LOUISVILLE, KY. – Pace University Softball senior Willa Poplawski has been named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Player of the Year Watchlist, as announced Wednesday afternoon.

Poplawski was one of 118 student-athletes nationwide selected to the watchlist and one of the top representatives from the East Region. The list is compiled by the NFCA Division II All-American Committee and highlights the top performers across NCAA Division II.

A key contributor for the Setters, Poplawski has continued to produce at a high level across back-to-back seasons. In 2025, she posted a .344 batting average across 60 starts, recording 63 hits, including 12 doubles, one triple, and five home runs, while driving in 41 runs and finishing with a .503 slugging percentage and .380 on-base percentage.

She has carried that momentum into the 2026 season, batting .375 through 22 games with 27 hits, including six doubles, one triple, and two home runs, while adding 18 RBIs and a .569 slugging percentage. Her consistent presence in the lineup has continued to fuel the Setters offense early in the year.

Poplawski's selection places her among the top players in Division II softball and highlights her impact within the Northeast 10 Conference and on the national stage.

The NFCA Player and Pitcher of the Year awards will be announced on May 27, one day before the start of the NCAA Division II National Championships. All student-athletes remain eligible for the award regardless of watchlist inclusion.

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