BYU softball picked No. 1 in WCC Preseason Poll

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SAN BRUNO, Calif. – With all five first-place votes, six-time defending WCC champion BYU softball was picked by the league’s head coaches to claim the West Coast Conference Softball title in 2020.  

BYU finished the 2019 season at 30-26 overall with a 12-3 mark in WCC play. The Cougars return six starters from a squad that advanced to its 15th consecutive NCAA Tournament in 2019. After leading the conference with five student-athletes named Preseason All-WCC, BYU will enter the new season under head coach Gordon Eakin for the 18th consecutive year.  

Reigning WCC Pitcher of the Year Arissa Paulson leads the group of five Cougars named to the preseason team. She is joined alongside 2018 WCC Player of the Year Rylee Jensen-McFarland, Marissa Chavez, Autumn Moffat and Taylei Williams.

Loyola Marymount collected 21 overall points for second with San Diego coming in at third, followed by Pacific and Santa Clara tied for fourth and Saint Mary's at sixth.

BYU opens up its 2020 season in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico with a doubleheader against Nevada and George Washington on Thursday, Feb. 6.

PlaceTeam (First Place Votes)Points
1. BYU (5)25
2. LMU (1)21
3.San Diego15
T4. Pacific10
T4. Santa Clara10
6. Saint Mary's9

Head coaches are not permitted to vote for their own team.

NameSchoolPositionClass
Sophia BjerkSan Diego3BSophomore
Marissa ChavezBYUSSJunior
Megan DedrickLMUSSJunior
Andrea GonzalesLMU3BJunior
Molly GrumboLMUCJunior
Rylee Jensen-McFarlandBYUOFSenior
Carly LuchettiPacificOFSophomore
Jessica MabreyPacificCSophomore
Hannah RussellSanta ClaraCSenior
Sara SilveyraSan DiegoSSSenior
Taylei WilliamsBYUOFJunior
Pitchers   
Arissa PaulsonBYUPJunior
Autumn MoffatBYUPJunior
Linnay WilsonLMUPJunior