by Malcolm Butler

The night before the season opened back in early February, I remember Mark Montgomery telling me that this was as nervous as he had ever been in his 15 years of coaching on the collegiate level.

Why the nerves? Simple. Montgomery said he really felt he had a group that could take some major strides forward this year, following a disappointing 2014 season saw LA Tech post a 19-33 record. He had high expectations.

Based on what Montgomery and his coaching staff had seen in fall practice and games and the three weeks of team workouts leading up to the opener, the third-year LA Tech skipper was excited about the team he was putting out on the field this year.

And even after an opening weekend that saw the Lady Techsters drop three of their five games in a home tournament, Montgomery remained optimistic. He felt his team had beaten themselves in a couple of those games and he knew with so many newcomers playing huge roles, it was going to take some time to calm the nerves.

Montgomery was right.

Behind great leadership from seniors Bianca Duran and Janine Godwin, Louisiana Tech took some major steps forward this season ... record-wise, statistical-wise and culture-wise.

One might even say this team over-achieved at times. A prime example was early in the season when the Lady Techsters took a 5-3 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning against an LSU team that would eventually play its way into the No. 1 spot in the country. Although Tech lost that game, it was a huge confidence builder for the young squad. It was no coincidence that Tech reeled off nine straight wins - the longest win streak since 1996 - immediately following that game.

In my 16 years at Louisiana Tech, I've developed the opinion that college softball might be the most difficult sport in developing total team chemistry among 20 or so college girls. I've seen some talented teams that underachieved due to lack of team chemistry and the overabundance of self-inflicted drama.

This year's group was by far the most impressive when it came to understand their roles. All 19 players accepted their roles; even embraced them. Montgomery utilized the same starters for the entire year (minus a few where injuries played a role).

Those who didn't start ... embraced their role. It's what allowed this team to win 31 games, the most since the 2008 NCAA Tournament team won 37. It's what allowed this team to enter the final weekend of the regular season with a shot to claim the Conference USA West Division title. It's what allowed this team to break numerous program statistical records.

From strictly a statistical side, Louisiana Tech improved in every phase of the game this season.

• The .294 team batting average was the highest in program history (and a vast improvement over last year's .250 average)

• The 2.91 team earned run average was almost a full run per game better than last year (3.75)

• The .962 team fielding percentage was the second highest in the last decade (and an improvement over last year's .953)

Offensively, power numbers were up. Tech's .451 slugging percentage, 253 runs scored and 230 RBI were all program records while the 46 home runs were the second most (59 in 2009). Tech had three players with at least nine home runs (Pauline Tufi -12, Krysta Tutsch - 9, Bianca Duran - 9), marking only the second time in program history.

In the circle, Tech's four-person staff was pretty consistent all season. Anchored by Duran (14-13, 2.78 ERA), the Lady Techsters issued the fewest walks of any staff in Conference USA (98 in 334.1 IP). Tech also recorded a single season record eight saves with Tufi setting the individual single season record with six.

Defensively, Tech was solid. Despite a starting infield that included two true freshmen at shortstop and second base and a new third baseman, Tech committed only 58 errors - the fewest since 2002. Its outfield combined to commit only four errors all season. And behind the plate, Krysta Tutsch threw out 15-of-31 base stealers, a league best 48 percent.

And although this team fell short of its ultimate goal of winning a Conference USA title and participating in the NCAA Tournament, it took some major steps in the right direction. I believe in just a few years - who knows, maybe even 2016 - Louisiana Tech will return to the postseason.

While the Lady Techsters will miss both Godwin and Duran next year (both young ladies graduate on May 23), the returning nucleus will welcome a talented recruiting class this coming fall.

What will that mean for 2016? No one really knows as all teams take on a different personality from year to year. However, Montgomery might just need something for those nerves come February.