The University of Pennsylvania softball team is set to begin its 2026 season at the Lowcountry Classic tournament this Friday. The Quakers will face Western Carolina at 10 a.m., followed by a matchup against Massachusetts at 12:30 p.m.
Penn and Western Carolina have met twice before, with each team claiming one victory. Their first encounter was in 2007, which Penn won 7-6, while the Catamounts took the second meeting with a 5-4 win.
The game against Massachusetts marks the first time these two programs will compete against each other.
The Quakers return 12 players from last year’s roster, including key contributors. Gigi Ganje led the team in batting average last season with .302, and Jade Montgomery led in slugging percentage (.495) and home runs (six). Returning pitchers Ainsley Pemberton, Kelly Zybura, and Morgan Sullivan combined for 65 appearances and 63 strikeouts during the previous campaign.
Head coach Christie Novatin is entering her third season leading the program. She is joined by assistant coaches Kristin Hallam, also in her third year, and Laurin Krings, who is beginning her first season with Penn. Six freshmen—Jaz Johnson, Alex Holeman, Hannah Graveline, Caroline Putnam, Tannar Keenan, and Sienna Acosta—will make their debuts for Penn this year.
Western Carolina enters the tournament with a record of 2-0 after sweeping North Carolina A&T in a doubleheader. Last season, the Catamounts finished sixth in the Southern Conference with an overall record of 22-31 and were eliminated in the first round of their conference tournament by ETSU. The Catamounts’ roster features four Preseason All-Southern Conference honorees, including juniors Lily Bell and Sydney Dirks on the first team.
Massachusetts comes into Friday’s contest still seeking its first win of the season after losses to North Florida, Jacksonville, and Colgate. In 2025, UMass posted a record of 14-33 overall and went 6-16 in conference play. Key returning players include sophomore Brooke Musch—who had a .304 batting average and stole 24 bases last year—and junior Riley Kairer, who batted .300 with 12 RBIs.
