Colorado Springs, Colo. - The Nevada softball team has been selected to finish fifth in the 2022 Mountain West preseason standings, as voted on by the Conference's nine head coaches, and announced by the conference on Thursday afternoon.
 
With a total of 57 points and five first-place votes, UNLV was chosen to win the conference. Following the Rebels is San Diego State which received 57 points and three first-place votes. Fresno State (43) beat out Boise State (43) for third, after receiving one vote for first place while Nevada (42) edged out Colorado State (35), New Mexico (17), San Jose State (15), and Utah State (15).
 
After a 24-16 record season, the Nevada softball team will bring back 17 players, including Chelie Senini, who earned First Team All-Mountain West. Senini was second in the conference with the most hits (51) while averaging .347 in individual batting.
 
Sam Oliver, who was Second Team All-Mountain West, will also return to the Pack after averaging .330 with 30 hits in the past season. The 2021 offense team was second overall in team batting, averaging .289, 322 hits, and 194 runs in the conference.
 
Blake Craft will lead the pitching staff, coming in with 10-7 in her record. Craft led the Pack with a 3.57 era in the 2021 season.
 
Shortstop Lauren Gutierrez will also return to the Pack for the 2022 season. Gutierrez was third in batting average (.352), with a total of 44 hits, which places her in seventh in the Mountain West batting leaders rankings.

The Pack's 2022 campaign begins Feb. 11 when the team travels to Los Angeles, Calif. to compete in the UCLA tournament with the first game against UC San Diego at 12 p.m.
 

Rank	Team (First-Place Votes)	Points
1.	UNLV (5)	57
	San Diego State (3)	57
3.	Fresno State (1)	43
	Boise State	43
5.	Nevada	42
6.	Colorado State	35
7.	New Mexico	17
8.	San José State	15
	Utah State	15