an outfielder, batted .276 with six doubles, three triples, one homer, 10 RBI, and 13 runs scored, and infielder Staci Graham hit .214 with two RBI and three runs scored.

Sophomore second baseman Kristin Kurelic had another good season as she hit .345 with one triple, six RBI, and 15 runs scored while committing just five errors in 150 fielding chances. Sophomore left-handed pitcher Stephanie Burlew returned from injuries to post a 2-2 record with a 2.53 ERA and one shutout, while sophomore outfielder Liz Misich also hit .333 with one double and two RBI.

Freshman outfielder MacKenzie Shaw had a solid first college season as she started every game and batted .341 with one triple, eight RBI, and a team-leading 26 runs scored as she was named to the AMC Second Team and the AMC All-Freshmen Team. Freshman outfielder Jennifer Gulley also hit .250 with one home run, three RBI, and five runs scored, and freshman pitcher Meagan Brookes pitched in 10 games with an 0-3 record and a 4.12 ERA.

With two straight years of championship game experience under their belts and a solid group of returning players, the Lady Cougars will look to continue their success when the 2009 season rolls around.