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80 IllustrateD volume 24, issue 4 f Seeking more P roducing winning seasons in six of the past 10 years and reaching 30 victories in a season seven times over that span were nice accomplish- ments for Purdue softball. Finishing fifth place as a high-water mark in a com- petitive Big Ten wasn't bad. But Purdue players don't want that to be enough. And they're encouraged a fresh start with a new coaching staff, one that works to take advantage of each player's strengths and encourages them to relax and not press, could be the combination they need to break through. "This year is going to be overall a really fun year and along with the fun, we're going to play a lot bet- ter because we're going to be relaxed," said senior center fielder Lindsey Rains, entering her fourth sea- son as a starter. "I think the type of players we have on our team, that's what we need. I was OK with (the old style) — that's what I grew up with. But I can see how this kind of environment is good for a team, especially a team that's second-guessing themselves, especially after a rough couple of years. "This is an environment that we need." It's already fueled some success. In only the third game under new coach Kim Schuette, Purdue knocked off the 10th-ranked team in the country. It was the first victory over a top-10 team since April 18, 2009. But Schuette doesn't want this program to continue on what she called a roller coaster that had a stream of highs that were too high and "crashing down" lows. She wants a "steady incline." That starts with a competitive team with confidence. In 2014, Purdue's seven seniors are eager to forge that path, and they've got significant experience to lead a charge in their final season. Five of the nine projected starters are seniors, in- cluding the entire outfield of Rains, Andie Varsho and Maia Monchek. Those three also could fill some of the top spots of the order, fulfilling Schuette's wish of a dy- namic, speedy start to games. "I hope we are feisty and hard to get out," Schuette said. Varsho, the leadoff, was a first-team All-Big Ten pick last season after hitting .415 and leading the league in stolen bases. Rains, second in the conference in steals, has hit over. 300 each season. Monchek, also entering her fourth season as a starter, was second team All-Big Ten last year. With a shift to rely less on slapping as a team, they're hopeful on improving the team's .269 average last sea- son — seventh in the league — and putting up runs more frequently (eighth). "We're still going to be a fast, scrappy team, but just in a different way," Varsho said. "We're still going to steal bases, bunt people over, but we're going to rely more on our bat than we have in the past." To pile up more victories, though, the Boilermakers' pitchers will have to surge, too. And there are some op- tions with experience. Left-hander Lilly Fecho (8-6, 2.96 ERA) is back and will have the top spot in the rotation, but right-hander Lexy Moore (11-15, 3.80) and Alex Whittemore (2-0, Purdue Outfielder Maia Monchek is one of a few veterans for the Boilermakers, entering her fourth season as a starter.