A Season of Growth: Stars Close Year with Historic Run
For the Stephens College softball team, the 2026 season was defined less by its record and more by the leadership and impact of a small but influential senior class.
With just three seniors and a roster featuring 14 freshmen, Stephens leaned heavily on experience to guide a young team through a season of transition. The Stars finished 11–32 overall and 5–13 in conference play. The team also reached the American Midwest Conference (AMC) Tournament for the third consecutive year, the longest streak in recent history, and advanced to the second round for the third time.
Tournament run shows progress
Stephens opened tournament play against No. 1 seed Williams Baptist College with a 7–4 loss but showed promise heading into its next game against No. 5 seed Mission University.
The Stars responded with a 3–1 win over Mission, showing resilience while making history by advancing to the second round.
That run came to an end with a 7–1 loss to Cottey College, bringing the season to a close. Despite the result, the Stars showed offensive consistency, recording eight hits.
“I thought we played very well in our three games,” head coach Clint Poulsen said. “Considering that our two losses were to the top two teams in the conference during the regular season and we were able to avenge those losses to Mission by beating them.”
A young team with a promising future
Senior Katelyn Dennis said the season required patience and adaptability as the team adjusted to the intensity of collegiate softball.
“We have such a young team, and it is a big change all around from high school to college,” Dennis said. “We had a lot of maturing and adversity to navigate through the year. For that reason, I am so proud of everyone for being able to step up and learn their part on the team.”
Senior Elise Kendrick said her season was defined by the relationships she built, not statistics.
“We were a really young team, which came with its challenges, but it was also refreshing,” Kendrick said.
Finding meaning beyond results
For Dennis, the challenge was not only helping others grow but redefining her own expectations.
“I had really high expectations for myself and leading the team,” she said. “I got down on myself when things were not organized as I had planned. I had to find a new mindset and understand that I am doing what I need to do, and to let things play out for other people, because you cannot control them.”
Kendrick pointed to the team’s late-season push as a reflection of its perseverance.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to know that our hard work paid off this year,” Kendrick said. “Even with a lot of ups and downs, we were able to make it to the AMC Tournament and advance to the second round for the first time ever.”
Kendrick, who earned second-team all-conference honors, said the recognition was unexpected but meaningful.
“I wasn’t expecting any all-conference awards this year, so it was definitely a pleasant surprise,” she said. “It validates all the hard work I put in and makes all the highs and lows worth it.”
Memories to last a lifetime
Dennis said one of her favorite memories came off the field.
“A group of us would go get Crumbl every so often and drive around,” Dennis said. “There was always a fun and sometimes crazy outcome, and I will cherish those memories forever.”
Kendrick said some of her favorite moments came during competition.
“I have a few favorite memories, but one of my favorites was shutting out CBC on their home field,” Kendrick said. “Making it further in the AMC tournament than we ever have before was also great, and I made some really good friends this year.”
A lasting impact on the program
Poulsen credited seniors Elise Kendrick, Celeste Athon and Kaitie Dennis for helping establish a foundation for the program’s future.
“This group of players has worked hard and poured themselves into our program,” Poulsen said. “I hope they take away that no matter how hard things might get, if you work hard and have a positive attitude, you can overcome just about any obstacle in your way.”
Poulsen also pointed to the team’s continued postseason presence as a sign of progress.
“I hope the rest of the team is able to look at our tournament appearance and realize that our team is not far away from being able to win a conference title and tournament title,” he said. “Even though we came up short in the end, we were playing our best softball at the end, and if we can pick up from that point next fall, next year’s team will go a long way.”
Both Dennis and Kendrick left a message for the underclassmen.
“Believe in yourself and your teammates, have each other’s back, and grow together,” Dennis said. “You will keep making history if you do so.”
“Enjoy your time here,” Kendrick said. “It goes by so fast, so take advantage of every moment together.”
