BURNSVILLE, Minn. - Sioux Falls' Krista Goerger earned the NSIC Elite 18 Award for volleyball as she held the highest grade point average and most completed credits among the 16 volleyball teams. Goerger is the fourth student-athlete from Sioux Falls to earn the NSIC Elite 18, joining Jacey Huinker (women's basketball 2017-18), Evan Hagen (outdoor track & field -2017) and Austin Schaffer (football - 2017).
 
The Mankato, Minnesota native established a career mark of 2,397 set assists over her first 78 matches.  Goerger has the program's two-top season marks for set assists average with 10.37 (94 sets) in 2019 and 10.36 (102 sets), in 2018. All-time, she ranks second in assists per set at 9.08 while ranking third in career service aces with 90, ranks eighth in digs and seventh all-time in digs per set at 1.72. She played a key role in USF's first 20-win campaign at the DII level as the Cougars earned regional consideration and advanced to the NSIC Tournament semifinals for the first time in 2018. Additionally, she helped USF earn an AVCA top-20 rankings for the first time a year ago (2019) during a 17-11 season.

“Krista is an outstanding student-athlete.  She excels in her coursework at USF and is a leader among her peers.  Krista extends her education beyond the traditional classroom as she as has participated in multiple science research opportunities throughout her time at USF.  She is a hard-working, dedicated student-athlete that we are proud and fortunate to have at the University of Sioux Falls.  Krista is model student and will undoubtedly excel in her future endeavors,” stated Sioux Falls Assistant Professor of Biology, Brian Lowery.

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.