LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – Five UNLV softball standouts - Racheal Goodpaster (1998-01), Geney Orris (1999-02), Jacque Kerrigan (2002-05), Marissa Nichols (2005-10) and Jenny Bressler (2019-23) were selected to the Mountain West 25th Season Team, the conference announced Tuesday.
The MW 25th Season Teams were compiled by the 25th Teams Committee, comprising members from the league's 11 full-time institutions, to celebrate the conference's 25th season of excellence on and off the field. They will be announced at each Mountain West Championship during the 2023-24 season.
Goodpaster, Fair Oaks, Calif. native, thrived in her four seasons as a Rebel shortstop from 1998-01. She earned NFCA-NCAA All-American honors as a junior in 2000 becoming the first player since Julie Crandell in 1998. She picked up All-West Region first team honors for three straight seasons from 1999-01. Through her Rebels career, Goodpaster marked her name on the majority of the single-season and career offensive all-time lists.
Orris, a Brea, Calif., native, was just the second Rebel to earn NFCA-NCAA All-American honors in MW history. She also was the second Rebel to pick up the nod since 1998 in program history. Orris was the first UNLV softball player to earn MW Player of the Year in 2002. To cap off 2002, Orris was also picked on the All-MW first team and All-West Region first team. She's etched her name on the career home run list and five different career pitching all-time lists. She is also on six different single-season offensive lists.
Kerrigan, an Eugene, Ore. native, grabbed the first MW Pitcher of the Year recognition for the Rebels in 2005. In the circle, Kerrigan holds the UNLV records for appearances, games started and the single-game strikeout record with 15. Kerrigan earned All-MW first team honors in 2003 and 2005, and additionally in '05, she earned All-West Region second team. Kerrigan's name still is etched on many different single-game and career lists.
Nichols, a Diamond Bar, Calif., native, notched the first MW Freshman of the Year nod for UNLV in 2005 and became just the sixth player in program history to be named a NFCA First Team All-America. Nichols was a three-time All-MW honoree, a seven-time MW Player of the Week selection and still sits on multiple career and single-season offensive all-time lists. Nichols was a five-time academic all-MW honoree, 2007 NFCA Scholar All American and was UNLV's 2005 Sportswoman of the Year. Nichols was also UNLV's last finalist for the NCAA Women of the Year.
Bressler, a Canton, Mich. native , recently graduated from UNLV in 2023 and through her Rebels career she was a dominant force for UNLV in the circle. Bressler was a four-time All-MW first team selection and earned All-West Region first team honors in 2019. She's thrown three no-hitters in the circle for the Rebels. Bressler holds the UNLV school record in strikeouts, saves and in win percentage. She is also the single-season saves leader with six.
Mountain West 25th Season Softball Team:
Players:
Tara Glover, Boise State
Oli Keohohou, BYU
Ianeta Le'I, BYU
Jodi Norton, BYU
Jessica Purcell-Fitu, BYU
Jennifer Whiteley, BYU
Amber Nelson, Colorado State
Jessica Strickland, Colorado State
Keahilele Mattson, Fresno State
Brenna Moss, Fresno State
Kierra Willis, Fresno State
Chelie Senini, Nevada
Andrea Howard, New Mexico
Jenavee Peres, San Diego State
Mac Barabara, San Diego State
Lorena (Klopp) Bauer, San Diego State
Erin Floros, San Diego State
Patrice Jackson, San Diego State
Brittany Knudsen, San Diego State
Hayley Miles, San Diego State
Racheal Goodpaster, UNLV
Marissa Nichols, UNLV
Geney Orris, UNLV
Diana Phillips, Utah
Jackie Wong, Utah
Pitchers::
Jill Compton, Fresno State
Hailey Dolcini, Fresno State
Maggie Balint, San Diego State
Samantha Beasley, San Diego State
Bre DeSanta, San Diego State
Sandra Durazo, San Diego State
Christina Ross, San Diego State
Jenessa Ullegue, San José State
Jenny Bressler, UNLV
Jacque Kerrigan, UNLV
