Long Beach State University Athletics
Bickar, Haddad, Olson Preseason All-Big West As Another Tight Finish With Cal State Fullerton Predicted
2/5/2024 12:26:00 PM | Softball
Long Beach State and Cal State Fullerton have finished top two in each of the last three seasons with LBSU taking two Big West titles.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Long Beach State Softball had three players chosen for the 2024 Preseason All-Big West Team, an 11-player team representing the expected best of the Big West in the coming season. Senior Sara Olson and juniors Shannon Haddad and Jacquelyn Bickar were all selected.
With the last three Big West championships coming down to the final series of the year between Long Beach State and Cal State Fullerton, it was no surprise to once again see the rivals on top of the preseason poll from the Big West Coaches.
Cal State Fullerton had six first place votes to Long Beach State's four, just edging the Beach at the top of the preseason picks. CSUN was tabbed third, followed by UC Santa Barbara and UC Davis in the top half.
Shannon Haddad aims to once again anchor the Long Beach State pitching staff, which combined to hold Big West opponents to a 1.41 ERA and a .191 batting average on the way to the 2023 league championship. Haddad led the team in wins (13), strikeouts (109) and innings pitched (146.1) in another stellar campaign. Haddad has earned First Team All-Big West honors in both of her complete seasons at the Beach, and is looking to lead from the front on the way to a third this season.
Senior Sara Olson anchors a veteran outfield. Another 2023 First Team All-Big West selection, Olson led Long Beach State with a .329 batting average, sole 13 bases and had seven doubles, five triples and four home runs on the season while routinely making spectacular plays as an everyday starter in left field.
Long Beach State's third preseason pick was junior Jacquelyn Bickar. A two-time All-Big West selection, including first team honors a year ago, Bickar was the team's leading hitter in Big West play at .364 in 2023, starting every game in Big West action. She finished the season leading the team in RBI and had eight doubles and three home runs while stealing 13 bases on the year.
Long Beach State opens up the season later this week, once again taking part in one of the nation's premier kickoff tournaments at the Puerto Vallarta Collegiate Challenge, where they will face No. 1 Oklahoma among other top competition.
2024 Big West Preseason Coaches Poll
With the last three Big West championships coming down to the final series of the year between Long Beach State and Cal State Fullerton, it was no surprise to once again see the rivals on top of the preseason poll from the Big West Coaches.
Cal State Fullerton had six first place votes to Long Beach State's four, just edging the Beach at the top of the preseason picks. CSUN was tabbed third, followed by UC Santa Barbara and UC Davis in the top half.
Shannon Haddad aims to once again anchor the Long Beach State pitching staff, which combined to hold Big West opponents to a 1.41 ERA and a .191 batting average on the way to the 2023 league championship. Haddad led the team in wins (13), strikeouts (109) and innings pitched (146.1) in another stellar campaign. Haddad has earned First Team All-Big West honors in both of her complete seasons at the Beach, and is looking to lead from the front on the way to a third this season.
Senior Sara Olson anchors a veteran outfield. Another 2023 First Team All-Big West selection, Olson led Long Beach State with a .329 batting average, sole 13 bases and had seven doubles, five triples and four home runs on the season while routinely making spectacular plays as an everyday starter in left field.
Long Beach State's third preseason pick was junior Jacquelyn Bickar. A two-time All-Big West selection, including first team honors a year ago, Bickar was the team's leading hitter in Big West play at .364 in 2023, starting every game in Big West action. She finished the season leading the team in RBI and had eight doubles and three home runs while stealing 13 bases on the year.
Long Beach State opens up the season later this week, once again taking part in one of the nation's premier kickoff tournaments at the Puerto Vallarta Collegiate Challenge, where they will face No. 1 Oklahoma among other top competition.
2024 Big West Preseason Coaches Poll
- Cal State Fullerton – 77 (6)
- Long Beach State – 75 (4)
- CSUN – 65
- UC Santa Barbara – 52
- UC Davis – 47
- Hawai'i – 46
- Cal Poly – 31
- UC Riverside – 26
- UC San Diego – 22
- CSU Bakersfield - 9
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