BURNSVILLE, MINN. - Krista Goerger of the University of Sioux Falls Volleyball Program has earned the NSIC Elite 18 Award for volleyball by maintaining the highest grade point average and most completed credits among the 16 teams in the league. 
 

 "Krista is an extraordinary leader, who has excelled on and off the court since her arrival at USF," said USF Director of Athletics Pam Gohl. "We are very proud of her achievements in competition, class and with her commitment to service. By becoming our fourth NSIC Elite 18 recipient, she shows what kind of commitment she makes at USF," she said.
 
A tough-minded and focused competitor, Goerger, who has led USF to a combined 52-31 record in three seasons, has evolved into one of the leaders on USF's Volleyball Team. As the team continues to practice, albeit without scheduled competition this fall, she is focused on a return to competitive play. And, when she gets that chance, she will bring her unbridled energy and passion to the floor.

"I will be grateful for the chance to play again. It's been almost a year since I've competed in a game, so whenever that day comes I'm going to be very nervous and anxious," said Goerger, a senior biology and chemistry major from Mankato, Minn. "When we get back out there on the floor, I'm sure after a few points, it will feel normal and my instincts will take over," she said.
 
A three-time Academic All-NSIC performer, she ranks among the best to play volleyball at USF.
 
Goerger established a USF school record 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 at USF, she ranks second in assists per set at 9.0, third in career service aces with 90, 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 in 2018 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 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," said USF Assistant Professor of Biology Brian Lowery. 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," Lowery said.
 
After she concludes volleyball, Goerger plans to attend graduate school and then pursue a career in science with the hope of uncovering discoveries that will benefit mankind. To that end, she has worked two straight summer as a research fellow through the Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network (BRIN). This past summer she worked at a research lab focusing on the effects of exercise and estrogens on type 2 diabetes.

"I want to improve people's lives through my research by either increasing knowledge about an unknown or developing a new drug therapy for diseases," said Goerger, who worked at with BRIN two summers ago on research to determine if Native Americans have an enriched allele in platelet receptors that cause an increased response resulting in a high rate of cardiovascular diseases.

"My time at USF has helped me gain confidence and believe that I can reach my dreams," she said.
 
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.