A New Era, A New Identity, and a Team Ready to Grow Fast
There's a unique kind of honesty that comes with a program stepping into a new era. As the 2026 season begins, Carroll University softball isn't trying to pretend it has everything figured out, and that's exactly what makes this group compelling. Under first-year head coach Ericka Hess, the Pioneers are embracing the process of growth, identity-building, and culture formation. It's a team reshaping itself with intention, discipline, and a refreshing clarity of purpose.

Hess arrives from Hillsdale, bringing with her a standard she knows well: student-athletes who take pride in both the classroom and the field. She sees that same profile at Carroll. "They give 100 percent academically and athletically," she said — a foundation that makes culture-building natural. The adjustments, however, are real. After years coaching in the GMAC and playing 52-game slates, shifting into a development-heavy fall and a more compact schedule has been an evolution. But she sees the benefit: "It's allowed us to be more intentional. Our freshman class especially has grown fast."

Hess' early message has been simple: selflessness, clarity of role, aggressiveness, and softball IQ. Every player knows what the staff demands — reading practice plans, working with discipline, and staying intentional in every rep. The team has embraced that quickly, led by a veteran group of players that has backed their new coach from day one.

A Roster With Depth — and Battles to Settle
Carroll's 2026 roster is deep and versatile, giving Hess and her staff the opportunity to build combinations that complement their style. Several returners are positioned to take steps forward, and the newcomers — especially the freshmen — have accelerated the team's internal competition.

Some roles remain open by design: right field, designated player, the second catcher spot — all areas where early-season performances could define the structure. In the circle, Carroll will rely on multiple arms, using 2–3 inning bursts to keep hitters off balance and lean on defense behind them. It's a strategy built around maximizing depth rather than forcing one pitcher into a heavy workload.

How Carroll Wants to Play
Hess' vision is clear: play fast, be disciplined, attack the bases, and perfect the controllables. "Our bats coming alive is a big focus — we want a power-capable offense, but also embrace small-ball when we need it," she said. The Pioneers want to be aggressive runners, taking extra bases and forcing opponents into mistakes. Defensively, they must be sharp. Carroll's pitchers won't overpower lineups, so infield precision, outfield reads, and mistake-free execution become essential. "If we perfect what we're already good at, and pressure teams with our baserunning, we can win a lot of close games."

Tests Ahead
Carroll's schedule wastes no time revealing who the Pioneers are becoming. In the opening weekend they face No. 17 UW–Stevens Point — an immediate barometer for toughness and execution. A doubleheader with UW-Whitewater, one of the region's perennial powers, follows soon after. Those matchups, along with MSOE and Edgewood in Rhinelander, will give Hess early clarity on rotations, lineups, and defensive chemistry. 

The real identity check arrives on Spring Break in Florida, where Carroll will play a wide variety of opponents including Kean, Washington College (Md.), Penn State Behrend, Wittenberg, and more. "Dome softball isn't the same as a normal field," Hess said. "That trip will show us where we're at heading into conference." 

The CCIW schedule offers no gifts. Picked sixth in the preseason poll, Carroll will be tested by programs like Illinois Wesleyan, North Central, Carthage, and Augustana — all contenders in 2025. But Hess sees opportunity in the gauntlet. "If we can sweep a couple early series and stay in the hunt, the conference will push us to be our best."

She also credits the staff's continuity and new ideas: assistant coach Tim Minik staying on for stability, new coach Jenna Steph-Fowlkes working with pitchers, with Hess leading the hitters, and GA Madison Palaz, a former Pioneer, bridging past and present within the program.

Growth by Design
Improvement, for this group, won't be measured by wins early on — but by cohesion, energy, and competitiveness. What's driving Carroll's growth this preseason is the way small weekly goals keep stacking into something bigger. Instead of chasing one massive leap, the team is building steady momentum, checking off incremental improvements that are beginning to show in their day-to-day execution. That layered progress is showing up especially in live-pitch at-bats, where the reps are finally translating into real confidence. The timing, the approach, and the ability to compete within an at-bat all look sharper because the work behind the scenes has been intentional.

The competitive edge has also stayed high indoors — something that isn't always easy in long winter stretches. Rather than letting the early-season routine feel repetitive, the team has treated every rep as an opportunity to compete, correct, and grow. That intensity has fed into a culture where players push each other rather than plateau. No one wants to be the one who stays stagnant when everyone else is rising, and that internal drive is starting to define the group. "If our energy stays high and we're intentional every day, that tells me we're ahead of schedule," she said.

The Big Picture
Carroll softball is not chasing shortcuts. The 2026 season is about foundation-building — about creating a culture and style that lasts beyond March and April. With strong leadership, a deep and hungry roster, and a clear vision from a new staff, the Pioneers are positioned to grow quickly.