DeKALB — Silence can be deadly, but filling the silence with support and cheering on teammates is a task senior softball infielder Alaynie Woollard takes pride in executing on the diamond regularly.

“Sometimes you can get in your own brain, first of all,” Woollard said. “If you can fill your brain with the positive and what is next, you are not thinking about the last play, so you are filling it with good energy.”

Woollard said her vocalness on the field is one of the best assets she brings to the team. She is constantly calling out directions to her teammates between pitches on the defensive end.

“She’s always been one of the loudest people on our team,” said junior infielder Sam Schmidt. “Sometimes when something goes wrong or not a lot of energy is happening, she does a really good job of pumping up the team. It helps the team a lot with being positive.”

Woollard said she wants to make sure her teammates do not concern themselves with previous disappointments and consistently focus on the next play.

“I think I play a pretty big leadership role when it comes to defense and on the field,” Woollard said. “I am always trying to be the voice out there. I’m always reminding people what play is next and who is up to bat so we are not surprised by anything that can happen.”

Woollard has been a main speaker on the field since she started her softball career at NIU in 2015. She admits she has gained confidence in her vocal leadership throughout her four-year tenure with the Huskies.

Woollard’s own coaching experience has helped her understand the game from a different kind of perspective.

“I coach a [youth league] in the summer,” Woollard said. “I think seeing them from the other side of the gate has taught me what it needs to look like when I am out there. Seeing the reverse helped teach me what I need to do out there on the field.”

Woollard believes her vocal leadership helps calm her team down on the defensive end. The Huskies rank No. 5 fielding percentage in the MAC, according to the confernece’s official website.

Woollard’s said her vocalness keeps the team up and energized. Sometimes she replaces her words with random dances. Woollard keeps the team engaged regardless of how the game going.

“Sometimes you don’t know,” said Head Coach Christina Sutcliffe. “She just kind of does her own thing. In between her dancing and her screaming, she’s always talking.”

The Huskies will begin a three-game series with the Eastern Michigan University Eagles 2 p.m. Friday in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The team currently sits 5-8 in Mid-American Conference play.