The Western Athletic Conference softball coaches selected Hawai`i to win the 2002 WAC regular season crown. This is the first time in seven years that a team other than Fresno State was voted to take the top spot in the WAC. The coaches also voted on 2001 preseason award winners today. Hawai`i shortstop Kate Judd was voted preseason Player of the Year, while Fresno States Jamie Southern earned preseason Pitcher of the Year honors.
Hawai`i earned 34 points, edging Fresno State by one point. Both the Wahine and the Bulldogs advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season. Hawai`i advanced for the fifth time, while the Bulldogs are the only team to have advanced to all 20 NCAA Tournaments.
Loyola Marymount was picked third with 25 points after a 37-22 season. The WACs other affiliate member Portland State earned the fourth spot with 19 points. With 14 points, Tulsa took fifth, while San Jose State and newcomer Louisiana Tech tied for sixth with 11 points.
The preseason all-WAC team included five Fresno State players: junior catcher Pam West, senior third baseman Lindsay Fossatti, senior outfielder Tiffany Whipple, red-shirt freshman pitcher Jamie Southern and senior utility player Vanessa Czarnecki.
Hawai`i placed four players on the preseason all-WAC team, including 2001 WAC Player of the Year Kate Judd. The sophomore shortstop earned preseason Player of the Year honors after driving in 31 runs and scoring 32 runs last season. Judd was joined by sophomore first baseman Stacey Porter and senior outfielder Stacie Hirano. Natalie Gonzales tied with Portland State Megumi Hackett for second base honors. Loyola Marymount outfielder Christy Cercedes rounded out the team.
The 2002 WAC softball season begins on Friday, February 1, with Loyola Marymount and San Jose State each playing in road tournaments.
2002 WAC Softball Preseason Coaches Poll(Points awarded on an 6-5-4-3-2-1 basis)
Coaches could not vote for their own teams.
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 Total
1. UH 4 2 - - - 34
2. FS 3 3 - - - 33
3. LMU - - 5 1 - 25
4. PSU - - 2 3 1 19
5. TU - - - 3 2 1 14
6. LT - 1 - - 1 4 11
SJSU - - - 1 3 2 11
Preseason All-WAC TeamC Pam West, Fresno State
1B Stacey Porter, Hawai`i
2B Natalie Gonzales, Hawai`i
Megumi Hackett, Portland State
3B Lindsay Fossatti, Fresno State
SS Kate Judd, Hawai`i
OF Christy Cercedes, Loyola Marymount
OF Stacie Hirano, Hawai`i
OF Tiffany Whipple, Fresno State
P Jamie Southern, Fresno State
UT Vanessa Czarnecki, Fresno State
Player of the Year: Kate Judd, Hawai`i
Pitcher of the Year: Jamie Southern, FS