OKLAHOMA CITY —USA Softball, the National Governing Body of Softball in the United States, announced the Top 10 Finalists for the 2018 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year. The USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award, which is considered the most prestigious honor in Division I women’s collegiate softball, recognizes the outstanding athletic achievement by Division I female players across the country.
Now in its 17th year, previous recipients of the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award are Stacey Nuveman (2002 – UCLA), Cat Osterman (2003, 2005 and 2006 – Texas), Jessica Van der Linden (2004 – Florida State), Monica Abbott (2007 – Tennessee), Angela Tincher (2008 – Virginia Tech), Danielle Lawrie (2009 and 2010 – Washington), Ashley Hansen (2011 – Stanford), Keilani Ricketts (2012 and 2013 – Oklahoma), Lacey Waldrop (2014 – Florida State), Lauren Haeger (2015 – Florida), Sierra Romero (2016 – Michigan) and Kelly Barnhill (2017 – Florida).
This year’s Top 10 Finalists are comprised of two seniors, three juniors, two sophomores and three freshman. The student-athletes selected represent seven NCAA Division I universities and four athletic conferences. Florida, Oklahoma and UCLA are each represented by two student-athletes, while Arizona State, Michigan, Oklahoma State and Oregon each have one athlete in the group of Top 10 Finalists.
The Top 3 Finalists will be announced May 23, while the winner of the 2018 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award will be revealed on May 29 prior to the start of the NCAA WCWS in Oklahoma City.
The USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award is voted on by coaching representatives of 11 Division I Conferences in the 10 USA Softball Regions, members of the media who consistently cover Division I Softball across the country as well as past winners of the award.
2018 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 10 Finalists
Jocelyn Alo
Oklahoma I Utility I Fresh.
Kelly Barnhill
Florida I Pitcher I Jr.
Meghan Beaubien
Michigan I Pitcher I Fresh.
Rachel Garcia
UCLA I Pitcher I Soph.
Aaliyah Jordan
UCLA I Outfield I Fresh.
G Juarez
Arizona State I Pitcher I Soph.
Megan Kleist
Oregon I Pitcher I Jr.
Amanda Lorenz
Florida I Outfield I Jr.
Paige Parker
Oklahoma I Pitcher I Sr.
Vanessa Shippy
Oklahoma State I Utility I Sr.
— Courtesy of USA Softball