Completed Event: Softball at Colorado State on May 2, 2026 , Win , 11, to, 2 , (5 inn.)
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Grand Canyon University Athletics
Softball picked first to win 2017 WAC Title
2/1/2017 2:39:00 PM | Softball
DENVER -- Grand Canyon has been picked as the preseason favorite to win the 2017 Western Athletic Conference title as voted on by the coaches The WAC announced Wednesday. The Lopes tied with New Mexico State for the top spot. GCU's Taylor Nowlin was also voted Preseason Pitcher of the Year, while Nowlin, Camree Wartman and Shea Smith were named to the preseason squad.
The Lopes received 23 points in the coaches' poll, the same total as rival NM State for the No. 1 spot. After finishing the 2016 season tied for second in the WAC, the Lopes move up one spot after being predicted to finish second in the conference just a year ago. CSU Bakersfield and Seattle U tied for second with 13 points a piece, while UMKC and Utah Valley rounded out the rankings at No. 5 and No.6.
Since joining the Division I ranks, the Lopes have continued to improve each season and rise in the preseason polls. GCU's first-place ranking is the best mark since joining the conference for the 2014 season.
Nowlin received Preseason All-WAC Pitcher of the Year and First-Team honors. The 2016 WAC Pitcher of the Year, finished her junior year with a 2.31 ERA and 132 strikeouts through 160.2 innings pitched. She posted a WAC-best .204 opponent batting average and led the league with 19 wins. Nowlin produced two no-hitters on the season and combined for a third, and threw five one-hitters. During 2016 league play, she led in wins (7), strikeouts (35) and games started (10), ranked second in innings pitched (59.1), and fourth in opponent batting average (.232) and ERA (2.83). Nowlin was named WAC Pitcher of the Week three times during the 2016 campaign.
Wartman, earns the honor for the third straight season. She finished the 2016 season, leading the WAC in batting average (.392) and doubles (17). She finished the regular season with a .392 batting average with 17 doubles and a .662 slugging percentage. She registered hits against all nine Top 75 RPI teams she faced.
Smith earns her second All-WAC honor during her young career. Last season, Smith finished second on the squad with a .377 batting average. In the leadoff spot, Smith drew 24 walks on the year, a team-leading mark. She also boasted a .464 on base percentage. She posted 45 runs, with 63 hits through 167 at bats. She also had 29 runs batted in on the season. Smith was named to 2016 All-WAC Second Team. She also held a 14 game hit streak, the best in the WAC in 2016. Smith earned one Hitter of the Week honor in 2016.
The 13-person Preseason All-WAC Team also included Paige Bouska (Seattle U), Victoria Castro (NM State), Julea Cavazos (CSUB), Kayla Green (NM State), Kelsey Horton (NM State), Kendra Leach (UMKC), Bailey Moore (Utah Valley), Rachel Rodriguez (NM State), Bri Sims (UMKC) and Brittney Vansway (Utah Valley).
The Lopes will begin the 2017 campaign in the new GCU Softball Stadium as they host the GCU Kickoff Tournament on Feb. 10-12. They will welcome Northern Colorado and Bradley to Phoenix. On opening day Friday, Feb. 10, GCU will take on Northern Colorado at 2:30 p.m. MST followed by a matchup with Bradley at 5.
The Lopes received 23 points in the coaches' poll, the same total as rival NM State for the No. 1 spot. After finishing the 2016 season tied for second in the WAC, the Lopes move up one spot after being predicted to finish second in the conference just a year ago. CSU Bakersfield and Seattle U tied for second with 13 points a piece, while UMKC and Utah Valley rounded out the rankings at No. 5 and No.6.
Since joining the Division I ranks, the Lopes have continued to improve each season and rise in the preseason polls. GCU's first-place ranking is the best mark since joining the conference for the 2014 season.
Nowlin received Preseason All-WAC Pitcher of the Year and First-Team honors. The 2016 WAC Pitcher of the Year, finished her junior year with a 2.31 ERA and 132 strikeouts through 160.2 innings pitched. She posted a WAC-best .204 opponent batting average and led the league with 19 wins. Nowlin produced two no-hitters on the season and combined for a third, and threw five one-hitters. During 2016 league play, she led in wins (7), strikeouts (35) and games started (10), ranked second in innings pitched (59.1), and fourth in opponent batting average (.232) and ERA (2.83). Nowlin was named WAC Pitcher of the Week three times during the 2016 campaign.
Wartman, earns the honor for the third straight season. She finished the 2016 season, leading the WAC in batting average (.392) and doubles (17). She finished the regular season with a .392 batting average with 17 doubles and a .662 slugging percentage. She registered hits against all nine Top 75 RPI teams she faced.
Smith earns her second All-WAC honor during her young career. Last season, Smith finished second on the squad with a .377 batting average. In the leadoff spot, Smith drew 24 walks on the year, a team-leading mark. She also boasted a .464 on base percentage. She posted 45 runs, with 63 hits through 167 at bats. She also had 29 runs batted in on the season. Smith was named to 2016 All-WAC Second Team. She also held a 14 game hit streak, the best in the WAC in 2016. Smith earned one Hitter of the Week honor in 2016.
The 13-person Preseason All-WAC Team also included Paige Bouska (Seattle U), Victoria Castro (NM State), Julea Cavazos (CSUB), Kayla Green (NM State), Kelsey Horton (NM State), Kendra Leach (UMKC), Bailey Moore (Utah Valley), Rachel Rodriguez (NM State), Bri Sims (UMKC) and Brittney Vansway (Utah Valley).
The Lopes will begin the 2017 campaign in the new GCU Softball Stadium as they host the GCU Kickoff Tournament on Feb. 10-12. They will welcome Northern Colorado and Bradley to Phoenix. On opening day Friday, Feb. 10, GCU will take on Northern Colorado at 2:30 p.m. MST followed by a matchup with Bradley at 5.
| 2017 Softball Preseason All-WAC Team |
| First Team (Player, School) |
| Paige Bouska (Seattle U) |
| Victoria Castro (NM State) |
| Julea Cavazos (CSUB) |
| Kayla Green (NM State) |
| Kelsey Horton (NM State) |
| Bailey Moore (Utah Valley) |
| Taylor Nowlin (Grand Canyon) |
| Rachel Rodriguez (NM State) |
| Bri Sims (UMKC) |
| Shea Smith (Grand Canyon) |
| Brittney Vansway (Utah Valley) |
| Camree Wartman (Grand Canyon) |
| 2017 Preseason Softball Coaches Poll | ||
| Rank | Team (First-place votes) | Points |
| T-1. | Grand Canyon (3) | 23 |
| T-1. | NM State (3) | 23 |
| T-3. | CSU Bakersfield | 13 |
| T-3. | Seattle U | 13 |
| 5. | UMKC | 11 |
| 6. | Utah Valley | 7 |
| x | ||
Players Mentioned
Tuesday, June 09
Thursday, May 21
Monday, May 18
Sunday, May 17