TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- The Rose-Hulman softball team will begin their 2026 season on the road against Spalding on Tuesday, September 1, at 6 PM. 

ROSE-HULMAN NOTES:
* Rose-Hulman has been picked to finish fifth in the HCAC Preseason Poll, earning 48 points.
* The Fightin' Engineers got off to a strong start in the 2025 season, winning their first nine matches to tie the program record for best start to a season, previously done in 2010.
* Rose finished the 2025 season with a record of 16-12 overall and 4-5 in the HCAC, making an early exit in the first round of the HCAC Tournament against Mount St. Joseph.
* The team returns three of their All-HCAC honorees from last year, including Second Team All-HCAC and Newcomer of the Year Greta Carlson. 
* Carlson led the team last season with 332 kills and recorded 3.29 kills per set.
* Other Second Team All-HCAC returners include Keira Ohse and Emma Blanton.
* Blanton was another productive hitter for the Fightin' Engineers, ending the season with 261 kills and 3.30 kills per set. 
* Julia Irmen is another key returner for the team. Irmen led the team in assists with 1,023 and 10.03 assists per set. 
* Irmen also ranked second on the team with 289 digs in 2025.
* The Fightin' Engineers are led by Head Coach Rachel Delsi in her ninth season at Rose-Hulman.
* After traveling to face Spalding, Rose-Hulman will hit the road to compete in the UChicago Tournament. The team will face UChicago on Friday, September 4, at 6 PM CT, 7 PM ET. 
* They will continue the tournament on Saturday, September 5, facing Concordia Wisconsin and Edgewood. 

SPALDING NOTES:
* The Golden Eagles were picked to finish sixth in the SLIAC Preseason Poll, earning 11 points. 
* The team ended last season with a record of 5-22 overall and 2-12 in the conference. 
* Paloma Martinez is the top returner for Spalding, being named a player to watch in the SLIAC Preseason article.
* Martinez led the team last season with 274 kills and 2.74 kills per set. 
* Adreonna Anderson is another impressive hitter for the Golden Eagles, totaling 117 kills and 1.38 kills per set last season.
* Jaylen Wheatley is the team's top defender, leading the team with 400 digs last season and averaging 3.81 digs per set. 
* Spalding is led by Todd Garvey in his first season with the Golden Eagles. 
* After hosting Rose-Hulman, Spalding will travel to face Maryville on Friday, September 4, at 7 PM. 

SERIES HISTORY:
* The Fightin' Engineers trail in the all-time series against Spalding with a record of 0-3.
* The last time both teams faced each other was during the 2006 season, when Spalding picked up the win with a score of 3-1.
* Rose-Hulman has only faced the Golden Eagles on the road once in program history, falling to Spalding with a final score of 3-0 in the 1996 season.