UTC shortstop Alyssa Taylor (11) moves toward the ball.University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball coach Frank Reed says 2014 is a “transition year” as the Lady Mocs try to shake off a disappointing 2013 season and return the program to its usual spot atop the Southern Conference.
UTC finished with a losing record both in conference (10-11) and overall (26-28) last season, and the team struggled with setbacks both on and off the field before quickly bowing out of the SoCon tournament with two losses and no wins.
But the addition of some newcomers and a renewed focus on restoring the program has senior outfielder Stephanie Rieck upbeat about the prospects for the season, which begins next Friday at the UCF Knights Invitational tournament at Central Florida University.
“I think we’ve improved a lot from the fall,” she said. “We know where we want to be and we know where we want to go. Now it’s just a matter of getting out there and getting a little extra practice and going all out.
“We put pressure on ourselves to do better. I’ve been here when we were No. 1, so we want to go out and prove ourselves and prove that we still are No. 1.”