University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
The Bruins open the 2020 season at Easton Stadium next Thursday, Feb. 6 against CSU Bakersfield at 7 p.m.
Photo by: Don Liebig/ASUCLA
Preseason Poll and Plaudit Roundup
January 31, 2020 | Softball
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With the 2020 season starting next week, numerous softball outlets have come out with preseason polls and awards lists. Here is a roundup of where the Bruins sit:
Four Bruins Named to USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List
A quartet of Bruins, redshirt junior Aaliyah Jordan, junior Briana Perez and sophomores Megan Faraimo and Kelli Godin, were named to the Watch List for the 2020 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award.ย
UCLA's four on the Watch List are the most in the nation, with five other schools sporting three athletes on the list. Freshmen can be considered for the USA Softball Collegiate POY once they have competed at the collegiate level. The Top 25 finalists for the award will be announced on April 22. While an athlete does not have to be on the Watch List to be considered for the Top 25, the eventual winner will come from the Top 25 finalists. The Top 10 will be announced on May 6, the Top 3 on May 20 and the winner of the 2020 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be revealed on May 26.
The Bruins have won three USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year awards, including the last two by Rachel Garcia, who along with Bubba Nickles will play with the U.S. Olympic Team this season. Stacey Nuveman was the inaugural winner of the award in 2002.
Preseason Polls
A total of five national organizations released preseason polls. The defending National Champions are ranked No. 1 in just one, the FloSoftball poll. Softball America's inaugural Top 25 featured the Bruins at No. 3. UCLA ranked fourth in the remaining three polls, including D1Softball. The Bruins had nine first-place votes (second most) in the USA Today/NFCA rankings. In the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll, UCLA earned three first-place votes.ย
In the Pac-12 Conference preseason coaches poll, the Bruins came in at second with a pair of first-place votes.
Softball America Awards
The Bruins had three players named to the Softball America All-American list. Godin was named to the First Team, while Faraimo and Jordan picked up Third Team accolades. In Softball America's Top 100 rankings, Godin came in at No. 19, Faraimo at No. 25, Jordan at No. 35, Perez at No. 59 and freshman Maya Brady at No. 73.
The Bruins open the 2020 season at Easton Stadium next Thursday, Feb. 6 against CSU Bakersfield at 7 p.m.
ย
With the 2020 season starting next week, numerous softball outlets have come out with preseason polls and awards lists. Here is a roundup of where the Bruins sit:
Four Bruins Named to USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List
A quartet of Bruins, redshirt junior Aaliyah Jordan, junior Briana Perez and sophomores Megan Faraimo and Kelli Godin, were named to the Watch List for the 2020 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award.ย
UCLA's four on the Watch List are the most in the nation, with five other schools sporting three athletes on the list. Freshmen can be considered for the USA Softball Collegiate POY once they have competed at the collegiate level. The Top 25 finalists for the award will be announced on April 22. While an athlete does not have to be on the Watch List to be considered for the Top 25, the eventual winner will come from the Top 25 finalists. The Top 10 will be announced on May 6, the Top 3 on May 20 and the winner of the 2020 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be revealed on May 26.
The Bruins have won three USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year awards, including the last two by Rachel Garcia, who along with Bubba Nickles will play with the U.S. Olympic Team this season. Stacey Nuveman was the inaugural winner of the award in 2002.
Preseason Polls
A total of five national organizations released preseason polls. The defending National Champions are ranked No. 1 in just one, the FloSoftball poll. Softball America's inaugural Top 25 featured the Bruins at No. 3. UCLA ranked fourth in the remaining three polls, including D1Softball. The Bruins had nine first-place votes (second most) in the USA Today/NFCA rankings. In the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll, UCLA earned three first-place votes.ย
In the Pac-12 Conference preseason coaches poll, the Bruins came in at second with a pair of first-place votes.
Softball America Awards
The Bruins had three players named to the Softball America All-American list. Godin was named to the First Team, while Faraimo and Jordan picked up Third Team accolades. In Softball America's Top 100 rankings, Godin came in at No. 19, Faraimo at No. 25, Jordan at No. 35, Perez at No. 59 and freshman Maya Brady at No. 73.
The Bruins open the 2020 season at Easton Stadium next Thursday, Feb. 6 against CSU Bakersfield at 7 p.m.
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