WHITEWATER, WI (03/16/2016)-- Molly Ethington, a native of Rock Island, IL, and graduate of Alleman Catholic High School, will compete for the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team during the 2016 season.
The Warhawks begin play this Friday as part of their 12-game spring break trip to Clermont, Fla.
Ethington, a freshman at UW-Whitewater, is majoring in physical education.
See below for a complete season preview of this year's team.
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Softball team swings into the 2016 season this Friday against No. 14 Heidelberg (Ohio) in the first of 12 games on the team's spring break trip to Clermont, Fla.
The Warhawks are predicted to finish in first place in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference during the 2016 season in a preseason poll filled out by league coaches and athletic communications personnel. The team has won back-to-back regular season titles and three consecutive WIAC Tournament championships entering 2016.
UW-Whitewater is led by head coach Brenda Volk, who enters her 18th year at the helm of the program. Under her direction, the Warhawks have won five conference titles and five conference tournament titles. They've also made nine NCAA Tournament appearances, including a national runner-up finish in 2008 and a third-place finish in 2014.
The Warhawks' first home doubleheader of the season comes against Carthage March 30. The first conference games come against UW-Stout and UW-River Falls April 9-10. UW-Whitewater faces consecutive ranked opponents when it visits No. 13 Illinois Wesleyan April 19 and plays host to No. 24 UW-Oshkosh April 23.
The 2016 Warhawks feature two seniors in infielder Maggie Hansen (Algonquin, Ill./Jacobs) and outfielder Morgan Parise (Sheboygan, Wis./North), who lead a young squad that includes nine freshmen
