University of Hawai'i outfielder Tanisha Milca and first baseman Amanda Tauali'i were named to the All-Western Athletic Conference softball first team today. Rainbow Wahine pitcher Stephanie Ricketts was named to the second team and earned freshman of the year honors.

New Mexico State utility player Hoku Nohara, a Kamehameha Schools alum, also was named to the first team.

Also named to the second team were UH utility player Makani Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu, outfielder Kanani Pu'u-Warren and third baseman Clare Warwick.

The teams were selected by the league's head coaches.

Louisiana Tech shortstop Amberly Waits was named WAC player of the year. Nevada's Katie Hoverson was pitcher of the year. Fresno State's Margie Wright was named WAC coach of the year.

Nevada and Hawai'i led the way with six players on the all-WAC teams.

Milca, a senior from Kailua, led the Rainbow Wahine with a .353 batting average, starting all 51 games this season. Tauali'i, a junior from Torrance, Calif., was second with a .342 batting average and a team-leading 15 home runs.

Ricketts, a righthanded pitcher from San Jose, Calif., led the conference in wins (13) and innings pitched (118.1) in WAC play. She started 15 games and had 69 strikeouts. She also tossed a pair of no-hitters against conference opponents.

The Rainbow Wahine open the WAC Tournament against Louisiana Tech at 4 p.m. today at Fresno, Calif.

2009 ALL-WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE SOFTBALL TEAMS

FIRST TEAM

Name Team Yr. Pos. Hometown (Last School)

Kylie Bassett Louisiana Tech Jr. 1B Vista, Calif. (Vista)

Sam Bias Nevada Jr. 3B Oakley, Calif. (Freedom)

Katie Holverson& Nevada Jr. P Anthem, Ariz. (Cactus)

Morgan Melloh@ Fresno State So. P Fishers, Ind. (Hamilton Southeastern)

Noelle Micka@ Nevada So. C Garden Grove, Calif. (Pacific)

Tanisha Milca*%& Hawai'i Sr. OF Kailua, O'ahu (Kailua)

Hoku Nohara New Mexico State So. Util Waimanalo, Hawai'i (Kamehameha)

Angie Ortega New Mexico State Jr. OF Vado, N.M. (Gadsen)

Haley Perkins Fresno State Sr. 2B Fresno, Calif. (Clovis West)

Brittany Puzey$@ Nevada Sr. OF Minden, Nev. (Douglas)

Danielle Sheridan Louisiana Tech Sr. OF Fort Worth, Texas (North Crowley)

Amanda Tauali'i Hawai'i Jr. 1B Torrance, Calif. (North Torrance)

Amberly Waits& Louisiana Tech Jr. SS Cleburne, Texas (Cleburne)

Second Team

Name Team Yr. Pos. Hometown (Last School)

Emma Barnes Louisiana Tech Sr. OF Sacramento, Calif. (El Camino)

Makani Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu Hawai'i Fr. Util Mililani, O'ahu (Mililani)

Haley Gilleland Fresno State So. SS Fresno, Calif. (Clovis West)

Tiare Jennings New Mexico State Fr. 2B Turlock, Calif. (Pitman)

Meghan Krieg Louisiana Tech So. P Sonora, Texas (Sonora)

Kanani Pu'u Warren Hawai'i Jr. OF West Covina, Calif. (Walnut)

Kristi Randall New Mexico State Sr. OF Chula Vista, Calif. (Bonita Vista)

Stephanie Ricketts Hawai'i Fr. P San Jose, Calif. (Archbishop Mitty)

Kym Silagyi%& Nevada Sr. 2B Chino, Calif. (Pomona Catholic)

Kelsey Starr@ Nevada Jr. 1B Tempe, Ariz. (Corona del Sol)

Caitlin Stiglich Fresno State So. C Newhall, Calif. (William Hart)

Sarah Taylor& San Jose State Jr. OF Cupertino, Calif. (Monta Vista)

Clare Warwick$& Hawai'i Sr. 3B Melba, A.C.T Australia (Copland)

2009 WAC Player of the Year: Amberly Waits, Louisiana Tech

2009 WAC Pitcher of the Year: Katie Holverson, Nevada

2009 WAC Freshman of the Year: Stephanie Ricketts, Hawai'i

2009 WAC Coach of the Year: Margie Wright, Fresno State

Key:

@2008 First Team All-WAC

&2008 Second Team All-WAC

$2007 First Team All-WAC

%2007 Second Team All-WAC

#2006 First Team All-WAC

*2006 Second Team All-WAC