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DENVER - Grand Canyon is the preseason favorite to win the 2018 Western Athletic Conference softball title in a vote of the league's six head coaches, who could not vote for their own team.
The coaches also voted preseason award winners and NM State's
Kelsey Horton was selected as the Preseason Player of the Year and Seattle U's
Andie Larkins was selected as the Preseason Pitcher of the Year.
The Lopes took the top spot in the preseason poll with 24 points and four first-place votes, while NM State was just behind in second with 22 points and the other two first-place votes. Seattle U was selected to finish in third place with 16 points, just ahead of Utah Valley in fourth place with 14 points. Kansas City (8) and CSU Bakersfield (6) round out the poll.
Grand Canyon placed the most players on the Preseason All-WAC team with four, while NM State had three.
The 2018 season begins Thursday, Feb. 8. The 2018 WAC Softball Tournament will be held May 9-12, at the NM State Softball Complex in Las Cruces, N.M., and will include all six teams.
2018 WAC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll
| Rank |
Teams (1st-Place Votes) |
Points |
| 1 |
Grand Canyon (4) |
24 |
| 2 |
NM State (2) |
22 |
| 3 |
Seattle U |
16 |
| 4 |
Utah Valley |
14 |
| 5 |
Kansas City |
8 |
| 6 |
CSU Bakersfield |
6 |
2018 Softball Preseason All-WAC Team
| Player |
School |
Yr. |
Pos. |
| Brianna Aguilar-Beaucage |
Grand Canyon |
So. |
P |
| Nikki Butler |
NM State |
So. |
C |
| Lauren Frailey Spendlove |
Utah Valley |
Sr. |
P |
| Kelsey Goodwin |
Kansas City |
Sr. |
MIF |
| Kendsey Hill |
Grand Canyon |
Gr. |
C |
| Chris Hipa |
CSU Bakersfield |
Jr. |
3B/UT |
| Kelsey Horton |
NM State |
Jr. |
UT |
| Andie Larkins |
Seattle U |
Jr. |
P |
| Caragh Morris |
Utah Valley |
So. |
UT |
| Kaylee Ree |
Seattle U |
Jr. |
2B |
| Rachel Rodriguez |
NM State |
Sr. |
SS |
| Shea Smith |
Grand Canyon |
Jr. |
SS |
| Sierra Smith |
Grand Canyon |
Jr. |
UT |
Preseason Player of the Year: Kelsey Horton, NM State
Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Andie Larkins, Seattle U