May 17, 2010
LAS VEGAS -
Complete Release in PDF Format 
For the second consecutive year, the UNLV softball program had four of its student-athletes named to the 2010 Mountain West All-Conference Team, as voted on by the league's six head coaches and announced by the MWC today. Marissa Nichols and Ashli Holland are no stranger to the recognition, as they have earned the honor three times apiece, Tara Bendt and Laura Briones, on the other hand, are first-time recipients.
Nichols, a sixth-year senior from Diamond Bar, Calif., earned NFCA All-America and All-West Region honors in 2005, as well as All-MWC recognition in 2005 and '09. In conference play, she ranked in the top-10 in runs (11), home runs (3) and hit-by-pitch (3). She knocked in 11 RBI and scored 11 runs off of 10 hits that include four extra-base hits (one double). Overall, she led the Rebels in at-bats (161), hits (57), doubles (18), home runs (12), total bases (115) and slugging percentage (.714). Her 18 doubles were the most by a conference player this year and have her ranked highly in national statistics. She had a total of 57 hits with 32 going for extra bases. She hit at a .354 clip and scored 42 runs, while plating 39 RBI. She also earned MWC Player of the Week once this year on April 6, which gave her seven for her career.
Holland, a junior from Arvada, Calif., was previously named all-conference in 2008 and '09. In league action, she in the top-10 in batting average (.396), slugging (.792), on-base percentage (.491), runs (18), hits (19), RBI (20), doubles (4), home runs (5), total bases (38), walks (8) and sacrifice bunts (3). In these 15 games, she led the team in batting average, runs, hits, home runs, RBI and slugging. Overall, she ranked highly in nearly all offensive categories, such as: batting (.364), runs (39), hits (52), doubles (10), home runs (8), RBI (42), total bases (86), slugging (.601), walks (16), on-base (.436) and steals (3). She led the team in sacrifice bunts with eight. She also earned MWC Player of the Week once this year on April 13, which gave her two for her career.
Bendt, a senior from Kearns, Utah, hit .300 with 15 hits (one double and one triple) in the 15-game conference season. She scored 10 runs and had four RBI. She owned .360 and .314 slugging and on-base percentages, respectively. Overall, she led the Rebels for the second consecutive year in hitting with her .382 average and also was tops in triples (4) and stolen bases (6). She was near the team lead in runs (40 and hits (55), while ranking highly in RBI (19), total bases (64), slugging (.444) and on-base (.418).
Briones, a senior from San Bernardino, Calif., led the conference in doubles with seven and ranked in the top-10 in batting average (.390), slugging (.634), on-base (.500), RBI (13) and walks (10). Overall, she hit .294 on the year with 40 hits, 16 of which went for extra bases with 10 doubles, three triples and three home runs. She plated 27 RBI and scored 14 runs. She owned a .478 slugging percentage and a .391 on-base percentage, which was greatly aided by 22 walks.
Since the inception of the MWC in 1999, the Rebels have had 20 individuals earn all-league honors a total of 30 times. Nichols, Holland and Jaci Hull (2007-09) lead the program, as they have earned the distinction three times apiece.
