First in MWC Preseason Poll

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – A voting panel of the six Mountain West Conference head coaches chose defending softball league champion BYU as the favorite to win the 2010 MWC regular season title. The Cougars collected four first-place votes and 24 total points.

San Diego State was a close second with 22 points and two first-place votes, while UNLV was picked third, totaling 17 points. Utah collected 10 points for fourth place in the poll, while Colorado State (nine points) and New Mexico (eight points) claimed fifth and sixth place, respectively, to round out the preseason rankings.

In 2009, BYU (40-18 overall, 12-2 MWC) collected its fifth consecutive 40-win season on its way to a fourth MWC regular-season title and fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance. The Cougars return 15 letterwinners from that squad, including junior All-American catcher Jessica Purcell-Fitu and 2009 All-MWC selections Paige Affleck (Jr., P), Christie Zinanti (Sr., P), Andrea Ramirez (Sr., 1B) and Angeline Quiocho (Sr., OF).

San Diego State recorded its fourth straight season with at least 30-wins in 2009 (33-20 overall, 10-5 MWC) en route to a second-consecutive NCAA berth. The Aztecs will be led by three returning 2009 all-conference performers, including MWC Freshman of the Year Bailey Micetich (So., P), Samantha Beasley (Jr., P) and Brittany Knudsen (Sr., OF).

UNLV placed third in the 2010 preseason poll after posting a 31-21 record last year (7-8 MWC). The Rebels return eight starters, including all-conference selections Ashli Holland (Jr., 2B), Jaci Hull (Sr., SS) and Kendall Fearn (Sr., 1B). Utah (22-31 overall, 4-10 MWC) enters the 2010 season with 2009 all-conference performer Kara Foster (Sr., OF) headlining six returning starters. Colorado State (26-25 overall, 7-8 MWC) returns all-MWC awardees Kelli Eubanks (So., P) and Caitlin Stem (Jr., SS) from the 2009 roster. New Mexico (13-35 overall, 4-11 MWC) returns five starters and will be led by Katie Gilmore (Sr., IF).

The 2010 MWC softball season is set to begin on Thursday, Feb. 11, as BYU takes on San Jose State at the Red Desert Classic in St. George, Utah, and San Diego State faces Creighton at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz. Conference play opens Friday, Apr. 9, with three games on the docket.

2010 MWC Preseason Softball Coaches Poll
Pl. Team (1st place votes) Points
1.  BYU (4)                24
2.  San Diego State (2)    22
3.  UNLV                   17
4.  Utah                   10
5.  Colorado State          9
6.  New Mexico              8