For Immediate Release
Friday, November 11, 2022
NSIC Media Relations
NSIC Elite 18 Award

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Kennedy Brady of Concordia University, St. Paul was announced as the 2022 NSIC Elite 18 Award winner for volleyball as she held the highest grade point average with the most credits earned among the eight tournament teams. Brady was presented the award during the pregame of the Northern State at Concordia-St. Paul quarterfinal volleyball match at the NSIC Tournament, which is taking place at the Gangelhoff Center in St. Paul, Minnesota on November 11-13.  

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.
 
Brady, a native of Lakeville, Minnesota, is majoring in Secondary Math Education at Concordia-St. Paul. The Lakeville North graduate holds a 4.00 grade point average while playing middle blocker for the Golden Bears. Brady is a two-time All-NSIC second team member, a 2021 CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team member and a four-time member of the NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence.  She ranks fourth in the NSIC with a .380 hitting percentage in conference play and registers in at 13th with 0.90 blocks per set in NSIC action. She has collected seven or more kills in 10 conference matches, clearing double figures three times and has at least four blocks in eight NSIC matches.

About the NSIC
The NSIC is a 16-team, 18-sport, NCAA Division II conference with institutions located in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The NSIC is a model Division II conference that uses high-level athletics competition to develop champions in the classroom and community while empowering student-athletes to be impactful and positive leaders. Formed in 1992 by the merger of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (men’s league) and the Northern Sun Conference (women’s league), the NSIC has flourished over the past quarter century, maturing into a 16-team union of Upper Midwest colleges and universities. The NSIC has won 24 team national championships and crowned 81 individual national champions. For additional information, visit NorthernSun.org.

About NCAA Division II
The NCAA, the national governing body for college athletics, is a volunteer association of more than 1,000 colleges and universities that classify their athletics programs in one of three membership divisions. The 300+ institutions in NCAA Division II support a balanced approach in which student-athletes can earn scholarships based on their athletic ability, pursue their desired academic degree, and participate in all the campus and surrounding community have to offer. Division II student-athletes annually graduate at rates higher than their student body peers, and they have access to the best championships-participant ratio among the NCAA’s three divisions. Division II gives student-athletes the unique opportunity to compete in the classroom, on the field, in their career, for their causes, and on their terms. For additional information, visit NCAA.org.