TEMPE – Having one pair of siblings on the same team isn't anything out of the ordinary, but having two pairs of siblings on the same corresponding softball team is a rarity. Graduate Yannira Acuña decided to use her extra year of eligibility to have the opportunity to play with her younger sister, Yannixa Acuña. Infielder Taylor Nicholson spent a season at Missouri before deciding to transfer to Arizona State, but didn't come alone as she brought her younger sister freshman Mackenzie Nicholson to Tempe for the upcoming season.
The sibling duo is one of eight teams in all Power five conferences to have one pair of siblings on their softball roster, but Arizona State is the only team out of all Power five schools to have two sets of sisters on the same softball team.
Coming off a career year that included career highs in hits, runs, RBIs, doubles, home runs and batting average which included being named Softball America's most improved player, Pac-12's All-Conference First team, and being an NFCA All-American in the 2022 campaign. Yanni Acuña wanted to play with her sister counterpart to produce memories of playing collegiate softball together and to have fun throughout her last season of being a Sun Devil. Heading into her final season, Yanni was named to the Pac-12 Preseason All-Conference team and ranked the No. 16 player in Softball America's preseason rankings, and No. 19 in D1 Softball's preseason rankings.
Yanni wants to teach her counterpart as much as possible this upcoming season, and take lessons from anyone for Yaya to become the best softball player she can be. When Yaya notified Yanni that she was thinking of playing at Arizona State, it was a no-brainer for her to return for a fifth year of softball.
"The age gap, we're four years apart, we just never really imagined playing together, especially at the collegiate level," Yanni Acuña said. "We always talked about 'Hey, imagine if we could play together, how cool would that be?' I wanted to stay one more year with the team, my teammates, and school and everything but when my Sister was like 'Hey, I think I'm going to play at ASU' I said 'Dude let's do this' so it was another reason why I wanted to stay."
The Acuñas both went to Salpointe Catholic high school, but due to the age gap, both weren't able to play on the same team. Yaya started in 34 games her senior year (2022) which included a state title, a career batting average of .462, and 134 hits. She helps keep her older sister in check and tells her to remember to have fun with the game to keep her competitiveness high at practices and for games.
"I think the best part is whenever she gets down she doesn't like to talk to anyone so I'm there, I know her very well and I'm there to give her support. I'm telling her 'It's your last year and don't take it for granted, you know you're good.' So that helps calm her down,'" Yannixa Acuña said. "We bring each other up and not let one fall down."
The Nicholson sisters grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. Growing up with parents who are coaches at Georgia State, softball was a no-brainer for the pair. Originally at Missouri for a season, Taylor decided to transfer down to Tempe after her younger sister, Mackenzie, switched her commitment to the Sun Devils which gave them the opportunity to share the field this spring. Taylor Nicholson was named student-athlete of the month for December and looks to share the field with her younger counterpart.
Their ability to uplift each other on and off the field by being grateful for the opportunity to share the field for the next four years in Tempe. Mackenzie was able to play with her sister for a month which was the longest they've been able to play with one another.
"I love it, it brings back high school memories. She (Taylor) uplifts me, she motivates me a lot, she helps me stay right here and I love it," said Mackenzie Nicholson. "The chemistry we have together knowing what she is going to do on the field. We know it very well. I never thought it was going to happen but I'm glad it did."
Born in Cleveland but growing up in Atlanta, Taylor's main factor that came into transferring to ASU was her sister, Mackenzie, but senior infielder Jazmyn Rollin helped guide Taylor into how amazing being a Sun Devil was last season since Rollin came from Missouri after the 2021 season.
"I loved watching the team last year and seeing the grit to win. How they all played as a team. My biggest reason why I chose to be a Sun Devil is when my sister said she (Mackenzie) wanted to come here I knew this was going to be home." said Taylor Nicholson. "The coaching staff has been amazing to me."
Playing together will be something each sibling will cherish after their playing days in Tempe, but they will make many memories that will last a lifetime. Mackenzie's and Taylor's biggest influence was their parents who explained how they wanted the best for them in softball. Yanni and Yaya both explain how thankful they are for their family as they both grew up playing softball.
"My parents have always been there for us. They've always been there to motivate us. They never really pushed us too hard to get us out of the game but they've been there for everything and wanting us to succeed." said Mackenzie.
"Definitely my mom is a big part of that. Growing up in a single-parent household she really made sure that we were always involved in sports and doing something to keep us active," said Yanni Acuna, "I feel like we both owe her a lot because being a single parent and doing all the traveling with the expenses and everything. So, I think that her seeing us here makes her really happy."
Both pairs of siblings express their gratitude toward this upcoming season as Yaya used the word "Grateful" and Yanni used the word "Fun" as both expressed their excitement for the season after playing fall ball together. The Nicholson's are passionate about the 2023 season and have loved their transition from the southeast to Tempe.
"I'm happy to be here, I'm happy we chose Arizona State, before she (Taylor) was at Missouri and that's where I was going to be. But I love that we're here, I love the people and players that we're around. My sister's way happier, she looks so happy out here and I love to see how hard she's working for what she wants." said Mackenzie. "I feel like whenever we're here we are very positive with each other and I can hold her accountable," said Taylor.
Yanni Acuña and the team are coming off one of its best seasons in nearly a decade, and the decision to return for her fifth year came down to wanting to play with her sister. She'll make the most of it and embrace her final season as a Sun Devil as one to remember with her sister Yaya.
"Going into my final year I kinda just want to have fun with it and embrace it. Not to take this year for granted since it is my last year and I want to be able to enjoy my teammates and be able to enjoy my sister," said Yannira, "I just want to teach my sister to take as much as you can, not only from me but from the veterans."
