REBEL CHECK-IN
MIA TREJO
UNLV SOFTBALL
JUNIOR HUMAN SERVICES MAJOR
April 16, 2020
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - Junior
Mia Trejo has been a catalyst behind the UNLV softball revival under third-year head coach
Kristie Fox, taking over the starting job at first base as a freshman and playing there every game since.
Trejo and the Rebels were rolling through the first five weeks of the season, notching a 21-5 record to match the second best start through 26 games in program history. They had won 19 of 21 games after opening the year 2-3 and were gearing up to start Mountain West Conference play when the season abruptly came to an end. Coach Fox and the team knew their best softball was ahead of them as they eyed a league championship and the program's first NCAA tournament appearance since 2009. But that will have to wait one more year.
Trejo, a Tucson, Arizona, native, has been the cornerstone of the Rebel offense over the past three seasons, making all 129 starts at first base and hitting at a career clip of .336. She's amassed 125 hits, 20 doubles, 14 home runs and 91 runs batted in during her career, sitting in the top three on the team in each category every year. The junior was just getting hot as she hit .438 (7-for-16) with five RBI, two doubles and a home run in a 5-0 weekend at Grand Canyon on what was the final weekend of the season. She was surely headed towards a third straight NFCA All-Region award, which would have made her just the fourth Rebel softball player to earn the honor more than twice.
The 2020 season was also extra special for Trejo as her younger sister, Alyssa, signed with Rebels out of high school and the pair had a chance to step on a college field together for the first time - something they dreamed about from a young age. They are the first sisters to play together at UNLV since Tara and Kara Bendt were teammates in 2009. While the year was cut short, thankfully the two will have more opportunities in the future to play together donning the Scarlet and Gray.
UNLVRebels.com had a chance this week to check in with the junior first baseman who is back in Tucson with Alyssa and their family.
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UNLVRebels.com: Even though it was shorter than you hoped, what did it mean to you to be able to share the field with your younger sister again? Did you guys dream of playing together or did it just work out that way?
Mia: It was definitely something that we always talked about growing up. I never actually thought it could happen because there are so many different things that go into recruiting and finding a college. Once my sister committed, I was super excited and thankful to get to share this experience with her.
UNLVRebels.com: When you guys got the news about the season suddenly ending, what was your first reaction? How do you feel about it now and how have you been able to process everything?
Mia: When our coach first told us, I was in denial, in hopes that we would be able to finish out our year. I understand that hard decisions were made with the safety of all student-athletes in mind, and that is all we can ask for. It has been an adjustment, but we are making the most of the situation in front of us.
UNLVRebels.com: You guys were off to another hot start, tied for second best in program history, how was everyone feeling about your performance the first five weeks of the season and what was the feeling heading into conference play?
Mia: We learned a lot about us as a team within our first couple tournaments, so we were ready to get conference play started. Our goal was to win conference and make a regional, and we all could feel how special this year was going to be, so to not get that chance was definitely hard.
UNLVRebels.com: This time of year, is usually busy with school, practice, and games for three to four months straight, how have you adjusted to a slower pace and how have you been managing your coursework?
Mia: We are taking it a day by day and making the most of the time we have now and appreciating the time we had together as a team. Our academic advisors and our coaches have been right there with us to help make this transition easier.
UNLVRebels.com: Many of you talked about how great the team chemistry was this year, how have you guys been able to stay connected to each other during the quarantine
Mia: We all talk pretty much every day through our group messages and social media, but not being able to see each other like we normally do is one of the hardest adjustments.
UNLVRebels.com: Being away from the team and away from softball, what are you missing most and what are you looking forward to most when this is over?
Mia: I definitely miss playing, but I miss being around my teammates every day, especially at a time when we should be traveling. I'm looking forward to getting back to work and being on the field with my team again.
UNLVRebels.com: Have you learned to do anything new outside of school or your sport while you've had the extra time? Or just done something you normally don't have time to do?
Mia: I love to cook; I have been making dinner for my family almost every day. I have also started boxing, which has been really fun and different.
UNLVRebels.com: Have you and Alyssa done any softball drills or tried to stay up on your skills?
Mia: We are very fortunate to be able to go outside every day, so we have been able to play catch and hit as well.
UNLVRebels.com: Finally, favorite thing you've watched or done while you've been home.
Mia: My favorite thing to watch so far is the Voice on Hulu, and "All-American" on Netflix.
