IRVINE, Calif.—The University of Hawai'i softball team has been picked to finish sixth in the 2024 Big West Preseason Coaches' Poll. Senior utility player Maya Nakamura was the lone Rainbow Wahine voted to the All-Big West Preseason Coaches' Team.
 
The preseason poll was voted on by the conference's head coaches. Hawai'i garnered 46 total points--just one point behind UC Davis who had 47. Cal State Fullerton and Long Beach State were separated by just two points at the top of the poll. The Titans are the preseason No. 1 with 77 points and six first-place votes while the defending BW champions Beach had 75 points and four first-place votes.
 
Last year, the Rainbow Wahine started the season well and were 29-16 over halfway through the season and 12-7 in conference. But then UH struggled the last three weeks, ending the year winning just one of their last eight games down the stretch.
 
Nakamura was a standout second baseman last season. She started 50 games and led UH with a .390 batting average. She led the 'Bows with 35 runs scored and 29 walks. She was second on the team with 48 hits a .585 slugging percentage and in the Top 5 in the conference in seven offensive categories.
               
The 2024 Rainbow Wahine return 20 letterwinners which include seven starting position players and four pitchers from last year's squad which finished with a 30-23 overall record.

Hawai'i open the 2024 season this week hosting the Bank of Hawai'i Paradise Classic from Feb. 8-11 at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. Kansas City (Summit), BYU (Big XII), Nevada (Mountain West) and Ole Miss (SEC) will make the trip to open the season in the Islands.

2024 Big West Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll 

Rank	School	Points
1.	Cal State Fullerton	77(6)
2.	Long Beach State	75(4)
3.	CSUN	65
4.	UC Santa Barbara	52
5.	UC Davis	47
6.	Hawai'i	46
7.	Cal Poly	31
8.	UC Riverside	26
9.	UC San Diego	22
10.	Cal State Bakersfield	9

*First place votes in parentheses