Each year, the NCAA releases its annual survey detailing just how difficult it is for young athletes to progress through the high school to Division I athletics pipeline. In its 2020 survey, the NCAA estimated that only about 1.8% of high school softball players across the United States end up competing in NCAA Division I softball.
 
But those numbers don't really matter to Jennah, Jaida and Jasmin Speth. 
 
For the 2020-21 IUPUI Jaguars softball season, the Speth sisters will all be playing together as a trio for the first time in their respective careers. And they're bringing their competitive spirit and family bond with them.
 
Growing up, Jennah, Jaida and Jasmin Speth bonded through their love of sports and their astounding athleticism, beginning their softball careers at a young age and excelling through their adolescence and high school careers. While each of them played a few sports, their proclivity for softball was always evident. 
 
"My dad played fastpitch for a really long time," said Jennah. "So, when we were really little — I feel like as soon as we could walk [and] stand up — he had us throwing and learning how to catch."
 
But because of their age gap and the two-year age groupings of travel softball teams, the Speth triumvirate had never played together on the same team. 
 
In 2018, Jaida Speth, a junior pitcher and outfielder, joined the Jags after being recruited by IUPUI head coach Elizabeth Beirne. Shortly afterward, Beirne recruited Jasmin Speth, a freshman pitcher and outfielder, ensuring that the two would play together on IUPUI's softball team for the 2021 and 2022 seasons. 
 
Then, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the NCAA to cancel college sports for the remainder of the 2019-20 season, Jennah decided to transfer to IUPUI to finally team up with her two younger sisters.
 
"This all wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for [COVID-19]. This is one of the positive [COVID-19] stories," said coach Beirne. "It was really neat to be able to get them all, and I was very excited about it." 
 
After spending her undergraduate career at Horizon League rival UIC, graduate pitcher and outfielder Jennah Speth received an extra year of eligibility when the spring season was cut short. Though the 11-5 career pitcher had offers from a few schools, her decision to join her sisters and play for the Jags was an easy one. 
 
"I had, I think, two other offers [to transfer]. And so I had to decide, do I go somewhere where I know the coaches, I have people I know there, I'll be with my sisters. Or do I move across the country and go to a school I've never seen," Jennah explained. "So I think it was just a really easy decision."
 
But despite never playing on the same softball team together — and only having fall practices under their belt thus far — it's obvious that the triumvirate is perfectly constructed to compete as teammates. For Jennah, Jaida and Jasmin, neither overcoming the odds to become Division I athletes nor working together as a family unit has presented a formidable challenge. 
 
Individually, the Speth sisters are all equally electric but uniquely disparate; but together, the trio seamlessly interlocks like puzzle pieces. As the 2020-21 season inches closer, they've come to an agreement that this year is all about propelling their team forward. 
 
"I think really our goal is just to build [the program] and kind of set a precedent that we can be good, and we are going to be successful," said Jasmin. "I think the biggest thing for us is that we want to win." 
 
"I mean, when we sit down and talk about it, I feel like that's what we're trying to do: set the precedent," said Jaida. 
 
Jennah Speth — who will be playing out her final year of NCAA availability as long as the season goes off without a hitch — hopes to "go out with a bang" as her career comes to a close; but, like both of her sisters, she still has the prudence to prioritize the team's performance over her last chance to make it into the college record books. 
 
"I think that we could definitely win the Horizon League this year," she said. "My individual goal is to win the Horizon League and compete for pitcher-of-the-year type awards." 
 
Coach Beirne has also noticed that competitive nature and the Speth's harmonization through her observations at fall practices. 
 
"That's where I would say their similar trait is, they all have a little bit of intensity, a little bit of a perfectionist and low tolerance for failure in themselves," said Beirne. "But I think where their low tolerance comes is for [themselves] — they have a high tolerance when it comes to their teammates."
 
But aside from that tenacity within the Speths — though it certainly stands out as a paragon amongst their many strengths — their thoughtfulness, connection and family bond is perhaps even more important to the IUPUI Jags' team chemistry and success for the upcoming season. 
 
According to Beirne, the Speth sisters' biggest asset is their love and support for each other, and their ability to set high standards for themselves and their teammates. 
 
"I think [the biggest pro] would be the fact that as coaches, you can say things all the time. And it matters, but when it comes from another teammate, it really hits home a lot more," said Beirne. "So they will hold each other accountable. 
 
"But I think other people see that and they continue to feed off that energy. But they still are very big on complementing each other. So there's a great balance there that I think they bring."
 
Heading into the 2020-21 season, the Speths have explained that they don't really have any expectations for what their time together will look like, but they do expect to compete and win. 
 
"I feel like now [the team has] everything put together," said Jaida. "And I'm just so excited to compete with everyone."  
 
Jennah, Jaida and Jasmin Speth will be looking to improve the family culture and pathway to success for the IUPUI Jags, and they aim to be a factor as the Jags look to claim their first ever Horizon League Softball Championship title and accompanying NCAA Division I Softball Tournament berth. 
 
Whatever the odds, it's certain the Speths have a good chance at overcoming them. They've done it before, and they're determined to do it again.