To some, three is just a number. But to Abby Turczyn, three is in her blood.

"My dad played baseball at St. Ambrose and he was number three," Turczyn said. "Then when my sister started playing softball, she was number three. Then of course, copycat me, I needed to be number three, too."

Being the youngest in her family, Turczyn grew up looking up to her older sister and Redbird softball alum, Kelsey. With their mom as the coach, Turczyn eagerly wanted to be a part of the family's pastime.

"When I was little, I would go to the city league games and watch my sister," Turczyn said. "I would always be so mad because I wanted to play with Kelsey. When I was finally old enough to play, I was so happy and so excited because I always wanted to be like my big sister."

Following in her older sister's footsteps, Turczyn played softball as soon as she could, ultimately leading her to become a varsity letterwinner at LaSalle-Peru High School. In addition to being a two-time all-state softball selection, Turczyn, with her sister, competed in volleyball, as a two-year starter. The lone year the Turczyn tandem was on the softball field together – Abby's freshman year and Kelsey's senior year – the Cavaliers advanced to the state tournament, finishing second.

"That ultimately led us all the way here, following in Kelsey's footsteps," Turczyn said. "She guided the way for me and was a great role model, especially being an older sister. It was really cool experience getting to play with her for one year in college athletics."

With the older Turczyn sister out in left field, donning the number three on her back, and the younger at second, it made for an interesting dynamic on the team.

"That was the first time I ever had sisters playing together," head coach Melinda Fischer said. "It was a unique experience since both have very different personalities and type players. Both of them have that deep-down competitiveness within them that is something you want to see, as coach, no matter what position someone plays. They would get on each other in a fun way, with inside jokes, I'm sure. All-in-all, it was a really great experience."

Although the Turczyn sisters would play their last game together at Marian Kneer Stadium April 26, 2015, the opportunity to play collegiate athletics with your family is a special one – one that the Strandgard sisters of Riley and Spenser will have the opportunity to do this year.

"It's a really cool experience to play with your sister for a year in college athletics," Turczyn said. "Softball here is much different than any other team I've been a part of. It's really cool to go through and experience that with one of your actual family members here with you."

Jumping ahead, Turczyn has always been a leader for the Redbirds on an off the field, from starting at second base as a freshman to the Missouri Valley Conference's State Farm Good Neighbor award winner her junior year.

"Abby's always been a leader," Fischer said. "It's natural. She came here with that trait. She's that person who can get the energy going, both on and off the field. That communication she has, especially on the field, is so important to everything we do. The team feeds off that. Coming in with that skill as freshman, she's maintained that to now, coming into her senior year. That's Abby's trademark."

Looking up to her sister and the class of 2015 seniors, Turczyn knew she had big shoes to fill as she matured into her senior year, having taken over the family number by this point.

"The connection between the seniors and the freshmen is so important," Turczyn said. "Now that I'm a senior, I can really relate to the younger girls and be that voice for them. I know when I was a freshman, Stephanie Gallant was a really vocal leader. It's really important to have someone chirping at practice and in the dugout to help keep the team motivated."

The qualities that Turczyn looked up to as a freshman, she now possesses as a senior and three-year captain for the Redbird squad.

"You want a role model who your freshmen can look to as the person that they want to be if they get the chance to play that position and that's Abby," Fischer said. "Anytime your leadership is good, sets examples, and does what you need them to do, that's huge for anybody coming in as a younger player."

However, growing up around the game, this was natural for Turczyn. With both parents as coaches and sister to play with, it's a family affair.

"We were always at the ballpark doing something," Turczyn said. "We are a White Sox family. We always used to go once a year when we were little. Kelsey and I would bring our glove to try to catch a ball. Baseball and softball have always been the center of our family."

This type of support and family dynamic is the backbone to Redbird softball. With the countless hours spent together traveling, practicing and playing softball, the team becomes a family. With number three on their backs, the upbringing of the Turczyn tandem set the pair up for success as Redbirds for life.

"The Turczyn family is just a tremendous family for supporting everyone in our program," Fischer said. "It does not matter whether their daughters are playing. They support everybody. They are a special family that is really for everybody and for Redbird Softball."

After all, good things come in three.