NEWBERG, Ore. -- For two years now, the George Fox softball team has been on the brink of making the NCAA tournament. In 2021, COVID condensed the tourney size; in 2022, the Bruins were ranked 16th in the nation and finished with a 28-11 record, but were left out of the mix.

"We've had some success," Bruin head coach Jessica Hollen said, "But we haven't gotten the piece of fruit in the end. We haven't gotten that bid."

Now, the Bruins are back and ready to punch their ticket. Armed with a strong cast of returners, an eager batch of newcomers, and a schedule filled with NCAA Contenders, Fox is ready to get back to the big dance for the first time in five years.

Fox was picked to finish second in the Northwest Conference in the NWC coaches preseason poll, receiving one first-place vote. Defending conference champ Linfield is projected to take first, with Pacific Lutheran and Whitworth predicted to make the NWC Tournament.

The Bruins are no stranger to the conference tourney, having qualified every year since 2015. And after a second-place season in 2022, Fox comes back with reinforcements.

Former NWC Pitcher of the Year Ashley Davis and Bruin home-run record-holder Claire Fountain return for their fifth year to aid the Bruins, utilizing their COVID waiver to run it back with the team once last season. In 2022, Fountain batted .336 while smacking a team-high 13 homers, while Davis compiled a 22-6 record behind the mound.

"Having them for a fifth year is obviously nice," Hollen said, "They've been successful players, but having who they are as people around is also awesome."

With the two Bruin fifth years is a host of returning talent. Reigning NWC Freshman of the Year Sydney Sandifer comes back for more after a year that saw her tally 43 RBIs; Sharon Tomei, who batted a team-high .366 on the year, also returns for her sophomore campaign with fellow sophomore Brooke Riggins, who also started 39 games alongside them. Beyond their stats, Hollen sees them as budding leaders.

"Obviously, they're talented and that's exciting, but they really buy into the program and how and why we do things," Hollen said.

Alongside the sophomores, the 2023 senior softball class has bought into the program for four years. Last season, Kimberly Pulido led the team in steals, while Emma Classen was a mainstay in the lineup, starting 43 games. 

"We've seen a ton of growth from Kimmy and Emma this year," Hollen said, "They've gotten better and better at the things they do."

Senior Kamryn Potter was a staple in the lineup, finishing second on the team with 40 RBIs, while Mikaelie Sullivan chipped in as well, starting seven games after missing all of 2021.

Two transfers, a rarity for Bruin softball, also enter the fold this season: Jenna Kister and Aliya Harmon. Kister, a junior who started 14 games for Montana State-Billings, and Harmon, a member of a Big Sky Champion Weber State program, both can make an instant impact.

Still other accomplished players — Ashley Sansoni, Chloe White, Elise Wilkinson, to name a few — will compete for spots alongside freshmen in an extremely deep Fox roster. Hollen expressed excitement for freshman pitcher Kami Gibson, who will aid a much-deeper pitching department, and the upside of fellow first-year Reagan Medina.

All of this depth will come to a head with a tough Bruin schedule. After beginning the year with a California road swing and a scrimmage against Southwestern Oregon Community College, Fox gets right into league play against Puget Sound. 

"Our conference is a tough conference," Hollen said of the NWC, "and we play four-game series — dropping a single game is the difference between getting a bid to the NCAA tournament or not."

Along with their conference play, Fox will have a chance to compete against some of the best over Spring Break when the Bruins play in Transylvania University's Pioneer Classic in Elizabethtown, Ky. Four NCAA tournament teams from 2022 appear in the Classic, and the Bruins face Regional qualifier DePauw. Hollen says this tournament not only helps strengthen Fox's resume but with fellow NCAA-hopeful Linfield also making the trip, it helps boost the entire West Region.

With a force of gifted players at her disposal in 2023, it's Hollen's — and the team's — goal to break through and make the NCAA Tournament.

"I'm excited to watch them battle for that," Hollen said, "It's going to be fun."

Fox starts the season on Friday, February 10, with a game against La Verne in Ventura, Calif. Live stats for the game are available here and streaming is available for the game here.