June 20, 2005

LAS VEGAS - UNLV freshman Marissa Nichols was named Monday to USA Softball's Elite Team. The Elite Team consists of 16-members that will represent the United States this summer in two international events, the Canada Cup (July 2-11) in Surrey, British Columbia and the Inter-Continental Cup (July 20-28) in Madrid, Spain.

Nichols was included in the initial group of 32-invitees for the selection camp, which was held this past week (June 13-17) in Chula Vista, Calif. Between May 23 and June 13, 15 more athletes were chosen to participate in the camp run by the Amateur Softball Association, the National Governing Body of Softball in the United States and USA Softball.

The selection to the Elite Team just adds to the awards and accolades that Nichols has amassed in her first season at UNLV. On June 2, she was named by Louisville Slugger and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) to the All-America First Team. She was recognized in the Mountain West Conference as the Freshman of the Year and named to the all-conference and all-MWC tournament teams. During the season she was chosen as the conference's player of the week a record six times.

2005 Women's Elite Team Roster

Kaleo Eldredge (California)Leigh Ann Ellis (South Florida)Samantha Findlay (Michigan*)Jocelyn Forest (California)Nicole Giordano (Arizona)Tiffany Haas (Michigan*)Lauren Lappin (Stanford*)Jessica Merchant (Michigan)Catalina Morris (Stanford*)Marissa Nichols (UNLV*)Gina Oaks (Cal State Fullerton)Jennie Ritter (Michigan*)Heather Scaglione (Oklahoma)Lindsay Schutzler (Tennessee*)Dana Sorensen (Stanford)Mackenzie Vandergeest (Arizona)

*Indicates still in college.