ARLINGTON, Texas — The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) announced its softball preseason awards Wednesday, with Utah Valley being tabbed to finish seventh in the WAC by the league's coaches. 

Defending WAC Tournament champions Grand Canyon were picked to win the league, followed by defending regular season champions Utah Tech. Seattle U rounded out the top three, with all three receiving first place votes. 

The Wolverines are coming off of a 17-32 season in 2023, and are entering their third season under head coach Cody Thomson. This year's squad is a youthful group, featuring nine freshmen and three JUCO transfers who have yet to see any D-I action. 

Utah Valley is looking to build off of a strong home campaign in 2023, during which the Wolverines went 10-6, including a 9-3 mark in WAC play. UVU has 19 games at Wolverine Softball Field this year, the most scheduled since 2010 and second-most in program history. 

The Wolverines will kick off the 2024 season in just over a week at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge in Mexico. UVU will open the season on Feb. 8 with games against No. 1 Oklahoma and Iowa State before facing No. 10 Washington and No. 13 Nebraska to wrap up the weekend.

2024 WAC Softball Preseason Coaches Poll  

2024 WAC Preseason Player of the Year 

Kristin Fifield, Gr., UTL, Grand Canyon 

2024 WAC Preseason Co-Pitchers of the Year 

Meghan Golden, Jr., Grand Canyon 

Stefanie Madrigal, Sr., Seattle U 

2024 Preseason All-WAC Team  

Priscilla Estrada, Jr., SS, California Baptist 

Katelyn Dunckel, Sr., IF, Grand Canyon 

Kristin Fifield, Gr., UTL, Grand Canyon

Meghan Golden, Jr., P, Grand Canyon 

Ramsay Lopez, Gr, IF, Grand Canyon 

Ariel Thompson,  Gr., P, Grand Canyon 

Stefanie Madrigal, Sr., P, Seattle U 

Tai Wilson, Jr., OF, Seattle U 

Brooke Gainous, Jr., P, Stephen F. Austin

Marley Neises, So., UTL, UT Arlington 

Carly Eldredge, Jr., IF, Utah Tech

Sauren Garton, So., P, Utah Tech