SPARTANBURG, S.C.  – Following the winningest season and first postseason trip in program history, Converse University head softball coach Jackie Huff has announced the addition of 11 additions to the 2026 Valkyries.

Eight of the Valkyries' latest additions make their way to the Hub City from outside of the Palmetto State. Two of the newest Valkyries are transfers from four-year institutions while the other nine join team 11 as freshmen.

"I am so thrilled to welcome these young ladies into the program this year. We have been very intentional in our recruiting efforts to bring in the missing pieces that will help push us over the hump, and I think that is precisely what we found in this recruiting class," stated Huff. "They bring a strong and proven successful track record of impressive offensive power and standout pitching. With this dynamic group, we are continuing to grow and develop our competitive edge within the conference. We are eagerly awaiting them to get here and get to work."

Kaley Anderson hails from Lexington where she was a four-year letter winner at Gray Collegiate Academy. Off of the diamond, she was a member of the National Honor Society.

Mary Buckner comes to Converse from Cary, North Carolina after spending her freshman year at Division-III Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina. She posted a .286 batting average in 11 games played for the Quakers. Prior to college, Buckner was a standout at Green Hope High School for both the softball and golf teams. She was a four-year captain of the softball team and posted a .415 batting average during her career. She was a two-time all-conference selection and two time all-conference honorable mention during her time with the Falcons. She was selected all-district once and all-conference academic three times.

Ava Chapman joins the Valkyries as a dual-sport athlete, competing for both the field hockey and softball teams. Hailing from South Plainfield, New Jersey, the incoming freshman competed in three sports for the Tigers of South Plainfield High School. She was a four-year letter winner with the track & field team, a three-year letter winner on the field hockey team and a two-year letter winner with the softball team. Off of the field, diamond and track, she was a member of the Passionately Pink for Breast Cancer Club, Environmental Science Club and the Heroes and Cool Kids Club. She was also a member of the Spanish Honors Society. During her field hockey career with the Tigers, she tallied 23 goals and 14 assists for 60 career points.

Alexis Felker comes to the Hub City from Oviedo, Florida and Hagerty High School. She competed in both softball and volleyball, being a four-year letter winner on the diamond. She helped lead the Huskies to two district championships and a 2025 FHSAA Class 7A runner-up finish. She was a four-time academic all-conference selection. Felker blasted 20 long bombs during her four year career. Off of the diamond, she was a member of the National English and National Athletic Honor Societies.

Tashi Fife joins the Valkyries as another addition from the Peach State, hailing from Peachtree City, Georgia. She was a four-year letter winner for the softball team at McIntosh High School and a one-year letter winner with the track team. During her senior year, she posted a .493 batting average, a .588 on-base percentage, 21 RBIs, 22 runs and 17 stolen bases. She was the team's offensive MVP during her sophomore and senior years, also being named an all-region first team outfielder those same years. Following her freshman and junior years, she was named a second team all-region selection, earning the distinction as an outfielder freshman year and as a pitcher junior year. Off of the diamond, Fife was involved in the National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, Beta Club and All-County Honor Chorus for three years starting her sophomore year. She was twice a member of the All-State Chorus and she added All-State Reading Chorus to her resume senior year.

Paige Fleming comes to Converse from Kings Mountain High School in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. She was a four-year letter winner for the Mountaineers softball team and a one-year letter winner for the basketball team. She recorded a career .368 batting average, 75 RBIs, and 14 home runs. She was an all-conference, all-region and all-state selection, helping Kings Mountain reach the 3A state championship. Off of the diamond, Fleming was a member of the National Honor Society, Beta Club and FCA.

Tyler Karabach hails from Bothell, Washington where she was a four-year letter winner for the Kamiak High School Knights. Off of the diamond, she was a member of the Model United Nations.

Ava Belle Lawton makes the short trip to the Hub City from Easley, where she was a six-year member of the Pickens High School softball team. She competed for two years with the school's tennis team and one year each with the basketball and swim teams. In six seasons, she recorded a .434 batting average and .523 on-base percentage. She was a 2024 all-region selection. Off of the diamond she was the fine arts editor for the school newspaper, a Palmetto Girls State representative and a member of FCA. Lawton comes from a long line of diamond-sport athletes. Her mother played softball at Presbyterian College and her father played baseball at West Georgia. Her older sister, Ella Grace, played softball at Southern Wesleyan.

Sophia Naese is the second of two four-year transfers joining the Valkyries for the 2026 season. She most recently competed at Stony Brook University. Originally from Plantation, Florida, she was a four-year letter winner at Western High School, earning the team's Player of the Game award twice against Monarch High School during her junior season. She helped lead the Wildcats to the 2024 7A FHSAA State Championship. She also played for TNT Florida Black where she achieved a .556 batting average and a .900 fielding percentage.

Gracee Stucki joins the Valkyries from St. George, Utah where she was a three-year letter winner for the Crimson Cliffs High School Mustangs. She was a softball academic state champion and a two-time team MVP, earning the award at the end of her junior and senior seasons. Accomplished on and off the diamond, Stucki holds an associates degree from Utah Tech and earned the President's Education Award in 2023 and High Honor Roll in 2022. She was the Mechanical Engineering 1000 Student of the Semester.

Eryn Wright comes to the Hub City from Elgin, where she was a four-year letter winner at Spring Valley High School. She served as a two-year team captain during her junior and senior seasons. Off of the diamond, she was involved with the Spring Valley Orchestra, the Red Cross Club, Fierce Club, the National English Honors Society and the Music Honor Society.
The Converse University softball team is set to take the diamond at the Valkyrie Classic, scheduled for January 30-February 1, 2026. More details will be communicated at GoValkyries.com/sports/softball.

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