Coming off the first back-to-back 30-plus win seasons since the last 1990s, the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters are poised to take another step forward in their ultimate goal of winning a Conference USA title and returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2008.

Head coach Mark Montgomery and Co. return seven starters and 12 letter winners from last year's team that posted a 32-22 record and came just percentage points short of winning the West Division of Conference USA. Tech broke more than a dozen single season team and individual offensive records in 2016 and could surpass that total this year if they are able to replace the graduation of starters Anna Cross, Kristen Miles and Krysta Tutsch.

Tech is picked fourth (out of 12) in the Conference USA preseason coaches poll, and Montgomery feels his team is set to surprise a lot of people despite not having a single player voted to the 15-person preseason team.

"This is as deep of a team as I have had in my college coaching days," said Montgomery. "We are deep and we are talented. We have worked extremely hard since walking off the field in Denton last May after the loss to Southern Miss in the Conference USA Tournament. We've had one common goal in mind.

"If we can stay healthy and if we get the leadership on and off the field that I think our captains can provide, I think we have a chance to have a very good year. I know our kids are ready to face the challenges that 2017 will provide and I'm anxious to see how we will respond."

If the fall is any indication, Montgomery has reason for his excitement. During eight fall games, Tech posted a 7-0-1 record and outscored opponents 117-30.

The 2017 schedule is highlighted by contests against NCAA Tournament participants Texas, Oklahoma, LSU, Ole Miss, South Carolina, McNeese State and Samford. Tech will also play 28 home games, including C-USA series against Charlotte, Middle Tennessee, UTEP and North Texas.

"Our goal with this schedule was to find a good balance between challenging our team with some NCAA caliber teams, playing some in-state schools and providing our fans a nice home schedule where they get to see our team play," Montgomery said. "I think we have succeeded in those goals with this schedule.

"We are at the stage where we feel our players need to understand that they are capable of making the NCAA Tournament as an at-large. However, we have to do a better job of winning some mid-week games that we lost last year and we have to pull some wins over some of the P5 schools, something we can close to doing last year."

The Lady Techsters will play in four early season tournaments, including hosting the six-team LA Tech Invitational Feb. 10-12 (Samford, North Dakota, Missouri State, Incarnate Word, UAPB) and the five-team LA Tech Classic Feb. 24-26 (Northern Iowa, Sam Houston, McNeese State, Grambling State). Tech will travel to tournaments at the University of Texas Tournament Feb. 17-19 (Texas, South Carolina and Indiana) and the University of Memphis Tournament March 3-5 (Memphis, Wright State, Tennessee State, Belmont, UAPB).

Arguably the highlight of the entire schedule is traveling to Oklahoma City to play Oklahoma (March 24) and Mississippi State (March 25) at Hall of Fame Stadium, the host site for the Women's College World Series. Tech will also travel to Oxford to face Ole Miss in early March.

In addition to the four home C-USA series, the Lady Techsters will also play league games at Southern Miss, UAB, UTSA and FIU. Tech will also play its normal mid-week games against in-state foes UL-Monroe (home and home), Northwestern State (home and home), Grambling State (home and home), LSU (away), Southeastern Louisiana (home) and Nicholls State (home).

The 2017 Conference USA Tournament will be hosted by Southern Miss in Hattiesburg on May 10-13.

Outfield

Louisiana Tech boasts one of its strongest outfield groups in years. The group ââ'¬" senior Tori Charters, junior Ali Galaz and sophomores Morgan Turkoly and Jazlyn Crowder ââ'¬" possess a variety of skill-sets and should be one of the top outfields in Conference USA.

Despite the graduation of four-year starter Kristen Miles and key reserves Katelyn Cook and Lindsey Neyland, Montgomery feels he has plenty of weapons that will shine both in the field defensively and at the plate offensively.

"There is just a lot of talent out there," said Montgomery. "Our primary four outfielders could start at any time, and they all possess great skill sets. Knowing we have all four of those is reassuring. They cover so much ground defensively, and they are so powerful offensively. They are a great group and one we are excited about."

Charters enters her senior season with plenty of experience under her belt. Most likely slotted for the No. 2 hole in the lineup, the Keller, Texas native is a career .316 hitter (ranks No. 6 all-time in Tech history), utilizing her speed and bat control to become a prolific slapper for the Lady Techsters. During her junior year, she batted. 288 and scored 27 runs while making 42 starts.

"Tori will anchor our defense in center and provide some speed at the top of our lineup," said Montgomery. "Her defensive play has been stellar. Her quickness and great base-running will allow us to play a number of styles offensively. She has also been working on her ability to hit away to make her a true triple threat at the plate."

During the fall, Charters batted .296 with eight runs.

Turkoly posted the most prolific offensive season for a freshman in the history of Lady Techster softball. The Sanger, Texas native earned second team all-C-USA honors, second team all-LSWA honors and third team all-Mideast Region honors after setting program freshman records for runs (43), home runs (10), RBI (43), walks (27), slugging percentage (.576) and total bases (95). She also tied the Tech program record for home runs in consecutive games with four and some of her home runs came against top competition including LSU and Mississippi State.

"Morgan had a phenomenal freshman season and we look for her to provide more of the same this year," said Montgomery. "Her speed and power are unmatched, and she will once again be a player to watch. Morgan may have not been on the preseason all-conference list but she will most certainly be on the postseason one."

During the fall season, Turkoly batted .576 with eight doubles, one triple, 10 runs and 11 RBI while swiping 3 out of 4 bases successfully. She will see the majority of her playing time in left field.

Playing time in right field will come down to a great competition between two transfers in Crowder and Galaz. Crowder is a sophomore from Tyler Junior College. She helped lead the program to a 60-6 record and a fifth place finish nationally, batting .449 with 15 home runs, 67 RBI, 92 runs and 45 stolen bases. She ranked in the top 5 nationally in hits (106) and doubles (30) and was named All-Conference Region XIV and third team NJCAA All-American.

"Jazz is packed with talent, and is just a phenomenal athlete," said Montgomery. "She will serve as a backup shortstop, but will settle in nicely in her primary role in the outfield. She is so versatile defensively with her quickness and arm strength, but she is just as adept offensively with speed and power. Look for her to be among the leaders in runs scored as well as RBI."

Crowder batted .477 in the fall with six doubles and four home runs. She led the team with 17 hits, 15 RBI and 11 runs scored.

Galaz played two years at Texas Women's University, leading the program to the regional championship each season. As a sophomore, she batted .370 with 11 doubles, 11 home runs, 46 RBI, 43 runs scored and she only struck out 12 times in 157 at bats. She was named first team all-Lone Star Conference as a freshman and sophomore. She red-shirted for LA Tech last season.

"I look for Ali to play both right and left outfield positions for us," said Montgomery. "She has such a quick break on the ball and a great arm as well. Ali also has tremendous power in her swing, and has really come on in the last few weeks as one of our best hitters. She will make a strong go to in many games to bring that extra power when needed."

During the fall, she batted .286 with three RBI and a pair of stolen bases.