Villanova, Pa. - The Villanova Softball team opens up their 2016 season this Friday, February 19 as they travel to Madeira Beach, Fla. for the Eastern Michigan / Madeira Beach Spring Invitational.

This is the second consecutive year Villanova will be playing in this tournament.

Head coach Maria DiBernardi returns for her 32nd season at the helm of the Wildcats, and she is doing so only 14 wins away from 800 for her career. Despite approaching the illustrious milestone, DiBernardi is focused on the upcoming season and is just having fun with this group of girls.

"It's really just a number anymore," DiBernardi said. "Obviously, it's a great milestone, but it's really not about the numbers. It's about the fun that I am having, and the enjoyment I am having with these kids. When I was younger some of the milestones were special. As you get older your start to appreciate life more and just the fact you are still able to coach with a group of kids who give their 100 percent effort every day." Expectations are running high on the Main Line as Villanova was picked to finish second behind defending conference champion St. John's in the BIG EAST Coach's Preseason Poll.

Last season, Villanova finished 24-30 overall and made it to the BIG EAST playoffs where they fell to the Red Storm 5-4 in Rosemont, Ill.

"We're really excited for the season because we have a very seasoned team," DiBernardi stated. "Our seniors are the nucleus of this team. They have a lot of experience and I really think it will be a good season for us."

The aforementioned seniors are Aleshia Ayers, Stephanie Butler, Sierra McConnell, Shea Palmer and Kate Poppe. Ayers, McConnell, and Poppe will be the three co-captains this season.

One aspect of the team that DiBernardi is encouraged by is the team's focus and drive.

"We've been very focused on a few books written by Jon Gordon. The second book is called "The Hard Hat." The girls come to work every day with their hard hats on. We have a theme going throughout the season and each week we pick a new theme. It's based off of the 21 ways to be a great teammate. The girls have been focused on working hard, picking up for each other, cheering each other on, and pushing themselves."

On the field, the Wildcats are as talented as any team in the BIG EAST.

Villanova returns their top two pitchers from last season in Kate Poppe and junior Brette Lawrence. Poppe, who hails from nearby Downingtown, Pa., compiled 12 victories, with a 2.68 ERA, and 246 strikeouts in 206.1 innings pitched last year. She garnered Second Team All-BIG EAST honors as she led the conference in strikeouts, games started, and innings pitched.

She would also etch her name into the Villanova record books as she broke the all-time career strikeouts record of 718 previously held by Keri Stoller on April 18, 2015 vs. Providence. Poppe currently has 786 career strikeouts.

Lawrence, who is from Sparks, Nev., appeared in 27 games for Villanova in 2015 finishing with an 11-7 record in 130.2 innings pitched. She fanned 101 batters and had an ERA of 2.41.

DiBernardi feels as if her pitching staff will be the strength of the team this season.

"With [Kate] Poppe at the helm and [Brette] Lawrence as a great second option, I feel as if we are as deep as we have ever been. Jordan Prutzer, Kalee Smith and Nikki Alden will also share in the pitching duties.

Junior Jordan Prutzer went 1-1 last year before an ACL injury sidelined. Freshman Kalee Smith comes to Villanova from Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.

"We're going to put Kalee into situations where we can set her up for success and build up her confidence," DiBernardi said. "She works really hard and she's a great asset to our team"

Offensively, DiBernardi likes the balance the Wildcats have.

"We don't have anyone who is going to hit .400. We have girls that will hit .280 to .300 or beyond. We're steady across board so we don't have dips or peaks. Defensively, I think we are very solid all the way around. One thing we need to do is to get faster on the bases. I don't think we're going to be a team that steals a lot of bases. We are more of a steady power team. We need to play the short game well and move runners along with bunts."

Natalia Segovia will once again be behind the plate for the Wildcats. The Temecula, Calif. native drove in seven runs and had a fielding percentage of .986 last year.

"Nat has been a wall behind the plate for the last three years," DiBernardi said. "She works really hard and she and [Kate] Poppe work well together."

Junior Jessica Angersbach will also see some time behind the plate this season.

"Jess is really doing a great job this year," DiBernardi noted. "She's been working hard and has been making much better contact than before. She has a really strong arm."

Freshman Lauren Hanna will be the third catcher.

"Lauren can hit for some power, but it's just about getting her acquainted to college pitching. She will give us a good defensive game."

At first base, Stephanie Butler and sophomore transfer Nikki Alden will both see time. Butler, who is from Barnegat, N.J., drove in seven runs one year ago.

"Steph is a good situational hitter who has a good eye at the plate. She's also a leader who is sound defensively with her glove," DiBernardi noted.

