It's hard to know what to expect when everyone in the program is new. The coaches are new, the players are new, the facility is, well, still on the drawing board. But with or without a new facility, the Lady Tiger softball program is ready to take the field in the spring of 2006 after going 3-1 during the fall at the University of Tennessee tournament. There, Memphis dropped just a 6-0 decision to host Tennessee, a team that finished third at the Softball College World Series last year.

Led by a deep pitching rotation, the Lady Tigers hope to make some noise on the college softball landscape. Four pitchers worked out with the team during the fall, and the rotation gave up just five extra-base hits in the fall tournament, capping the weekend with a 4.70 team ERA. Freshman Leila Dolfo and junior Jenna Kubesch each were 1-0 in the fall, and junior Nicki Johnson went 1-1, striking out seven while walking just four in 10 innings of work.

"We have a lot of depth on the mound," Head Coach Windy Thees said. "Nicki Johnson and Jenna Kubesch are our juniors and they've already got a couple years of college experience under their belts. I feel really confident in them. They both bring different things to the mound, but they both have a lot of maturity."

Not having an opportunity to practice with her teammates in the fall was Melissa Nance, a member of the Tiger volleyball program.

"Melissa is a bit of an unknown for us," Thees said. "She was an all-state pitcher in high school and being a team captain over at volleyball, and having that maturity over there, we're excited to have her out there. Anytime you can put someone 6-2 on the mound, it's really intimidating."

Behind the plate for the pitchers could be any of a series of players. Junior Cara Ross led the team with a .538 batting average during the fall and will share catching duties when she is not playing first base. She will pool the catchers' spot with freshman Kimmie Hayden, a California native who drew praise from Thees during fall camp.

The infield is a mix of talented individual players, many of whom can play a number of positions to give the Lady Tigers some depth.

"We will probably have Cara Ross as our starting first baseman, and Jenna Kubesch will spend time over there as well when Cara is catching. Jenna has played in that role at her other college and is just very sure-handed and deliberate over there. Melissa Nance can also play either first or third for us, and having three first basemen that you can rotate is a good feeling."

Tori Gross was a mainstay at second during the fall, where her range and bat can really benefit the roster. Layla Dolfo held down short during the fall, and had a solid enough season that when the Lady Tigers bring in a junior college transfer for the spring semester, Dolfo will be able to give her competition right away.

Bridget McNulty or Melissa Nance could give the Lady Tigers some size at third base, as McNulty is 6-0 and Nance is 6-2. McNulty smashed two homeruns in the fall in just four games, and hit .333, also adding a double. She led the team with 10 assists during the fall and cleanly fielded all 15 attempts that came her way.

The Lady Tiger outfield is young, but possesses a lot of speed. Cara Stiles will likely anchor the outfield in center, where she can help direct youngsters Leandra Hines, Brittany Gooch and Kristin Chrestman. Stiles' speed in the outfield also transitions to the base pads, as she led Memphis with a 3-for-3 effort in stolen bases during the fall. In all, Memphis was 4-for-4 in stolen bases and caught the opposition on 3-of-9 attempts.

The Lady Tigers will play their 2006 home season at Greenbrook Park (7900 Greenbrook Pkwy) in Southaven, Miss. Memphis will open its inaugural year on the road at the Louisiana-Lafayette tournament Feb. 11-12th and will host its own tournament at Greenbrook on the 18th.