Upcoming Event: Softball versus #12 Virginia on April 2, 2026 at 6 p.m.
Softball
vs #12 Virginia
Mistie Williams Blog: Entry 7
Hello Everyone!
I hope you are all in good spirits today and ready to read about your Blue Devils. Since I am a firm believer in ending on a good note, I’ll start with the not so good stuff. We have been two days removed from our first loss of the season and I can tell you that it is still not sitting with us right. I am actually writing this entry even before our first practice after the loss, so that could make the loss even more “interesting.” I guess writing about the loss can help all of you understand how we currently feel and how we “WILL” bounce back from a disappointing defeat.
Firstly, it is always easy to question your team’s efforts after a loss, especially when you believed that you had it in the bag and all the sudden, the bottom dropped out and everything fell out. I think after a loss, you ask yourself did you do EVERYTHING you could do in order to make your team successful. At first you think about the game and remember the time you didn’t box out or the time you didn’t play defense early enough. But like Coach G said, “It all begins with how a team practices.” You play like you practice, and if we don’t challenge each other each and everyday, athletic teams like UNC will take advantage of what we didn’t push ourselves at.
The good thing about the loss is that we will get better! I don’t think that anyone on the team wants to experience another loss and will take even more responsibility for the way we play in the future. Just to think, we have seven full days of practice to ensure our future success. Taking a loss and making it into something positive can make us an even better team than we are, and that is just simply SCARY!
On a brighter note! I know you are all wondering how the team felt after the first 1 vs. 2 last Monday night! That was probably one of the most emotional, exciting, and exuberant games I have ever played in. Playing Tennessee was a great challenge for our team, but it was a game that many people didn’t think we had the capability of winning! That’s what gave us the extra sense of urgency, the extra edge! We all took it personally when people looked at us as if we had no talent, and as if we were some mediocre team. That was far from the truth and we made sure we were going to make that statement!
The best part about the game is that we had so much fun! We were all smiles, we enjoyed making the extra pass, and we enjoyed watching one another show America that Duke is a force to be reckoned with. When we walked off the court that night, we knew we left everything out there, and we accomplished all that we needed and wanted to accomplish that night.
Everyone, that team is “still” here and we will turn around from Sunday night’s game!
Until next time,
Mistie Williams
