DENVER – University of Hawai'i softball players
Stephanie Ricketts and
Amanda Tauali'i were both selected to the 2010 preseason All-WAC team as voted by the conference's coaches. The Rainbow Wahine were picked to finish third in the preseason WAC poll released Thursday.
The Rainbow Wahine, who finished last season a half-game out of first place in the WAC, were picked third behind Fresno State and Nevada. The Bulldogs, the defending WAC tournament champions, received six first place votes, while the defending WAC regular season title holder, Nevada, had one first place vote. Hawai'i had 34 points overall, followed by New Mexico State, Louisiana Tech, San Jose State, Boise State, and Utah State.
Tauali'i (Torrance, Calif./North Torrance HS), a senior first baseman, had a breakthrough season in 2009, setting career-highs in every offensive category. As a junior, Tauali'i hit .338 (54-for-160) and had team-highs in triples (5), home runs (15), and RBI (41). Her five triples tied the UH single-season record with Tia Morenz (1997) and Blythe Sakashita (1987), while her 15 home runs tied former UH All-Americans Stacey Porter and Tyleen Tausaga for fourth all-time in UH history. She was selected to the All-WAC First Team and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-West Region first team.
Ricketts (San Jose, Calif./Archbishop Mitty HS) returns for her sophomore campaign after a stellar freshman year on the mound. In 2009, Ricketts posted a 22-11 record and a 1.81 ERA. She threw 239.2 innings with 43 appearances, 30 starts, and 27 complete games. Ricketts tossed a pair of no-hitters over WAC opponents, Louisiana Tech (3/22) and Boise State (5/1). She struck out 178 batters while walking just 43 while holding opponents to a .195 batting average. Ricketts was the fourth Rainbow Wahine softball player to be voted the WAC Freshman of the Year. She also earned all-WAC second team honors, was named to the NFCA All-West Region first team, and academically she earned NFCA Scholar-Athlete and academic All-WAC Freshman honors.
The Rainbow Wahine open their 2010 season with the Oceanic Time Warner Cable Paradise Classic, Feb. 11-13. Participating in the tournament is McNeese State, Texas A&M-CC, and No. 10 Stanford.
2010 Preseason All-WAC Team
| Player |
School |
Pos. |
Year |
| Kylee Bassett |
Louisiana Tech |
1B |
Sr. |
| Sam Bias |
Nevada |
3B |
Sr. |
| Kathy Cox |
Boise State |
C |
Sr. |
| Haley Gilleland |
Fresno State |
SS |
Sr. |
| Katie Holverson |
Nevada |
P |
Jr. |
| Tiare Jennings |
New Mexico State |
OF |
Sr. |
| Morgan Mellow |
Fresno State |
P |
So. |
| Noelle Micka |
Nevada |
C |
Jr. |
| Hoku Nohara |
New Mexico State |
1B |
Jr. |
| Angie Ortega |
New Mexico State |
OF |
Jr. |
| Stephanie Ricketts |
Hawai'i |
P |
So. |
| Amanda Tauali'i |
Hawai'i |
1B |
Sr. |
| Amberly Waits |
Louisiana Tech |
SS |
Sr. |
2010 WAC Preseason Player of the Year
Amberly Waits, Sr., Louisiana Tech
2010 WAC Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Morgan Melloh, Jr., Fresno State
2010 WAC Preseason Poll
| Rank Team (First Place Votes) |
Points |
| 1. Fresno State (5) |
48 |
| 2. Nevada (1) |
41 |
| 3. Hawai'i |
34 |
| 4. New Mexico State (1) |
29 |
| 5. Louisiana Tech |
28 |
| 6. San Jose State |
19 |
| 7. Boise State |
18 |
| 8. Utah State |
7 |
