VALLEY CITY, N.D. – The Valley City State University Softball team will open the 2026 season this weekend with four games at the Nelson Family Bubble on the campus of the University of Jamestown.

The Vikings are scheduled to play the University of Providence on Saturday, February 7^th at 12:00 p.m. and the University of Jamestown at 4:30 p.m.

The Vikings are coming off a 26-23 season in 2025. VCSU was 11-9 in the North Star Athletic Association and took second in the conference tournament. The Vikings won three straight loser out games to reach the championship before falling to the University of Jamestown 7-0 in the title game.

Leading the way for the Vikings will be Head Coach Matt Gable who begins his fourth season with the Vikings.

"Opening day is always a day you mark down on the calendar, especially when you look at the work this teams put in since the beginning of the fall semester. The energy and effort they bring day in and day out, makes game 1 that much more exciting." Coach Gable said about this weekend's games.

Three All-Conference players lead a group of eleven returning letter winners. Logan Gronberg, Maddy Hazelton, and Kylee Banerd.

Gronberg was named 1^st Team All-Conference for the second straight year after leading the North Star with a .492 batting average, .541 on-base percentage, and .795 slugging percentage this season. The Bismarck, N.D. native ranked second in the conference with 10 home runs and 45 RBIs while also posting 65 hits, 10 doubles, and 20 runs on the season. Gronberg also earned a Gold Glove award for outstanding defense, recording just three errors in 229 total chances last season.

Banerd was 2^nd Team All-Conference in her first year as a Viking. The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native hit .323 with 42 hits, a team-leading 11 doubles, three triples and eight home runs for VCSU. Her eight home runs on the season ranked third in the North Star. The freshman scored a team-high 37 runs and drove in 29 this season.

Hazelton earned 2^nd Team All-Conference as a freshman pitcher and designated player for the Vikings. The Winona, Minn. native hit  .319 with 29 hits, six doubles, one home run, 17 runs scored and 13 RBIs for VCSU. In the circle, the freshman posted a 6-6 record with two saves for the Vikings. She had a 3.07 ERA with 85 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .220 batting average.

The Frontier Conference is made up of eight teams, the five former NSAA teams, VCSU, Dickinson State, Bellevue, Mayville State, Dakota State. Two from Montana, the University of Providence and Carroll College. And newcomer, Bismarck State College.

In the Preseason Coaches' Poll, Valley City State received one first place vote and finished third in the poll behind Bellevue and Dickinson State.

"Our expectations for this season are very simple. Compete pitch by pitch, inning by inning, game by game," Coach Gable said. " We have a talented and motivated group of players that work well together, and I can't wait for another year of Viking Softball to get started."
 
Gable is assisted by Vance Christianson, Riley Olstad, and Savy Williams.

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