5/16/2019 9:56:00 AM | Softball
UNLV earns most all-region honors since 2014
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (UNLVRebels.com) - The honors keep rolling in for UNLV softball as three Rebels were honored on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region teams, the organization announced Thursday. Freshman Jenny Bressler became the first Rebel since Garie Blando in 2015 to earn a NFCA All-West Region First Team selection, while sophomore Mia Trejo picked up her second career all-region nod with a second team selection. Junior Justine Federe was tabbed an All-West Region Third Team selection for the first time in her career.
After having just one selection between 2015-17, the Rebels have now had five in two seasons under head coach Kristie Fox. Former Rebel Janine Petmecky was a second team honoree and Trejo was a third team selection in 2018. The three selections are also the most since UNLV had four in 2014 and the most from the Mountain West programs included in the West Region. Colorado State, Boise State and San Jose State are all in the Pacific Region.
The trio is fresh off of receiving Mountain West All-Conference accolades this week as all three were first team honorees.
Bressler's first collegiate campaign was nothing short of impressive as she went 23-5 with a 2.10 ERA and 154 strikeouts. Her 23 wins are the most by a freshman in program history, breaking the old mark of 21 set by former standout Amanda Oliveto in 2011, and rank seventh all-time in a single season. The Canton, Michigan, native, who was named the state's 2018 Gatorade Player of the Year, made a seamless transition to the collegiate level, throwing 15 complete games and six shutouts, while her 183.0 innings pitched and 154 strikeouts led the Mountain West. Bressler's freshman year rivals that of Oliveto's 2011 freshman campaign when Oliveto went 21-10 with a 2.81 ERA with 22 complete games, four shutouts and 179 strikeouts in 199.0 innings pitched. Oliveto went on to have one of the best careers by a Rebel pitcher in program history and if this season was any indication, that is where Bressler should be headed as well.
Trejo, a two-year starter at first base, was a consistent force at the plate in her second collegiate season. The Tucson, Arizona, native recorded career highs in home runs (8) and runs batted in (42), both team-bests in 2019. Her 42 RBI are also tied for 10th all time in a single season in program history. Five of Trejo's eight home runs came against Mountain West competition, one each coming in the Rebel's first four series of conference play. For the second consecutive year, Trejo hit over .300, registering a .315 batting average in 50 games played to go along with 26 runs scored, five doubles, two triples, a .545 slugging percentage and a .442 on-base percentage. The sophomore was also patient at the plate, drawing a team-high 32 walks, which were tied for the most in the Mountain West this season. She is the first player to earn back-to-back all-region nods since Garie Blando in 2014 and 2015, while she becomes the 14th player in Rebel softball history to receive the award more than once.
Federe, who has started 143 career games at second base over the last three seasons, turned in a career year at the plate, registering personal bests in batting average (.387), hits (63), runs scored (35), RBI (38), home runs (6), doubles (14), slugging percentage (.595) and stolen bases (7). Her 14 doubles and .595 slugging percentage led all Rebels in 2019, while her batting average, hits, RBI and home runs all ranked second. The Chula Vista, California, native had a team-best 15-game hitting streak at one point during the year and finished out the last three weekends on an eight-game streak. The junior also recorded her best year on the defensive side of the ball with a career-high .962 fielding percentage and six double plays.
Bressler, Trejo and Federe were integral to the Rebels' best season in over a decade as they finished with their most wins since 2007 at 36-14 and just missed out on their first NCAA tournament bid since 2009. In its second season under Fox, UNLV recorded back-to-back 30-win season for the first time since 2009-2010 and set single-season marks for fielding percentage (.979) and fewest errors (30). Fox's 69 wins over her first two years is tied with former Rebel head coach Lonni Alameda, who also won 69 in her first two seasons in 2004 and 2005.
After having just one selection between 2015-17, the Rebels have now had five in two seasons under head coach Kristie Fox. Former Rebel Janine Petmecky was a second team honoree and Trejo was a third team selection in 2018. The three selections are also the most since UNLV had four in 2014 and the most from the Mountain West programs included in the West Region. Colorado State, Boise State and San Jose State are all in the Pacific Region.
The trio is fresh off of receiving Mountain West All-Conference accolades this week as all three were first team honorees.
Bressler's first collegiate campaign was nothing short of impressive as she went 23-5 with a 2.10 ERA and 154 strikeouts. Her 23 wins are the most by a freshman in program history, breaking the old mark of 21 set by former standout Amanda Oliveto in 2011, and rank seventh all-time in a single season. The Canton, Michigan, native, who was named the state's 2018 Gatorade Player of the Year, made a seamless transition to the collegiate level, throwing 15 complete games and six shutouts, while her 183.0 innings pitched and 154 strikeouts led the Mountain West. Bressler's freshman year rivals that of Oliveto's 2011 freshman campaign when Oliveto went 21-10 with a 2.81 ERA with 22 complete games, four shutouts and 179 strikeouts in 199.0 innings pitched. Oliveto went on to have one of the best careers by a Rebel pitcher in program history and if this season was any indication, that is where Bressler should be headed as well.
Trejo, a two-year starter at first base, was a consistent force at the plate in her second collegiate season. The Tucson, Arizona, native recorded career highs in home runs (8) and runs batted in (42), both team-bests in 2019. Her 42 RBI are also tied for 10th all time in a single season in program history. Five of Trejo's eight home runs came against Mountain West competition, one each coming in the Rebel's first four series of conference play. For the second consecutive year, Trejo hit over .300, registering a .315 batting average in 50 games played to go along with 26 runs scored, five doubles, two triples, a .545 slugging percentage and a .442 on-base percentage. The sophomore was also patient at the plate, drawing a team-high 32 walks, which were tied for the most in the Mountain West this season. She is the first player to earn back-to-back all-region nods since Garie Blando in 2014 and 2015, while she becomes the 14th player in Rebel softball history to receive the award more than once.
Federe, who has started 143 career games at second base over the last three seasons, turned in a career year at the plate, registering personal bests in batting average (.387), hits (63), runs scored (35), RBI (38), home runs (6), doubles (14), slugging percentage (.595) and stolen bases (7). Her 14 doubles and .595 slugging percentage led all Rebels in 2019, while her batting average, hits, RBI and home runs all ranked second. The Chula Vista, California, native had a team-best 15-game hitting streak at one point during the year and finished out the last three weekends on an eight-game streak. The junior also recorded her best year on the defensive side of the ball with a career-high .962 fielding percentage and six double plays.
Bressler, Trejo and Federe were integral to the Rebels' best season in over a decade as they finished with their most wins since 2007 at 36-14 and just missed out on their first NCAA tournament bid since 2009. In its second season under Fox, UNLV recorded back-to-back 30-win season for the first time since 2009-2010 and set single-season marks for fielding percentage (.979) and fewest errors (30). Fox's 69 wins over her first two years is tied with former Rebel head coach Lonni Alameda, who also won 69 in her first two seasons in 2004 and 2005.
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