Concordia is the unanimous choice of the Pacific West Conference coaches to win the 2024 regular season title and the Golden Eagles also earned the preseason Pitcher of the Year and a share of the preseason Player of the Year award.

If you think this sounds a lot like the 2023 predictions, you're right. Last January, the Golden Eagles were the undisputed choice to repeat as title winners and Katlin Entrup was the preseason pitcher of the year. It's true again in 2024, with the addition of shortstop Rylie Rohr selected as the co-player of the year, sharing with Azusa Pacific's Katie Korstrom.

There was no jinx in 2023 to those preseason awards. The Golden Eagles would go on to win their second straight title and fourth crown since 2018. They would also win the first-ever PacWest Conference Championship Tournament and advance to the NCAA West Regionals for the fifth consecutive year. Coach Crystal Rosenthal's squad would wrap the year at 48-13 overall with a 27-5 record in the PacWest, winning the title by seven games over second-place Biola.

All eight PacWest teams will be shooting to qualify for the four-team PacWest Championship tournament May 1-3 at Dominican University in San Rafael. That qualification journey begins Feb. 1 when Biola hosts Northwest Nazarene and HPU travels to Westcliff to start the season. Feb. 2-4, seven of the eight conference squads will be in Irvine for the Concordia Kick-off Classic, featuring top teams from all across the west region.

HAWAI'I HILO

Hawai`i Hilo is just two poll points and one slot behind the Sharks at No. 6. The Vulcans are led by slick-fielding shortstop Jayda Favela, who hit .346 and had 20 stolen bases last year as a sophomore. UHH head coach Aisha Sueda has five starters returning along with transfers Kiani Nakamura (Oregon State) and Megan Yorba (Holy Names). Nakamura played on the 2022 Beavers team that advanced to the NCAA College World Series.

2024 Softball PacWest Preseason Awards

Co-Players of the Year
Rylie Rohr | CUI | SS | SR
Katie Korstrom | Azusa Pacific | P | SR

Pitcher of the Year
Katlin Entrup | CUI | P | SR

2024 Softball PacWest Preseason Team