Q & A With Coach Donna J. Papa

While the Tar Heels took a day away from practice on Tuesday for team photos, dressed in one of the team's four new uniform sets for this year, UNC softball coach Donna J. Papa talked with GoHeels.com about the preseason and her 33rd Carolina team.

GoHeels.com: How's practice going so far?
DJP: "So far, so good. We've had a few little bumps in the road because of the snow we got in Chapel Hill, and that's kept us off the field a little bit. But when we've been in practice, our players have had a lot of energy and focus, which has been really exciting. That's something we always talk about, coming with energy, but they've got to do it – it's not something we can coach. So if you have a team with some energy that's half the battle.

"Because it's been a little colder and we've been inside, we've done a lot of work offensively. If anything we need to catch up a little defensively. We need a few days to be outside and get in a rhythm. We're not in a rhythm yet but we're being productive in what we are doing."

GH: We're just over two weeks away from opening day. What are some of the areas on which you'll continue to focus over that span?

DJP: "Building their confidence. We're challenging them and we want to put them in pressure situations as much as possible, but at the same time we want to build confidence. We know we're going to be challenged by the teams we play and we need to make sure our mentality is getting to that point where we're really competing.

"It's hard to spend a month in practice competing against yourself. One thing we've done different this spring is we've scrimmaged a lot more than in past years. We're trying to do it a couple of times a week because we feel like that will put us in those game-like situations more than us creating game situations in practice. We feel like the game setting will give us good teaching lessons."

GH: This year's team has just two seniors, Katelyn Shifflett and Taylor Wike. What's their contribution to the team from a leadership perspective?

DJP: "They both lead by example. Taylor has started since her freshman year and Katelyn earned a spot last year. Both are in the infield, Katelyn at first and second, maybe at third, and Taylor is in the middle. Their leadership is displayed by what they do – they come and put in extra work and the team sees that. You don't have to be extremely vocal – it's how you go about doing your work and both of them have a great work ethic and really good personalities. Their teammates respect them and like them, and that's important for your senior leadership. They do things the right way and they represent us well on and off the field.

"Both of them bring so much to our team – game experience at many levels, athleticism, preparation and the ability to relate to their teammates. They do things the right way and they represent us well on and off the field."

The Tar Heels open the 2018 season on Feb. 10 against Butler in the UCF Friends of Jaclyn Invitational in Longwood, Fla.

Players Mentioned

Katelyn Shifflett

Taylor Wike

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