HONOLULU - The University of Hawai`i softball team (38-19, 10-7 WAC) earned its second straight and eighth overall selection to the NCAA Division I Softball Championship. The 'Bows will face Mississippi State (40-20) out of the Southeastern Conference in the opening round of the Tempe, Ariz. regional hosted by the No. 6 seed, PAC-10 power, Arizona State (56-5) who opens with America East Conference champions, Stony Brook (33-21).

Hawai`i finished third in both the Western Athletic Conference regular season and the WAC tournament this past week. It is the first time since 1995 that the WAC has sent four teams to post-season play. WAC regular season champion No. 17 Nevada, tourney champion Louisiana Tech, and No. 10 Fresno State, and Hawai`i are the four teams to advance.

The Rainbow Wahine has played the Bulldogs of MSU only once in the history of the two programs. Last season the 'Bows defeated Mississippi State 3-2 in come-from-behind fashion last Feb. in the UNLV Desert Classic in Las Vegas. Friday's opener is at 6:30 p.m. CST.

This season, the 'Bows went 38-19 overall, 26-10 in non-conference games and 26-9 at home. Hawai`i had key wins over Top 25 teams such as Northwestern, Long Beach State, and Fresno State.

"I am totally awestruck," head coach Bob Coolen said. "The team started cheering before I saw it on the television screen. It shows that the WAC has gotten stronger and is playing tougher competition as a whole. We are no longer a one or two team conference. The NCAA selecting four teams from the WAC is a real monumental accomplishment and makes a statement."

Coolen has led the Rainbow Wahine to eight NCAA Regionals. He is the only coach in Hawai`i softball history to lead teams into post-season play. Last season, Hawai`i had a record-setting season, posting a 50-13 record and advancing to the NCAA Super Regionals for the first time in school and conference history.