YUMA, Ariz. - For the second consecutive season, the Arizona Western softball team is heading to the NJCAA DI Softball World Series. On Tuesday afternoon, the Lady Matadors discovered who and when they will face in the opening round. Last season, Arizona Western was awarded the #19 seed and this year, they placed one spot higher in the #18 spot. The Lady Matadors will begin play on Monday, May 25th, at 11:15 a.m. versus #15 seed Iowa Western Community College at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Alabama. 

"I think it's probably where we should be record wise," Arizona Western head coach Joel Prickett said. "We didn't get as many games in as we needed to, to get up there a little higher. It doesn't really matter; you have to win them all to be a national champion anyway." 

Joel Prickett is the first head coach in program history to guide the Lady Matadors to back-to-back national tournaments in his first two seasons. 

"I think it says a whole lot more about Arizona Western than it does me," Prickett said. "It's just a great place to be, great place to recruit. If you work hard every day, it's been my motto most of my life, outwork everybody and if you can do that good things happen."

Arizona Western has 10 sophomores on its roster, all were in the national tournament a year ago, but this year will have a different feel as Arizona Western hosted the NJCAA DI World Series in 2025. 

"Last year, it didn't feel quite as special," Prickett said. "The tournament was here but not on our field; it was played at the PAAC. (Pacific Avenue Athletic Complex). So, it was a little weird being here I think and I was in the hospital, I didn't even get to coach a game. It's a blessing to return and it should be exciting for these girls to take another run at it." 

Sophomore Analy Trejo echoes her head coach and says this year has a much different feeling to it.

"Last year was definitely an experience," Trejo said. "I am so grateful to be able to travel and to play on somebody else's field. It's so awesome to travel with this team one more time."

Trejo and the other nine sophomores are also a part of Arizona Western softball history. The last time any Lady Matadors players made back-to-back trips to the national tournament was in 1986 and 1987, 39 years ago.

"When you work hard and you want something hard enough, and you care enough, good things will happen for you, always," Trejo said. "If you put in the work, then the work will pay off, always."

Region I and West District MVP Jessica Smith is also headed back to the national tournament. She also played in Yuma last year but player for Crowder College before transferring to Arizona Western. She says she had high hopes that a return to the national tournament was in her future with the Lady Matadors. 

"I felt I was coming to a very good team with a good coaching staff, and I just thought anything's possible," Smith said. "I'm just glad to be here and just be able to play softball every day."

Smith battled injuries during the middle of the season but was able to recover when her team needed her the most down the stretch. 

"Yeah, it was tough," Smith said. "I feel like every season has its ups and downs. I have teammates supporting me the entire time, they had my back, we have each other's back on the entire team. I think we really trust one another."

Smith is the lone Lady Matador who has traveled to play in the national tournament and says she is thrilled for the rest of her teammates to experience a road trip on the national stage. 

"I feel like it's just more exciting, and it's just a great place to be," Smith said. "Just traveling with your team and then play against new teams and harder teams, which you obviously want to win. It's a different experience."

As exciting as the feeling is, head coach Joel Prickett told his team not to read too much into the seed they received. 

"We're in and that's all that matters," Prickett said. "I told them, don't worry about the seed. Everyone plays differently and are from different conferences. Styles of play are different; the weather could play a factor. Not much you can do about the weather; I learned that years ago.  We'll get the girls locked in and get our scouting reports done and see what we can do."

Arizona Western and Iowa Western face off on Monday, May 25th at 11:15 a.m. The game will be broadcast on the NJCAA Network.