RENO, Nev. – Nevada Softball notched two names on the Mountain West Preseason Team, as announced by the conference on Thursday. The Wolf Pack, in its first season under Head Coach Victoria Hayward, was projected to finish fifth by the preseason coaches' poll.
 
Aaliyah Jenkins earns a conference preseason honor for the first time in her career. Entering her senior season, Jenkins is looking for her third All-Mountain West First-Team recognition, receiving the honor in 2022 and 2024, as well as a Second-Team recognition in 2023. Jenkins had the highest conference batting average of any returning player with a .415 average in 21 Mountain West contests. Additionally, Jenkins had the highest slugging percentage, .892, of any Mountain West hitter in 2024 and is tied for the most RBI in Mountain West games by returning players. Jenkins earned NFCA All-West Region Third Team honors in 2024.
 
Haley Painter received her first preseason honor after being named to the 2024 All-Mountain West Second Team, her first end-of-season conference honor. Painter's breakout season had her with the national leaders throughout the 2024 season, finishing in the top 100 nationally in slugging percentage (.764, 37^th), home runs (16, 40^th), doubles (15, 61^st), and on-base percentage (.481, 66^th). Painter returns the most doubles, highest slugging percentage, and third most home runs of any Mountain West player in all 2024 games. Painter was named D1Softball's national player of the week on February 20, 2024, after a 12-for-22 week. Painter was also named to the NFCA All-West Region First Team in 2024.
 
Nevada, playing under Hayward for the first time, was selected to finish fifth in conference play.
 
The Pack will open the season on February 7 against Army at 10 a.m. in Los Angeles. Season tickets are on sale now, buy your season tickets, HERE.

Preseason Team – Players (12):
Sydney Groves, Jr., INF, Boise State 
Mykenzie Hanna, Sr., OF, Boise State 
Sophia Knight, So., OF Boise State
Jailey Wilson, So., INF, Colorado State 
Aaliyah Jenkins, Sr., C, Nevada 
Haley Painter, Jr., 3B, Nevada 
Cali Decker, Sr., C, San Diego State 
Reina Zermeno, Jr., INF/UT, San José State
Jesse Farrell, So., C, UNLV 
Ariana Martinez, Sr., INF, UNLV 
Ariel Fifita, Sr., INF, Utah State 
Grace Matej, Jr., C/INF, Utah State 
 
Preseason Team - Pitchers (3): 
Serayah Neiss, Jr., Fresno State 
Cece Cellura, So., San Diego State 
Dee Dee Hernandez, Sr., San Diego State
 
Player of the Year:
Sophia Knight, So., OF,  Boise State
 
Pitcher of the Year:
Cece Cellura, So., San Diego State
 
Predicted Order of Finish (First Place Votes)
1.            San Diego State (8)        64          
2.            Boise State                     50          
2.            Fresno State                   50
4.            UNLV (1)                         47          
5.            Nevada                           31
6.            Colorado State                27
7.            Utah State                       22
8.            New Mexico                    17
9.            San José State                16