Hey everyone! My name is Caroline Jones and I am a freshman outfielder from Virginia Beach, Va.!

I can't believe how fast my first semester at Nova came and went. I chose to attend Villanova because of the rigorous academics and the great softball program. After completing my first semester, I still believe I made the right choice to attend this school. I have been challenged both in the classroom by my professors and on the field by my coaches and teammates, who push me to be a better player and teammate every day. I'm so blessed to be a part of such a great community at Villanova and a close softball family like this one. My teammates have done a great job helping the other freshmen and I adjust to college life, and I am looking forward to an exciting second semester!

I quickly learned the meaning of an "all-nighter" during my first finals week, but thankfully I only had to pull one. We are very fortunate that the new Andrew J. Talley Athletic Center opened earlier this fall, and we were able to utilize numerous spaces within the building for studying all day and night (literally). I couldn't have made it through the week without the unwavering support of my softball sisters. During that week, you could find many of us together in the study hall room or across the street in Bartley getting coffee and snacks during a study break. Mark Jackson, the Director of Athletics, even walked around the study hall room handing out candy to us as we studied, which made for a sweet treat in a stressful week.

This past summer, my family and I moved from Washington, D.C. to Virginia Beach. This transition meant I would trade in my white Christmas' in DC for walks on the beach and shorts. Although I love D.C., it was nice coming home to warm weather and the beach out my backdoor. Well, it was nice until it decided to snow! Virginia Beach hasn't gotten snow in years, but of course the two inches we received was enough to shut the city down for four days. However, it wasn't all bad being snowed in, because I got to spend quality time with my family before heading back to school.

After a month long break, I was eager to return to campus for the start of classes and our season! We begin practicing this afternoon, and I am so excited to get back out there with my teammates. Everyone worked hard during individuals and over break to improve their game, and we are ready to hit the ground running. With a strong 5-1 fall season, we are looking to carry that momentum into the start of our spring season in Madeira Beach, Fla. We have grown closer as a team off the field, and I look forward to seeing how our friendships translate to chemistry on the field. I know this team will be relentless in our pursuit of a BIG EAST Championship.

I have dreamed of playing collegiate softball for so long, and I am excited to put on a Villanova uniform and take the field with my teammates for my first season as a 'Cat!

See you in Florida! Go Nova!!

-Caroline Jones