Talented Huskers Seek Return to Top 25

When Rhonda Revelle walks to her office at Bowlin Stadium each morning, the 19th-year head coach is reminded each and every day that something big is happening with the Husker softball program.

Just outside Revelle's office, construction is underway on Nebraska's new $4.75 million indoor practice facility. As the facility continues to take shape, Revelle says it's satisfying to know that years of planning have paid off and something big has come from all of the preparation and hard work.

It's because of that thinking that Revelle can't help but draw a parallel between the completion of the practice facility and the completion of a rebuilding project her program has undertaken over the past few seasons in an effort to return to national prominence.

"In my mind, this project has kind of become a real-life metaphor for our season that we can look at every day and learn lessons from," Revelle said. "You can draw so many comparisons between what went into getting this facility built and what has gone into getting this program back to where we want it to be.

"One of the most challenging things for a coach is to get players to trust and believe in the process. Sometimes players need proof that the process is working before they will fully buy into it. It took a lot of trust and belief to get this facility built, but now we have a daily reminder that our trust has been rewarded.

"We're hoping the team will see that same significance and that they will be further empowered to work hard each and every day. Our entire staff believes in the process we have laid out to get this program back among the nation's elite. Our goal this season is to return to the top 25, and with the talent we have, we fully expect to be back among the best in the nation when the season is over."

The first regular top-25 softball poll began in 1995 and the Huskers earned a spot in the final poll in every season from 1995 to 2006, including seven top-15 finishes and two top-10 rankings. Over the past four seasons however, Nebraska has been unranked, despite qualifying for the NCAA Tournament in three of those years.

With Division I softball more competitive and balanced than ever before, a team needs talent and hard work to rise above the rest. Revelle believes the 2011 Huskers have both.

"I honestly believe this is a very talented team," Revelle said. "We return almost all of our starters from last season, including four players who were either all-conference or all-region performers. We've also added some talented new players, including two junior college All-Americans and one high school All-American. Not only do we feel we have talent, but we have experience as well."

Nebraska returns eight of its nine position starters and although junior right-hander Ashley Hagemann is the only returning pitcher, she logged the most innings of any Husker pitcher last year.

Seniors Julie Brechtel and Heidi Foland, juniors Ashley Guile and Nikki Haget and sophomore Brooke Thomason are all back after putting up impressive numbers as Nebraska's Nos. 1-5 hitters in 2010. Guile and Thomason were both all-conference and all-district performers, while Haget was a second-team All-Big 12 selection and Brechtel was a second-team all-region pick. Together, the five players combined to bat .328 last season with 53 doubles, 34 home runs, 157 RBIs and 159 runs scored.

Several underclassmen are expected to contribute in larger roles this season after gaining valuable experience last year. Freshman Taylor Edwards is also expected to add production to the lineup. Projected to be Nebraska's starting catcher, Edwards was a three-time Under Armour All-American at Vista Murrieta High School, while also being named the nation's top junior by EA Sports in 2009. She batted .520 in her prep career with 38 home runs and 135 RBIs.

In the circle, Hagemann returns after a strong finish to last season. Although Hagemann was just 15-16 with a 3.32 ERA a year ago, she showed flashes of dominance in her first year as a regular contributor. Hagemann was dominant down the stretch, including in the NCAA Tournament where she posted a 0.67 ERA and allowed only nine hits and two earned runs in 21.0 innings. Nebraska also welcomes a talented new pitcher to the fold in 2011 in junior right-hander Haley Workman. Workman was a two-time All-American at Chattanooga State Community College the past two seasons, compiling a 57-8 record with a 1.16 ERA and 603 strikeouts in 384.2 innings.

Revelle feels the talent is in place for Nebraska to make a big splash on the national scene in 2011, but she is even more encouraged by the hard work and dedication her team has shown. As proof of their dedication, Revelle points to the classroom where Nebraska returns four academic all-district selections, the highest total in school history.

"This group of players has the talent, the character and the dedication to accomplish big things this season," Revelle said. "They believe in what we're doing and are determined to put Nebraska softball back on the map in 2011."