DENVER – A season removed from trying for third place in Western Athletic Conference standings, the Utah Valley University softball team has been picked to finish fourth in the 2018 WAC Softball Preseason Poll.
 
A pair of Wolverines also earned Preseason All-WAC accolades in senior pitcher Lauren Frailey Spendlove and sophomore utility Caragh Morris. Frailey Spendlove was not only named the first team all-WAC a season ago, but also tabbed the 2017 WAC Pitcher of the Year, while Morris earned 2017 WAC Freshman of the Year accolades as well as second team all-WAC honors.
 
After going 16-24 overall a season ago and 7-8 in league play, the Wolverines were projected to finish fourth in WAC play this season with 14 points. Grand Canyon, who tied for first with New Mexico State in 2017, was picked to win the league this season with 24 total points and four first-place votes, while NM State was picked second with 22 points and two first-place votes. Seattle U just edged out the Wolverines for third place with 16 points, while UMKC was tabbed fifth with eight points and CSU Bakersfield rounded out the poll for sixth place with six points.
 
NM State infielder Kelsey Horton was selected as the WAC Preseason Player of the Year and Seattle U's Andie Larkins took home Preseason Pitcher of the Year honors.
 
Frailey Spendlove, Morris and the Wolverines will officially begin their 2018 season on Friday, Feb. 9 against No. 16 Minnesota at the Sportco Kick Off Classic in Las Vegas, Nevada. UVU and the Big Ten Golden Gophers will kick off their seasons at 2:30 p.m. MT/1:30 p.m. PT at UNLV's Eller Media Stadium. Utah Valley will also take on Creighton, the host UNLV Rebels, in-state foe Southern Utah, and North Dakota State later in the weekend.

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