California State Bakersfield, Idaho State University, Northern Colorado and Seattle University also accepted membership to raise the league's team total to 12.

"I'm very excited to not only have an opportunity to win a conference championship, but also to have a chance to go to the NCAA Tournament," UVU coach Todd Fairbourne said. "That's what we're here for, and joining this conference will provide us that opportunity. It's going to open doors that weren't open before in recruiting."

The conference will eventually split into two divisions, the Coastal and Mountain. The division winners will meet in a best-of-three championship series to determine the conference's automatic NCAA Tournament berth.

The Coastal Division will consist of the six California- based schools, including Loyola Marymount, Sacramento State, Saint Mary's, San Diego and Santa Clara. Idaho State, Northern Colorado, Portland State, Seattle, Utah Valley and Weber State will form the Mountain Division.

Utah Valley competes as an NCAA Division I softball independent while in its sixth and final year of NCAA Division I provisional membership status.

Weber State reinstated its softball program in December and will begin play in 2010. The Wildcats sponsored softball from 1974-1983. Weber State hired Colorado College coach Tina Johnson on July 30 to lead the Wildcats' program.

The PCSC, which finished its sixth year of competition, has had an automatic NCAA Tournament bid for its conference champion since 2006. Loyola Marymount has won three PCSC titles, in 2003, 2005 and 2007. Sacramento State won in 2008.