For Immediate Release
Friday, November 22, 2019
NSIC Media Relations
NSIC Elite 18 Award

DULUTH, Minn. – Anna Winter of Upper Iowa University has been named the 2019 NSIC Elite 18 Award winner for volleyball. Winter was presented the award during the pregame of the Upper Iowa versus Northern State quarterfinal volleyball match at the NSIC Tournament, which is taking place at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  Winter is the fourth student-athlete from Upper Iowa earn the NSIC Elite 18 Award, joining Kortney Lightfoot (outdoor track & field - 2019), Monica Rohe (women's golf -2017) and Ethan Ducharme (men's golf -2018).
 

Anna Winter, a native of Rochester, Minnesota, is a mathematics, chemistry and biology triple major at Upper Iowa University. The Rochester Mayo High School graduate holds a 4.00 grade point average while excelling in volleyball for the Peacocks. Last year she earned the NSIC's Willis R. Kelly Scholar-Athlete Award and was named the D2CCA Central Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Winter has been on the Athletics Director’s Honor Roll every semester and is an NSIC All-Academic Team member. On the court she is a three-time All-NSIC performer, earning first team honors the past two seasons. Winter averaged 4.21 kills per set, fourth best in the NSIC and hit .291 in 20 NSIC matches this season.  She had a career-high 27 against then-ranked No. 22 St. Cloud State University. 

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.

Selection Criteria
1. Academically the student-athlete has achieved at least sophomore status as defined by his or her own institution.

2. Athletically the student-athlete is in his or her second year of competition at his or her current institution.

3. Athletically the student-athlete is an active member on the roster and a member of the designated squad size for the sport at the championship site.

4. A student-athlete may win the award only once per academic year even if she or he participates in more than one sport.

5. Grade point average is based on the cumulative grade point average at the time of nomination as calculated by each institution. Grade point average calculations will be based on a 4.00 scale and will be reported to two decimal places.

6. In the event of a tie based on grade point average, the award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest total number of credit hours earned.

7. If a tie still exists after looking at the total number of credit hours earned, all student-athletes who are tied shall be presented with the NSIC Elite 18 Award.

For more information on the Elite 18 award winners, log on to: http://northernsun.org/Elite18