SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The Bronco softball team has seven freshmen preparing to play their first collegiate games at SCU this spring. At least five practices per week, early-morning conditioning, along with responsibilities in the classroom are enough to keep anyone busy.

"Playing collegiate softball is like working a full-time job; you have to learn pretty quickly how to create a steady balance between being an athlete and being a student in order to be successful at both," says freshman Krista Jensen, a graduate of nearby Presentation High School. "Although we experience a lot of physical and mental fatigue throughout the week, in the end all the hard work we are putting in now will pay off during game time when it matters most."

Jensen and classmates Kimberly Tejeda-Lankford, Jessica Lombardi, Rochelle Rivera, Jessica Turner, Kelly Scribner and Stephanie Fisher promise to play a key role in the future fortunes of Santa Clara softball. So far, Jensen points out the team's chemistry is one of its biggest strengths.

"We all get along very well, which is helpful when you are playing a team sport, practicing and working out together as much as we do," says Jensen. "We are able to rely on one another for support and trust in our teammates."

Jensen helped Presentation capture Central Coast Section (CCS) titles for three straight years and her main goal as a collegiate player is to help SCU redefine success through the effort each player is giving on the field each day.

The Broncos are preparing for a grueling 45-game schedule, in which 28 will be played away from home. The team opens up with two games at San Jose State, followed by tournament trips to Stockton, Calif. and Fort Collins, Colo.

Fans can come out and watch the Broncos play their season-opener at San Jose State on Sunday, February 20. The double-header is set to start at 12 noon. 

Photo ID: sitting (l-r): Jessica Lombardi and Jessica Turner. standing (l-r): Krista Jensen, Stephanie Fisher, Kelly Scribner and Rochelle Rivera.