GREENWOOD, Ind. – The Great Midwest Athletic Conference conducted interviews with Ohio Valley head coach Rob Graham and junior shortstop Kyle Doelling as part of this year’s softball season preview.

Graham and his Fighting Scots look to focus on their defense this season to be a factor. They have zeroed in on the team’s internal strengths and plan to improve on offense and finishing through the last inning. Bunting is an additional part of the offense that OVU strives to excel in to utilize some team speed.
 
In 2015, the Scots finished with an overall record of 9-38 and went 3-18 in the conference schedule.
 
Ohio Valley is scheduled to compete in its first contest of the season on March 2 against Glenville State. The Fighting Scots go into this season being picked seventh in the G-MAC Preseason Coaches Poll.
 
Hitting: Doelling ended a strong 2015 season with a .286 average, 14 RBI and two home runs…Kristine Brown is another to keep an eye on after a successful season after hitting .317 and driving in a team-high 17 RBI…Graham is very positive about the potential his team has on offense because of the work they have put in this offseason…He expects both the veterans and newcomers to be threats with the bats…After batting .326 last year, OVU will miss the services of Leigh Murphy.
 
Pitching: The return of two experienced pitchers, Melinda Koppinger and Brown, should help the Fighting Scots as they battle opposing lineups…The sophomore Koppinger enters this season after compiling an ERA of 4.11 recorded in 98.2 innings her freshman year…Brown, a senior, comes in with an ERA of 5.38 in 2015…Freshmen Arianna Escobar and Cassidy Newbrough are two newcomers who are set to add depth to the pitching rotation.
 
Coaching: Graham is entering his seventh season as head coach of the OVU’s softball squad…A graduate from Marshall, Graham was a power lifter for Team USA vs. World in Puerto Rico.