DENVER – Senior catcher Nikki Butler was picked to repeat as Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year by the league's coaches, the WAC announced on Wednesday.
 
Butler is the only Aggie picked to the All-WAC preseason team after winning WAC Player of the Year a season ago. Last season, the La Habra, Calif., native batted .299 with nine home runs, 34 RBI and a .392 on-base percentage. During WAC play, she hit .386, slugged .632, hit six dingers and had an on-base percentage of .453.
 
For her career, Butler is hitting .340 with a .600 slugging percentage, a .421 on-base percentage and 114 RBI.
 
The league's coaches also picked the Aggies to finish third in the league with 28 points. Last year's champion Seattle U was picked to repeat with 53 points and five first-place votes while GCU was picked second with 30 points and two first-place votes.
 
The Aggies get the season underway with the Troy Cox classic in Las Cruces beginning with a game against Nebraska on Thursday, Feb. 6, at 4 p.m. Tickets are available here.

For complete coverage of New Mexico State softball, follow us on Twitter (@NMStateSoftball), Instagram (@NMStateSoftball) and like us on Facebook (NM State Softball).