Completed Event: Softball at Utah State on March 28, 2026 , Win , 10, to, 1
Softball
at Utah State
W 10-1
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Photo by: Darryl Webb
GCU Softball Ranks Third Nationally with 14 NFCA Scholar-Athletes
10/7/2015 9:04:00 AM | Softball, S-A Development
PHOENIX -- Highlighting its commitment to excellence in the classroom, the Grand Canyon softball team ranked third among all Division I schools with 14 NFCA All-America Scholar-Athletes, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced this week. The 2015 listing consists of student-athletes who garnered at least a 3.5 grade-point average during the 2014-15 academic year.
Northern Illinois and Wagner led the way with 15 All-America Scholar-Athletes apiece, while Grand Canyon's total of 14 honorees was third in the country tied with Central Florida, DePaul, Lipscomb and St. Francis (Pa.). A total of 1,554 Division I student-athletes earned the honor, nearly matching the combined total of Divisions II and III (1,851).
"I'm very proud of these players for their hard work and commitment to understanding they have to be serious about being a student as well as an athlete," coach Ann Pierson said. "We talk about being successful in the classroom when we are recruiting, and make sure they understand it is a two-part responsibility and opportunity. That's a big piece of the puzzle and a hat they have to wear to be part of this program. It's something we've done from the first year we started, setting that expectation and standard.
"We are fortunate to have a talented academics support staff, and our professors on campus are so incredible to work with. From President Mueller's team down through Athletics Director Mike Vaught's team, they give the student-athletes what is needed to be successful on and off the field. You can look back at the alumni who have come through our program -- from academic national championship teams to academic All-Americans -- we have the support and commitment to be successful in the classroom at Grand Canyon."
Among the honorees from the 2015 squad were:
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Northern Illinois and Wagner led the way with 15 All-America Scholar-Athletes apiece, while Grand Canyon's total of 14 honorees was third in the country tied with Central Florida, DePaul, Lipscomb and St. Francis (Pa.). A total of 1,554 Division I student-athletes earned the honor, nearly matching the combined total of Divisions II and III (1,851).
"I'm very proud of these players for their hard work and commitment to understanding they have to be serious about being a student as well as an athlete," coach Ann Pierson said. "We talk about being successful in the classroom when we are recruiting, and make sure they understand it is a two-part responsibility and opportunity. That's a big piece of the puzzle and a hat they have to wear to be part of this program. It's something we've done from the first year we started, setting that expectation and standard.
"We are fortunate to have a talented academics support staff, and our professors on campus are so incredible to work with. From President Mueller's team down through Athletics Director Mike Vaught's team, they give the student-athletes what is needed to be successful on and off the field. You can look back at the alumni who have come through our program -- from academic national championship teams to academic All-Americans -- we have the support and commitment to be successful in the classroom at Grand Canyon."
Among the honorees from the 2015 squad were:
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| Name, Pos. | Name, Pos. |
| Kelsey Barak, SS | Hailey Maher, SS/2B |
| Bailey Bergman, LHP | Brittany Medina, C/IF |
| Bianca Boling, 1B | Nicole Newbury, 3B/2B |
| Briielle Breland, 3B | Lauren Regester, 1B |
| Jennifer Coates, OF/C | Mariah Valencia, RHP |
| Malayna Gomez, OF | Haley Walker, OF |
| Anne Jordan, C | Camree Wartman, 2B |
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The Lopes return 10 of the honored players in 2016. GCU opens its fall exhibition schedule this weekend as the Lopes play Yavapai College in a doubleheader exhibition on Saturday, Oct. 10 starting at 6 p.m.
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