For Immediate Release
Thursday, May 1, 2025
NSIC Elite 18 Award

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -  Liz Dierks of Augustana University earned the NSIC Elite 18 Award for softball. Dierks was presented the award prior to the Viking's opening round game in the NSIC Softball Tournament, which is taking place Wednesday-Saturday at the Bowden Field in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  

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.

Dierks is a senior majoring in biology and holds a 4.00 grade point average.  The Sioux Falls, South Dakota native and graduate of Harrisburg High School has started all 52 games in the outfield for the Vikings this season.  She has slashed .359/.387/.412 with 47 hits in 131 at bats with 12 RBIs, 33 runs scored, four doubles and a homer this season.  She is also 10 for 11 in stolen base attempts. Dierks is a two-time All-NSIC First team performer as well as an All-Defensive team member in 2023.  She has been a part of four NSIC Regular Season Championship teams and two Tournament titles. 

About the NSIC
The NSIC is a 15-team, 18-sport, NCAA Division II conference with institutions located in 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 union of Upper Midwest colleges and universities. The NSIC has won 27 team national championships and crowned 121 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 have the opportunity to 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.