For Immediate Release
Thursday, May 4, 2017
NSIC Elite 18 Award

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Valerie Hohol of the University of Minnesota Duluth was named the 2017 NSIC Elite 18 Award winner for softball. Hohol was presented the award prior to the Bulldogs opening round game in the NSIC Softball Tournament, which is taking place Thursday-Saturday at Sherman Park and Bowden Field in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  Hohol becomes the second Bulldog to earn the Elite 18 Award this season as she joins Grant Pulver who won for men’s cross country last fall.    

Hohol is a sophomore majoring in chemical engineering and holds a 4.00 grade point average.  The Woodbury, Minnesota, native went 13-4 with a 2.74 ERA in 23 appearances in the circle for the Bulldogs.  She recorded 56 strikeouts in her 104.2 innings of work and eared one save. 

As part of the NSIC 25th Anniversary celebration, the NSIC Elite 18 Award was instituted to recognize the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the NSIC Championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The NSIC Elite 18 award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NSIC’s 18 Championships.