Hawaii senior third baseman Clare Warwick is the Western Athletic Conference softball preseason player of the year, and the Rainbow Wahine are picked by league coaches to finish third in the WAC in the preseason poll released today.

Warwick, a two-time All-WAC first-teamer, has a career .338 batting average and has started 167 consecutive games.

Fresno State is the overwhelming choice to win the conference, with Nevada second. Louisiana Tech and New Mexico State (tied for fourth), San Jose State, Utah State and Boise State follow.

Two other UH seniors, first baseman Audrey Andrade and outfielder Tanisha Milca, join Warwick on the preseason team.

The season starts Feb. 5 with the Oceanic Time Warner Cable Paradise Classic.