Many women’s sports are seeing a very successful spring season. Softball, tennis, track and field, and golf are all currently competing, and soccer and volleyball are in their offseason, with only one day of competition.

Softball currently ranks second in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW). Four players have received conference player of the week honors, Aundrea Jenkins and Anna Enlow for hitting, and Addison Sargent and Aly Armstrong for pitching. Armstrong has also been named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Pitcher of the year watchlist, along with Leah Foreman, a catcher named to the Player of the year watchlist.

Last year, the softball team made it to the NCAA championships in Virginia and ended the season eighth in the nation. The Big Blue have focused a lot on team culture this year in hopes to return to the finals. Their motto this season is ‘forever for each other’. “I think we have been really successful because we buy into that motto,” said sophomore outfielder Lanie Chizmark. “The coaches really focus on producing good people on the field, classroom, and in our everyday lives. When you love, trust, and care about every person next to you it is really easy to lean on each other and work towards the goals we have for this season.”

Track and field has had two female athletes named conference players of the week so far. In their indoor season, thrower Adriyanna Peterson set a school record in weight throw with 17.56 meters, punching her ticket to NCAA nationals and finishing ninth in the nation. During the outdoor season, Peterson has already broken her own hammer throw school record.

Alyssa Ruiz is another track and field athlete that has had tremendous success this spring. She was recently named CCIW track athlete of the week after setting a school record in the 1500 meter, with a time of 4:37.32. She also holds the school record in the mile with 5:05.37, which earned her all conference honors during the indoor season. Track and field has two more meets before the outdoor conference championships begin on May 5th. 

Women’s tennis is also seeing success on the court this spring, going into the conference tournament ranked second. They faced Carroll University in the first round of the CCIW tournament, downing them 5-0 to advance to the semifinals against Wheaton College. This win put the team at 14-4 on the year, including their fall schedule. 

This week, the women’s team broke into the regional rankings, sitting at 12th, while the men’s team ranked 16th. The team returned two all conference players from the fall, sophomore Emily Markus on the second team and junior Nikol Obradovic on the first. 

Women’s golf ended the fall season at third place in the conference championship tournament. In the spring, they have played in three tournaments, placing sixth, eleventh, and seventeenth. They have one more home meet left to end their spring season.

Two fall sports are in their spring seasons as well, volleyball and women’s soccer. Volleyball competed at Illinois College on April 15th, playing all non conference opponents, and going 4-4 in sets on the day. They return seven starters from the fall.

Women’s soccer is hosting an alumni game on April 22nd, and a scrimmage against Lincoln Trail on April 23rd. Their only day of official spring play is April 29th. The team practices every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning, and they lift twice a week. They look to make an appearance in the conference tournament this fall after narrowly missing qualifying in 2022.