Glendale, Ariz.- On Monday, the Great Southwest Athletic Conference (GSAC) announced the 2026 Softball All-Conference Team and Gold Glove Team presented by Under Armour.  Arizona Christian Softball had four selected All-GSAC- Dayna Herrera, Alyssa Grinstead, Christina Grubb, and Coach Mike Mayben.  Herrera (Player), Grinstead (Pitcher) and Mayben (Coach) were all voted "of the Year".  Herrera and Ashley Madonia added Gold Glove recognition.

Herrera, a junior from Albuquerque, NM, tops the NAIA with a .532 batting average.  Her 50 RBI are tied for the most in the GSAC.  Eighteen doubles are the top of the GSAC leaderboard for the pitcher/third baseman.  On the circle, her 14 wins on the season are tied for second in the GSAC.  A 2.63 ERA places her third while 79 strikeouts rank fifth in the GSAC at the regular season end.

After earning the GSAC Pitcher Gold Glove a year ago, Herrera defends her gold glove work.  Her All-GSAC selection is also the second of her career.

Grinstead, a freshman from Indio, CA, secured the most wins in the conference with 15 and the lowest ERA of 2.22.  She tied Herrera at the top with three saves a piece.  The 118 strikeouts rank second with 129.1 innings pitched coming in at third.  Those numbers equate to a 6.39 strikeout per seven innings rate- second in the GSAC.

Grubb, from Sequim, WA, has had a breakout senior season as she is second on the Firestorm in average (.393), slugging percentage (.554), and total bases (62).  The catcher/third baseman tops ACU with three triples.  Grubb is third on the Firestorm with six doubles and 28 RBI.

For Coach Mayben, he earns his first Coach of the Year honor at Arizona Christian.  With Mayben steering the ship, the Firestorm won the GSAC Regular Season championship.  ACU heads into the postseason with a record of 36-11- one win short of their overall season best total set back in 2016.  The Firestorm have lost only one series in 2026.

With Madonia roaming centerfield, she covered alley to alley with the best of them.  The sophomore gunned down four base runners from the outfield.

Coach Mayben commented, "Proud of Dayna, Alyssa, and Christy earning All-GSAC honors.  All three have grown tremendously over the course of this year.  Their work ethic, and commitment have paid off with recognition from the coaches around the conference."

With the trio "of the Year" winners leading the way, ACU will look defend their GSAC Tournament Championship from a season ago.  Arizona Christian, the top seed, will open the GSAC Championships on Tuesday at 3:00 pm at the OC Great Park against Embry-Riddle- the fourth seed.