IRVINE, Calif.—University of Hawai'i softball's
Izabella Martinez was voted to the 2025 All-Big West Preseason Coaches' Team and the Rainbow Wahine were picked to finish fourth in the Preseason Coaches' Poll as announced on Thursday.
The senior catcher from Garden Grove, Calif. was one of 11 players voted to the preseason team. Last year, Martinez started all 46 games at catcher and finished the season hitting .298 (39-for-131) with six doubles and 22 RBI. She drew a team-best 19 walks and was second on the team with nine multiple-hit games. She was ranked 12 in the NCAA DI throwing out 15 runners trying to steal. Martinez earned all-Big West honors both as a sophomore and junior.
As a team, the Rainbow Wahine enter
Bob Coolen's 34th and final season as UH's head softball coach. UH received 52 total points to rank fourth in the Big West Preseason Coaches' Poll. UH is right behind UC Santa Barbara who garnered 59 points for third place. Defending BW champions Cal State Fullerton received one first place vote and 63 total points for second place while Long Beach State had nine first place votes and 81 votes for the top spot.
Last year, the 'Bows finished the 2024 season with a 20-26 overall record and a 13-12 conference mark to finish in fourth place. UH returns 13 letterwinners and welcomes in 14 newcomers, including nine freshmen and five transfers.
The Rainbow Wahine open the season hosting the Bank of Hawai'i Paradise Classic from Thursday, Feb. 6 - Saturday, Feb. 8. The 'Bows will battle Santa Clara, Saint Louis, and Southern Indiana in the three day tournament at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
2025 Big West Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll
| Rank |
Institution |
Points |
| 1. |
Long Beach State (9) |
81 |
| 2. |
Cal State Fullerton (1) |
63 |
| 3. |
UC Santa Barbara |
59 |
| 4. |
Hawai'i |
52 |
| 5. |
Cal Poly |
45 |
| 6. |
UC San Diego |
43 |
| 7. |
CSUN |
41 |
| 8. |
UC Davis |
38 |
| 9. |
UC Riverside |
17 |
| 10. |
Cal State Bakersfield |
11 |
First place votes in parentheses
2025 All-Big West Softball Preseason Coaches' Team
| Student-Athlete |
Year |
Position |
Insitution |
| Jacquelyn Bickar |
Sr. |
Infield |
Long Beach State |
| India Caldwell |
Sr. |
Pitcher |
UC San Diego |
| Mikayla Carman |
Sr. |
Outfield |
CSUN |
| Lauryn Carranco |
Jr. |
Pitcher |
CSUN |
| Shannon Haddad |
Sr. |
Pitcher |
Long Beach State |
| Izabella Martinez |
Sr. |
Catcher |
Hawai'i |
| Sara Perez |
So. |
Infield |
Cal State Fullerton |
| Alexa Sams |
Sr. |
Outfield |
UC Santa Barbara |
| Ashley Sawai |
So. |
Pitcher |
UC Davis |
| Kate Verhoef |
So. |
Outfield |
Cal State Fullerton |
| Ainsley Waddell |
So. |
Pitcher |
UC Santa Barbara |
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