For Immediate Release
Thursday, May 3, 2018
NSIC Elite 18 Award

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Valerie Hohol of the University of Minnesota Duluth was named the 2018 NSIC Elite 18 Award winner for softball. Hohol was presented the award prior to the Bulldog's 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 earned the award for the second consecutive season and is one of five Bulldogs to earn the Elite 18 Award, joining Grant Pulver (Cross Country 2016 & 2017), Jason Balts (Football - 2017), Makenzie Morgen (volleyball - 2017) and Michaela Hesse (indoor track & field - 2017-18). 
 

Hohol is a junior majoring in chemical engineering and holds a 4.00 grade point average.  The Woodbury, Minnesota, native went 16-5 with a 3.25 ERA in 24 appearances in the circle for the Bulldogs.  She recorded 76 strikeouts in her 129.1 innings of work and held opponents to a .287 batting average. She helped UMD to a 20-6 NSIC record and the third seed in the NSIC Tournament. 

As part of the NSIC 25th Anniversary celebration during the 2016-17 academic year, 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.