ROCHESTER, Minn.- The Winona State University softball team is set to open the 2024 season with a doubleheader against Grand View University on Feb. 14, playing at the Rochester Community & Technical College (RCTC) Dome. The Warriors are set to have first pitch for game one at noon. with game two set to start approximately 30 minutes after game one. 

The Warriors begin their 2024 season ranked third in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) with having Abbie Hlas as the WSU Player to Watch and Abby Smith as the WSU Pitcher to Watch. 

Both Hlas and Smith are two of many veterans that head coach Greg Jones who enters his 24th season with a 929-316-4 career record, complied completely at Winona State. Last season, WSU earned their 27th straight post season conference run, last year, having a overall record of 38-16 and a 20-6 NSIC record. 

Read the complete NSIC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll release here. 

The Grand View Vikings are members of the NAIA and come into Wednesday's matchup against the Warriors with a 4-1 record. GVU opened up their 2024 season on Friday Feb. 9 with a doubleheader against Morningside University taking both games 7-2 and 11-3. The Vikings then faced off against Briar Cliff University later on Feb. 9 falling 3-4. Grand View finished off the weekend sweeping Dordt University 3-0 and 7-0. In the preseason poll for the NAIA GVU come into this season receiving votes in the NAIA Softball Coaches' Top 25- Preseason, which you can find here. 

The Winona State - Grand View season opener dates back to 2015; WSU holds a 15-3 record in the nine year season opening face off. Last spring, the Warriors went 4-1 and 8-4 against the Vikings. 

In addition to Hlas and Smith, WSU has a core group of returners, which includes Carly Engelhardt, Savannah Serdynski, Teaghen Amwoza and several more. Winona State holds their largest roster with 26 players with there being Smith, Skyler Calmes, and  Morgan Smetana on the pitching rubber as well as five newcomers to the Warrior circle..