Members of the Illinois softball team are writing a blog, which will be published throughout the 2015-16 school year. Follow all the action of Coach Perry's inaugural UI squad right here at FIGHTINGILLINI.com.

The whistle blows, "45!" we chant in unison as we crunch up and touch our knees. Again. "46!" It's Friday morning at 6:30 a.m. and I already cannot feel my legs. After this ab set we have an additional six gassers to run and then some. Off-season has officially begun.

We grind out the rest of our conditioning and rest up because later we are going to a high ropes course. There we split into two teams: orange and blue. We work together to strategize and solve mental puzzles. They required us to lead as well as listen. The last activity we did was climbing a 30-foot pole and jumping off. But before doing so we had to yell down to our team what we wanted to have more courage to do. This is what I found more nerve wrecking than trying to get my feet balanced. As I stood above everyone I looked out ahead to the clear lake, breathed in the crisp fall air, and opened up. Each one of us were alone on top of that pole but we knew we were supported as we jumped into the air.  

On Saturday we supported the community. We volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and helped a woman by the name of Angel. Together Habitat and Angel are building a house, something Angel only ever thought as a dream. Our team mostly worked outside the house landscaping to make it a home by planting rose bushes and other flowers around the borders. Even this volunteer work turned into a team building with having to communicate with one another when to do what, where to place this, etc.

This is just the start of off season. Our team takes advantage of being home on the weekends to give back to the community. We also take advantage of our skill groups to focus on what we individually need to get better at. I went to the field on Thursday to take some extra reps off the tee. I was becoming frustrated with myself because I was not getting automatic results. So I took a step back and looked at the field I was standing on. I read the fence lined with Home of the Fighting Illini B1G. I remembered that I am going to have to fight for what I want, that this perfect swing is not going to magically happen overnight. I want to credit my two coaches, Kandace Lenti and George Stavrakas for giving me this mindset. They constantly pushed me on the field, not only physically but mentally as well, and have made me the hard worker I am today.

 All in all, it has been a productive week for the team and I cannot wait for the next week of off-season because it means one week closer to season. See you then!