The strength of Coastal Carolina's pitching staff comes from more than mechanics. It comes from the way the group carries itself, pushes one another, and works through the demands of a long season.

Pitching coach Kiana Quolas spends much of her week building that foundation through one-on-one time with each athlete.

"I really try to get to know them in every aspect," Quolas said. "I have seven pitchers, so it makes for long days, but I need to know how I can help them in certain moments."

Junior Abby Henderson said that attention has made a clear difference in her growth.

"When I step on the mound, I usually look at the catcher and visualize where I'm going to throw the ball," Henderson said. "It keeps my head from being scrambled, because as a pitcher, it can get pretty wild sometimes."

Henderson added that Quolas' energy and expectations have pushed her forward.

"She's a big motivator," Henderson said. "Our bullpens aren't easy, but she makes us work hard, and I think that's what makes us better."

Last season's postseason run gave her another layer of confidence.

"After pitching at regionals last year, I got my confidence then," she said. "Now I feel like I'm pretty mentally prepared."

Transfer pitcher Mackenzie Childers said the program's environment is what drew her to Coastal in the first place.

"The biggest thing was just the culture they built here," Childers said. "They treat you as a person before a player, which is really awesome."

Childers said Quolas and the staff have helped her settle in quickly and elevate her game.

"They've definitely helped me with the mental game," she said. "They've helped me get stronger with hitting my spots and attacking the zone."

She added that the biggest lesson she carries with her is simple effort.

"The biggest thing is just working hard in everything you do," Childers said. "Whether it's school or weights or every single pitch, you give it 100 percent. If it doesn't go your way, you can't dwell on it."

Last season, Coastal Carolina made history by winning the 2025 Sun Belt Conference Tournament, led by standout senior pitcher Nicolette Picone.

With Picone now graduated after an exceptional career, the pitching staff enters a new chapter—one built on a mix of returners and newcomers eager to earn innings.

"Losing Nick is tough," Quolas said. "But she mentored the other pitchers while she was here. Now that she's gone, we have some big shoes to fill, but this new group works so hard. There's a friendly competition over who's going to get the ball on Friday, and that's good for us."

For Henderson and Childers, that competition is what bonds the group and keeps them sharp. Whether it's a midweek bullpen or a packed stadium in conference play, the standard remains the same.

Coastal's pitchers know what's expected every time they step into the circle: preparation, toughness, and a standard they take seriously.

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