DENVER - The Western Athletic Conference announced its 2022 preseason awards, with three Seattle U Redhawks honored. Stefanie Madrigal, Carley Nance, and Olivia Viggiano all earned Preseason All-WAC. In addition to the individual honors, the Redhawks were picked to win the West Division, receiving five of six first-place votes and receiving 25 total points, putting them five points ahead of New Mexico State as the preseason favorites.
This is the fifth consecutive year that the Redhawks have had multiple players earn Preseason All-WAC honors and tenth consecutive year the Redhawks have earned at least one spot on the Preseason All-WAC team. Only once have the Redhawks had more individuals earn Preseason All-WAC in the same year: 2020, when five Redhawks were so honored.
Madrigal's Preseason All-WAC award comes on the heels of being named First Team All-WAC following the 2021 season. Madrigal had the lowest ERA in the conference last year at 2.83, throwing six complete games and three shutouts. Madrigal was even better against WAC competition, lowering her ERA to 2.78 in conference play and holding WAC hitters to a .247 batting average and going a perfect 5-0. She allowed just 39 hits in 40.1 WAC innings, the only pitcher in the WAC to throw 40+ innings in conference play and allow fewer than 40 hits.
This is the third time Nance has earned Preseason All-WAC in her career, also doing so before the 2019 and 2020 seasons. Nance has finished the year earning All-WAC honors in each of the last three seasons that postseason awards have been named as well, earning First Team in 2019, Second Team in 2018, and Third Team in 2021. Last season, Nance earned WAC Tournament MVP for the second consecutive year and earned her second career NFCA All-Region award. She was second in the WAC in ERA at 3.15, fifth in wins with ten, and led the Redhawks with eight complete games, including a shutout of California Baptist.
Viggiano has now earned three All-WAC awards, adding this year's Preseason All-WAC to her 2021 All-WAC Third Team and 2019 All-WAC Second Team honors. Viggiano hit .321/.371/.424 last season, her second year hitting over .320 in a full season. That batting average was also seventh-best among WAC players returning this season. Viggiano tied the single-season program record for triples last season, hitting seven, matching the record set by Paige Bouska in 2017. She is second in career triples in Seattle U history, just two behind Bouska for the program record. In conference play, Viggiano was even better, hitting .377/.424/.557.
The 2022 season kicks off on Friday, February 11 on the road as Seattle U begins the year in Rosemont, Illinois for a five-game tournament.
Stay connected with Seattle U softball and get all the latest team updates by downloading the GoSeattleU mobile app available now for free in the App Store or Google Play.
This is the fifth consecutive year that the Redhawks have had multiple players earn Preseason All-WAC honors and tenth consecutive year the Redhawks have earned at least one spot on the Preseason All-WAC team. Only once have the Redhawks had more individuals earn Preseason All-WAC in the same year: 2020, when five Redhawks were so honored.
Madrigal's Preseason All-WAC award comes on the heels of being named First Team All-WAC following the 2021 season. Madrigal had the lowest ERA in the conference last year at 2.83, throwing six complete games and three shutouts. Madrigal was even better against WAC competition, lowering her ERA to 2.78 in conference play and holding WAC hitters to a .247 batting average and going a perfect 5-0. She allowed just 39 hits in 40.1 WAC innings, the only pitcher in the WAC to throw 40+ innings in conference play and allow fewer than 40 hits.
This is the third time Nance has earned Preseason All-WAC in her career, also doing so before the 2019 and 2020 seasons. Nance has finished the year earning All-WAC honors in each of the last three seasons that postseason awards have been named as well, earning First Team in 2019, Second Team in 2018, and Third Team in 2021. Last season, Nance earned WAC Tournament MVP for the second consecutive year and earned her second career NFCA All-Region award. She was second in the WAC in ERA at 3.15, fifth in wins with ten, and led the Redhawks with eight complete games, including a shutout of California Baptist.
Viggiano has now earned three All-WAC awards, adding this year's Preseason All-WAC to her 2021 All-WAC Third Team and 2019 All-WAC Second Team honors. Viggiano hit .321/.371/.424 last season, her second year hitting over .320 in a full season. That batting average was also seventh-best among WAC players returning this season. Viggiano tied the single-season program record for triples last season, hitting seven, matching the record set by Paige Bouska in 2017. She is second in career triples in Seattle U history, just two behind Bouska for the program record. In conference play, Viggiano was even better, hitting .377/.424/.557.
The 2022 season kicks off on Friday, February 11 on the road as Seattle U begins the year in Rosemont, Illinois for a five-game tournament.
Stay connected with Seattle U softball and get all the latest team updates by downloading the GoSeattleU mobile app available now for free in the App Store or Google Play.