For Academy of Art University Softball, 2014 will be about progress. With much of its offense intact from a season ago and fresh faces ready to show their talent at the intercollegiate level, ART U begins its quest next week with one goal firmly in mind.

"I think this year's theme is evolution," co-head coach Randy Ward said. "We want to grow forward from our current state; that current day we practice or play in a game. We don't need to be perfect day one, but we would like to be as close as we can to perfect in the last game we play."

The Urban Knights come off a 2013 season that saw the debut of co-head coaches Sami Strinz and Randy Ward. Highlights from that campaign included a pair of games won on a steal of home, a walk-off victory to finish the Tournament of Champions, and the celebration of five seniors who helped pioneer the program. As a testament to the Urban Knights' fight throughout 2013, roughly one third of their games were settled by just a single run. For a more detailed look at last year, click here!

"We learned last year that you need to show up every conference game ready for a fight," Coach Ward said. "There was no real rhyme or reason for the way the standings ended up last year. With that being said, we believe we have as good a chance as any to finish in the top of the standings this season. We feel our youth not knowing how this conference has traditionally been will work to our favor if they show up ready to play every day. We had a lot of one-run games last season and we believe these newcomers can be an advantage in pulling those close ones out."

On Wednesday, Feb. 5, ART U hosts Opening Day with a 12:00 PM first pitch against defending regular season and CCAA Tournament Champion Humboldt State at Mission Blue Field (Live Stats | Twitter). From there, it is a more than 46-game 2014 campaign for the Knights who will play 30 home contests against a variety of West Region opponents and will travel to Hawaii for the first time in two years. For a more detailed look at the 2014 schedule, click here!

After three years spent building Academy of Art Softball, seniors Lauren Stover and Elyse Cordova are poised to lead the way for a roster where underclassmen compose of more than half of the team. Stover, who was selected to the 2014 Preseason All-PacWest Softball Team as the top shortstop in the conference, comes off a 2013 year that saw her hit .345 with 26 runs batted in and 11 extra-base hits. She went on a 13-game hitting streak which was the second longest in program history.

Cordova is one of ART U's top speed talents in its five-year history. Not only does she carry a .390 career batting average (2nd all-time) into this year, but her career runs scored (103) and stolen base totals (47) are second to none for the Urban Knights. The quick outfielder batted .342 last season with 32 runs scored, 10 doubles, and nine stolen bases. On the program's career hits list, Stover (155) and Cordova (183) go one and two.

"Our two seniors are big contributors for us," Coach Strinz said. "They are both highly competitive and I believe that they have done a good job of elevating this program in their four-year careers. Stover is our leader in the infield holding down shortstop. In my opinion, she is the best defensive shortstop in our conference. Cordova is our anchor in the outfield and she leads by example. It's common to see her make diving catches in practice. We expect her to be our leadoff hitter and table-setter this year."

Very much a part of the dynamic top of the lineup last year, 2013 All-PacWest Third Team honoree Haily MacDonald returns as a junior in 2014. She paced the squad with a .353 batting average (16th in PacWest) and swiped 13 bases en route 34 runs scored for the Urban Knights.

"Haily stepped up for us big time last year," Coach Strinz said. "She is someone who opposing teams have a difficult time coming up with a strategy to defend against. She has good wheels where she can drop a sneaky bunt, but she also led our team in triples (4) last year. She's a threat on the bases because she makes things happen."

Joining MacDonald in ART U's junior class will be returners Kamyle Glover, Jasmine Dickenson, and Taylor Thurman as well as Grays Harbor College transfer Jill Johnson. Glover hit close to .300 through the first half of 2013 while Dickenson came on stronger in late February. Thurman provided a tough bat behind the speed at the top of the lineup, finishing the year with a .316 batting average, 24 RBIs, and nine hits for extra bases. In a doubleheader against BYU-Hawaii late in the year, Thurman went 6-for-6 with seven RBIs.

The Urban Knights sophomore class is composed of a trio of returners in Andrea Gill, Jessica Marin, and Elise Oldham. Oldham increased her batting average more than 160 points in the final two weeks of the season and steps into a role as the starting catcher this season.

"I'm really pleased with the level of growth and maturity that we have seen in Ice [Elise Oldham] over the last year and a half," Coach Strinz said. "She has stepped up for us as our starting catcher and she is swinging the bat with authority."

Of the six freshmen joining the program, two will add greater depth in the pitching rotation following the graduation of career innings leader Kimberly Dauer. Carlee Emerson (Portland, OR/Grant HS) and Alexa Peters (Napavine, WA/Napavine HS) throw left and right respectively and both were three-year team captains who garnered First Team All-League honors in high school. Emerson in particular figures to be a regular in the ART U pitcher's circle.

"Carlee Emerson has been a pleasant surprise this offseason," Coach Strinz said. "She's really stepped up as a pitcher and she should prove to be the ace of our staff. She has a tremendous presence that exudes confidence. Her focus and competitiveness elevate our defense's confidence."

Eager to get their first taste of intercollegiate softball, the freshman class is rounded out by Alexandra "Lexie" Hernandez (Murrieta, CA/Murrieta HS), Alissa Peterson (Santa Clarita, CA/West Ranch HS), Hallie Curtis (Hood River, OR/Hood River Valley HS), and Jessica West (Portland, OR/Woodrow Wilson HS). Through the preseason, Hernandez, who helped Murrieta Mesa to a 2010 ASA Pacific Coast National Championship as only a freshman, has made a strong impression early.

"Lexie Hernandez has done a great job since coming in at semester to help bring consistency in our infield," Coach Strinz said. "She will definitely be a player to keep your eye on throughout her career."

A team returning its top four hitters from 2013 and adding a wealth of young talent, ART U Softball has its sights set on success in 2014.

"We are young this year, but I believe we are more experienced and seasoned than we were last year," Coach Strinz said. "We have a great number of freshmen, but I don't think they will play like a normal group of freshman. My hope is that our seniors can finish their careers proud of what they have left behind knowing that helped make the ART U Softball program into a winner. I want our team to continue to evolve, grow, and keep pushing themselves and their teammates to be the best that they can be."