BABSON PARK, Fla. (February 12, 2018) – A new era for Webber International University softball is set to begin on Tuesday, February 13, at 1 p.m. against Stratford University on Nancy Nichols Field. It will also be the beginning of new head coach Laura Tucker's tenure with the Warriors.

"Our expectation for this season is for our team to come in and compete at a high level," said Tucker. "The girls are determined to have a great year and are working hard to reach the goals they have set for themselves. We expect for the team to be competitive both in The Sun Conference and at the national level."

Webber has added 12 new players to its roster for the 2018 season. In 2017, Webber went 15-20 overall and 6-15 in The Sun Conference.

"We have a lot of depth in multiple positions and have a completely new coaching staff, and we have had limited time to get to know one another due to the coaching change in early January," said Tucker. "However, the team has responded well through these changes. The players are motivated to have a better year than last season and have been working on steps to reach their goals to accomplish obtaining a better record."

The four seniors looking to lead the Warriors this year are outfielders Laura Borders and Ka'Deisha McCowen and first basemen Megan Isoba and Meghan Lindell.

Borders is Webber's only returning all-conference player from 2017 after earning a First-Team All-Sun Conference nod a year ago. Borders led the Warriors with a .363 batting average and was the team leader in hits (37), runs batted in (26) doubles (9) and stolen bases (5) as a junior while adding five home runs, an on base percentage of .412 and a slugging percentage of .618.

Also in 2017, Lindell batted .321 with 26 hits, 14 RBI's and three home runs. McCowen hit .267 with 31 hits, a team-high 24 runs scored, three doubles and a team-best two triples. Isoba batted .263 with 25 hits, 24 RBI's, 15 runs and four doubles while tying the team lead with seven home runs.

"These four leaders have different personalities but come together to do what is best for the team," continued Tucker. "They truly care about their teammates and want to finish their softball careers on a high note. Laura [Borders] and Megan [Isoba] are determined to make their way back to the national tournament, and they truly want the team to have the same experience they had back in 2016."

The 2018 Sun Conference Tournament will take place from May 3 to May 5 at the National Training Center in Clermont, Florida.

Tucker concluded, "I am very excited to see what this group can do. They have been working hard each and every day to better themselves on and off the field. These ladies are very talented and have a strong desire to win. They have set very specific goals for themselves to reach as a team and individually. I am proud of the way they've adjusted to my coaching philosophy and how eager they are to succeed this season."