After two straight years of being sent to the Norman Regional, the Boston University softball team is finally getting a change of scenery—and they couldn't be more excited about it.

When the Terriers learned they'd be heading to the Lubbock Regional for the 2026 NCAA tournament, the reaction was something special. Head coach Ashley Waters admitted the celebration was even bigger than when her team earned the No. 3 seed.

"I think the cheer was louder for going to Lubbock than for making the tournament," Waters said after Thursday's practice at Tracy Sellers Field. "If you'd asked me where we were going, I never would have guessed Lubbock. Nobody on our team has been here before, but it's a welcomed challenge. It's cool to be somewhere new and experience a different stadium. We're happy to experience something very, very different than OU."

The Terriers open play Friday against Ole Miss at 1 p.m. on ESPNU, with the winner advancing to face either Texas Tech or Marist on Saturday.

Boston U brings a 46-13 record into the regional, highlighted by a win over Duke and competitive games against power-conference foes like UCF and South Carolina. Those experiences, combined with back-to-back tournament trips, have players like Kylie Doherty believing this is the moment the Terriers prove they belong on the big stage.

"It's knowing that we belong here," Doherty said. "It's not a fluke that we made it the first two times. We belong here."

Doherty herself is a big reason Boston U is a team to watch. After a solid sophomore season, the outfielder exploded in her junior year, setting program records with 26 home runs and 88 RBI. She credits the team's deep lineup for allowing her to play freely without the weight of pressure.

"Being able to play freer because of that depth has been huge," Doherty said. "I'm just putting less stress on the game and playing to have fun instead of playing to get hits. It makes everything more enjoyable."

For a team that's been shipped to Oklahoma two years running, a fresh start in Lubbock might be exactly what the Terriers need to make some noise.