RENO, Nev. The University of Nevada softball team was picked to finish third in the Western Athletic Conference this season in the preseason coaches poll released Tuesday.
Senior pitcher Jordan McPherson was named the WAC's Preseason Pitcher of the Year, the first such honor for a Nevada softball player. Junior outfield Brittany Puzey was also named to the Preseason All-WAC team.
The WAC coaches selected Hawai'i to win the 2008 WAC regular season crown. This is the second time that Hawai'i has been picked to take the preseason crown. The Rainbow Wahine were also picked to take the title in 2002. The coaches also voted on 2008 preseason award winners. Hawai'i senior Kate Robinson became the second-straight Hawai'i first baseman to earn preseason Player of the Year honors. Last season, Tyleen Tausaga earned the honor.
Hawai'i edged out Fresno State with 36 points to the Bulldog's 30 for the preseason crown. For the third-straight season, Nevada was picked to finish third with 26 points. New Mexico State finished fourth with 20 points followed by San Jose State with 17 points. Utah State was picked to finish sixth with 10 points, while Louisiana Tech was picked to finish seventh with eight points.
2008 WAC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll
(Points awarded on a 6-5-4-3-2-1 basis)
Coaches could not vote for their own teams.
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 Total
1. Hawai'i 6 0 - - - - 36
2. Fresno St. 1 4 1 - - - 30
3. Nevada - 2 4 - - - 26
4. NMSU - 1 1 3 1 - 20
5. SJSU - - 1 3 2 - 17
6. Utah St. - - - 1 2 3 10
7. La Tech - - - - 2 4 8
Preseason All-WAC Team
C Katie Grimes, So., Hawai'i
1B Kate Robinson, Sr., Hawai'i
2B Jenna Cervantez, Sr., Fresno State
3B Clare Warwick, Jr., Hawai'i
SS Valana Manuma, Sr., Hawai'i
OF Kaulana Gould, Sr., Hawai'i
OF Liz Perez, Sr., San Jose State
OF Brittany Puzey, Jr., Nevada
P Jordan McPherson, Sr., Nevada
UT Stephanie Herrera, Sr., New Mexico State
DP Sarah Smith, Sr., San Jose State
At-Large Audrey Andrade, Jr., UT, Hawai'i
At-Large Nicole Angene, Fr., UT, Fresno State
At-Large Haley Perkins, Jr., 3B, Fresno State
Player of the Year: Kate Robinson, Sr., 1B, Hawai'i
Pitcher of the Year: Jordan McPherson, Sr., P, Nevada
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