The sibling duo is one of eight teams in all Power five conferences to have one pair of siblings on their softball roster, but Arizona State is the only team out of all Power five schools to have two sets of sisters on the same softball team.
Coming off a career year that included career highs in hits, runs, RBIs, doubles, home runs and batting average which included being named Softball America's most improved player, Pac-12's All-Conference First team, and being an NFCA All-American in the 2022 campaign. Yanni Acuña wanted to play with her sister counterpart to produce memories of playing collegiate softball together and to have fun throughout her last season of being a Sun Devil. Heading into her final season, Yanni was named to the Pac-12 Preseason All-Conference team and ranked the No. 16 player in Softball America's preseason rankings, and No. 19 in D1 Softball's preseason rankings.
YANNIRA ACUÑA
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) February 1, 2023
Preseason All-Pac-12 ??????#ForksUp /// #O2V pic.twitter.com/o3ceN19yeq
Yanni wants to teach her counterpart as much as possible this upcoming season, and take lessons from anyone for Yaya to become the best softball player she can be. When Yaya notified Yanni that she was thinking of playing at Arizona State, it was a no-brainer for her to return for a fifth year of softball.
"The age gap, we're four years apart, we just never really imagined playing together, especially at the collegiate level," Yanni Acuña said. "We always talked about 'Hey, imagine if we could play together, how cool would that be?' I wanted to stay one more year with the team, my teammates, and school and everything but when my Sister was like 'Hey, I think I'm going to play at ASU' I said 'Dude let's do this' so it was another reason why I wanted to stay."
The Acuñas both went to Salpointe Catholic high school, but due to the age gap, both weren't able to play on the same team. Yaya started in 34 games her senior year (2022) which included a state title, a career batting average of .462, and 134 hits. She helps keep her older sister in check and tells her to remember to have fun with the game to keep her competitiveness high at practices and for games.
"I think the best part is whenever she gets down she doesn't like to talk to anyone so I'm there, I know her very well and I'm there to give her support. I'm telling her 'It's your last year and don't take it for granted, you know you're good.' So that helps calm her down,'" Yannixa Acuña said. "We bring each other up and not let one fall down."
The Nicholson sisters grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. Growing up with parents who are coaches at Georgia State, softball was a no-brainer for the pair. Originally at Missouri for a season, Taylor decided to transfer down to Tempe after her younger sister, Mackenzie, switched her commitment to the Sun Devils which gave them the opportunity to share the field this spring. Taylor Nicholson was named student-athlete of the month for December and looks to share the field with her younger counterpart.
Honoring our final Student Athlete of the Semester today, we have @Tay_lor_16 from @ASUSoftball !
— Sun Devil OSAD (@SunDevil_OSAD) January 18, 2023
It is always such a joy to see Taylor up on the third floor with us, and we are so excited to be able to recognize her like this! Congrats and well deserved, Taylor! pic.twitter.com/C11kZHZTNZ
Their ability to uplift each other on and off the field by being grateful for the opportunity to share the field for the next four years in Tempe. Mackenzie was able to play with her sister for a month which was the longest they've been able to play with one another.
"I love it, it brings back high school memories. She (Taylor) uplifts me, she motivates me a lot, she helps me stay right here and I love it," said Mackenzie Nicholson. "The chemistry we have together knowing what she is going to do on the field. We know it very well. I never thought it was going to happen but I'm glad it did."
Born in Cleveland but growing up in Atlanta, Taylor's main factor that came into transferring to ASU was her sister, Mackenzie, but senior infielder Jazmyn Rollin helped guide Taylor into how amazing being a Sun Devil was last season since Rollin came from Missouri after the 2021 season.
"I loved watching the team last year and seeing the grit to win. How they all played as a team. My biggest reason why I chose to be a Sun Devil is when my sister said she (Mackenzie) wanted to come here I knew this was going to be home." said Taylor Nicholson. "The coaching staff has been amazing to me."
Playing together will be something each sibling will cherish after their playing days in Tempe, but they will make many memories that will last a lifetime. Mackenzie's and Taylor's biggest influence was their parents who explained how they wanted the best for them in softball. Yanni and Yaya both explain how thankful they are for their family as they both grew up playing softball.
"My parents have always been there for us. They've always been there to motivate us. They never really pushed us too hard to get us out of the game but they've been there for everything and wanting us to succeed." said Mackenzie.
"Definitely my mom is a big part of that. Growing up in a single-parent household she really made sure that we were always involved in sports and doing something to keep us active," said Yanni Acuna, "I feel like we both owe her a lot because being a single parent and doing all the traveling with the expenses and everything. So, I think that her seeing us here makes her really happy."
Both pairs of siblings express their gratitude toward this upcoming season as Yaya used the word "Grateful" and Yanni used the word "Fun" as both expressed their excitement for the season after playing fall ball together. The Nicholson's are passionate about the 2023 season and have loved their transition from the southeast to Tempe.
"I'm happy to be here, I'm happy we chose Arizona State, before she (Taylor) was at Missouri and that's where I was going to be. But I love that we're here, I love the people and players that we're around. My sister's way happier, she looks so happy out here and I love to see how hard she's working for what she wants." said Mackenzie. "I feel like whenever we're here we are very positive with each other and I can hold her accountable," said Taylor.
Yanni Acuña and the team are coming off one of its best seasons in nearly a decade, and the decision to return for her fifth year came down to wanting to play with her sister. She'll make the most of it and embrace her final season as a Sun Devil as one to remember with her sister Yaya.
"Going into my final year I kinda just want to have fun with it and embrace it. Not to take this year for granted since it is my last year and I want to be able to enjoy my teammates and be able to enjoy my sister," said Yannira, "I just want to teach my sister to take as much as you can, not only from me but from the veterans."