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LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell softball team will open its 2015 campaign with five games at the Charleston Challenge, hosted by the College of Charleston, on February 6-8. The River Hawks will play their season opener against Bethune-Cookman of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference on Friday, Feb. 6 at 6 p.m. at the Patriots Point Athletics Complex in Mt. Pleasant, S.C.
 
"I'm looking forward to getting out there and playing," said first-year head coach Danielle Henderson. "The team has been doing a really good job every day in practice, so to actually see them against competition, and see how we do and handle the pressure of different situations, is what I'm looking forward to most."
 
UMass Lowell is entering its second year of a four-year transition to Division I as part of the America East Conference. Henderson explained that the squad plans to continue to move forward and make strides during the upcoming season.
 
"We just want to do our best to improve every single day. I think that's something they've done from the first day of fall practice to now. Every single player on this team has gotten better. They've all bought in and they keep exceeding expectations every day."
 
KEYS TO SUCCESS
According to Henderson, she doesn't mind that her team might be flying below the radar this season and one of her biggest goals for the River Hawks is to "go out there and surprise people."
 
In order to do so, she says that the team has to simply concentrate on its own endeavors.
 
"One key to our success will be to not worry about anything else except what we're doing," commented Henderson. "It's going to be really easy to get caught up in what the other teams are doing and who their best players are and the speed of the game, but if we just worry about what we do, I think we'll be successful.
 
"We aren't going to worry about the end results, but just play our game. It's going to be hard because things aren't always going to go our way and be perfect, but if we maintain the energy and attitude we have right now through to the end, I think we'll be pretty successful."
 
LEADERSHIP
Coach Henderson isn't just looking to the veterans or upperclassman for leadership. Senior Courtney Lanfranchi, along with juniors Marielle Handley and Brianna Martin will captain this year's team, but the new skipper wants everyone on the team to step up and take responsibility.
 
"I think everybody on the team has to learn to be a leader," said Henderson. "It's hard for young people to hold each other accountable, but that's important to being a good teammate. Everybody can look for someone else to step up and go out there to get it done, but we need everyone to take charge and help themselves, not look for someone else to."
 
NEW FACES
Seven new faces have joined the River Hawks for the 2015 season, including five freshmen, one sophomore and one junior. Henderson is excited about what the newcomers can bring to the program.
 
"I've seen a lot of growth from them so far. From when they came in the first day to now, they've just matured so much, they've grown as players and people, and they're starting to come into their own, feeling comfortable and part of this team. That's a neat experience to see."
 
PLAYERS TO WATCH
UMass Lowell returns 17 letterwinners, including eight starters. Martin is the squad's top returning producer at the plate. In 2014, she boasted a team-best .320 batting average with 41 hits, 21 RBI and 13 runs scored. Sophomore Emily O'Brien hit .284 last year, while seniors Ariana Darcy and Abby Jamieson paced the squad with five home runs apiece.
 
"Our outfield will have strong leadership from seniors that will help teach our younger players. You can look for strong defense up the middle, as well as experience at the plate from sophomores Tori Alcorn and Alisha Welch. Senior Melissa King has continued to show a strong bat for us, in addition to sophomore Emily O'Brien, junior Alyssa Zinkiewicz and junior Taylor August. Some of the newcomers to watch are freshman Vanessa Cooper and junior transfer Mia Davies. They will both bring a strong bat and competitive attitude that will push others."
 
THE SCHEDULE
In addition to the opening weekend tournament, the River Hawks will play three more early-season tournaments, all of which will take place in Florida. Henderson is looking for these to be used as a gauge of the squad's progress.
 
"Early on, we're really going to get to see what our strengths and weaknesses are. I think it's going to help show what type of team we are. We'll get to build on the strengths, and each time get to come back here and work on whatever the weaknesses are."
 
Following the completion of tournament play, UMass Lowell travels to Stony Brook to kick off America East action with a three-game series on March 21-22. The River Hawks welcome Holy Cross to River View Field for their home opener on Wednesday, March 25 at 3 p.m.
 
"I'm excited to get started in the America East," concluded Henderson, whose squad was tabbed sixth in the league's Preseason Coaches' Poll. "I don't think that we know what to fully expect from the other teams in our conferences yet or that they know what to expect from us. I think we'll really start to build rivalries over the next couple of years."