Alden transferred in from St. Joseph's last year where she was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team and the NFCA All-Northeast Region Third Team in 2015. She led all SJU rookies in batting average at (.342), runs (21), hits (38), doubles (11), home runs (5) and RBIs (31) As a pitcher, the Ivyland, Pa. native went 3-4 with a 4.87 ERA in 41.2 innings pitched.

"Nikki is a great all-around player," DiBernardi exclaimed. "We're looking to get a couple innings out of her, and put her in different positions on the field. She's an excellent defensive first baseman and outfielder who has a good bat and experience."

At second base, Chase Snell is likely to hit third in the lineup, as she is an experienced hitter who can spray base hits to all parts of the field. The Poway, Calif. native hit .280 last season with 20 RBI's, 40 hits, and 12 runs scored.

"Chase is a steady player who is a good three or five hole hitter. "She doesn't strike out a lot and is a good contact hitter. She's a regular Chase Utley there."

Sophomore shortstop Brittany Husk finished 2015 with a team leading batting average of .328. The Miami, Fla. native started all 54 games last year. Her 36 runs ranked second in the conference and first on the team. Husk's 59 hits were tied for the most in the BIG EAST and the most for Villanova.

"Britt will probably be our leadoff this year," DiBernardi said. "She's just a smart and heads up player."

Freshman Delaney Switzer will be Husk's backup at short.

"She's young and raw, but we're grooming her and she is getting better every day." Junior Lauren Herschberg could see time as the four-hitter this year. The Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. native finished second on the team with a batting average of .309. She hit 13 doubles which were tied for fourth in the conference. Overall, she hit four homeruns, knocked in 31 RBI's, with 27 runs scored and a triple.

"She hits for power and average," DiBernardi said. "She's a leader on and off the field." Scottsdale, Ariz. native Dana Morris will see time at third base, but DiBernardi sees her more in the designated player position.

"She's a clutch hitter who sees pitches very well." Moving to the outfield the Wildcats are an experience group with seniors Shea Palmer and Sierra McConnell in center and right field respectively.

Palmer hit .295 last season with five RBI's, 21 runs scored, 39 hits, six doubles, three triples and six stolen bases. She was tied for second in the BIG EAST in triples. DiBernardi says her experience in the outfield will be vital this season.

"She's our rock in centerfield. She'll either bat two or nine. She's what they call a triple threat. She can bunt, hit away, slap, and steal a lot of bases for us. We're looking for big things from her. She's one of those players who sneaks up on you. You don't think she's hitting for average but then she'll come up and hit .300."

In right field, both Sierra McConnell and Alden will see time. McConnell appeared in 53 games and started 49 for the Wildcats in 2015. She drove in 18 runs on 37 hits, had five doubles, three stolen bases and eight runs in 144 at-bats. She hit .257 overall.

"Sierra has a very strong arm," DiBernardi said.

"She can come up big for us in clutch hitting situations." Sophomore Tianah Hathaway will most likely start in the left field according to DiBernardi.

The San Diego, Calif. native finished 2015 with a batting average of .267. She started 34 games and hit one home run and drove in seven runs on 24 hits. She was named to BIG EAST All-Tournament team for her performance against St. John's in the BIG EAST Tournament Semifinals.

"She's an exciting player to watch," DiBernardi said. "She covers a lot of ground and gets to balls that you don't think she is going to get to. She reminds me of a Shane Victorino out there." Sophomore Mackenzie Tilles and senior Aleshia Ayers will also see time in the outfield. Despite her small size, Tilles is actually a bit of a power hitter.

"She hits for power and has a good eye," DiBernardi noted. "She's not going to strike out a lot. She just loves to hit."

Tilles hit two homeruns and knocked in four RBI's last season.

Ayers appeared in 40 games last season driving in five runs in 58 at bats. The Sacramento, Calif. native is a steady player and a team leader.

'She's working hard," DiBernardi said. "She'll definitely see time on the field." The spring will kick off this weekend when the `Cats travel to Madeira Beach, Fla. for the Eastern Michigan / Madeira Beach Spring Invitational. Villanova will remain in Florida to compete in two other tournaments both called the University of South Florida Under Armour Invitational. The first will run from Feb. 26-28 and the other will run from March 4-6. The Delaware Invitational will take place March 12-13, and the Towson Tiger Classic will run March 19-20.

BIG EAST conference play will begin on March 25 against DePaul in Chicago, Ill. where the Wildcats will play their first of 21 total conference games.

Home opponents for Villanova include Monmouth (March 28), Drexel (March 29), St. John's (April 2-3), Penn (April 5), Seton Hall (April 9-10), Lafayette (April 14), Georgetown (April 23-24) and Butler (April 30-May 1).

The Wildcats will take the road at DePaul (March 25-26), LaSalle (April 12), Creighton (April 16-17), Rider (April 20), and Providence (May 7-8).

The top four teams in the BIG EAST will move on to the BIG EAST tournament on May 13-14 in Rosemont, Ill.