May 21

DIV 2

MONSON AND BALTS NAMED AS NSIC HONOR STUDENT-ATHLETES

The University of Minnesota Duluth had two of its student athletes named as Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Honor Student Athlete Award Winners. senior defensive tackle Dan Monson and senior setter Emily Balts were this years winners from UMD. The member institutions of the NSIC nominate one male and one female student-athlete for the Britton and Kelly Awards. The nominees must meet the following criteria: a grade point average of 3.5 or better (on a 4.0 scale); evidence of academic excellence beyond the minimum grade point average (scholarship prizes and other academic recognition), evidence of participation in the life of the institution, and evidence of participation in at least two-thirds of the varsity events of the individual's primary sport. The award is voted on by the NSIC Faculty Athletic Representatives. The 32 student-athletes nominated for the NSIC's two most prestigious awards will also be honored as NSIC Male and Female Honor Student Athletes of the Year at their respective institutions. Alex Goettl (Minnesota State University) and Maggie Knier (Minnesota State University) will each receive a $3,000 post-graduate scholarship.

Dan Monson capped off his first year of full-time starting duty on the University of Minnesota Duluth on the defensive front by being selected to the 2019 Don Hansen All-American third team, as well as being named to the All-Super Region Four First Team, CoSIDA Academic All-American Second Team and NSIC All-Conference First Team Defense and maintained a 3.75 GPA while pursuing a degree in civil engineering at UMD. Monson, a 6-2, 240-pound  junior tackle out of Inver Grove Heights, Minn., was credited with 26 total tackles — including 20 solo stops — this past fall with 8.0 of those resulting in lost yardage. The 2019 All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference first team honoree also recovered one fumble and blocked one kick for the NSIC North Division champion Bulldogs.

Senior setter Emily Balts, from Loretto, Minn., (one of two recipients for the E.L. "Duce" award earlier this year) is a chemical engineering major with a certificate in business administration.  Balts has a cumulative grade point average of 3.9 while competing on the UMD volleyball team as a four year starter.  The senior setter left the volleyball program ranked fourth in all-time career assists and was a two time All-American.  Balts was a 2018 and 2019 CoSIDA Division II Academic All-American and a 2018-19 NSIC Myles Brand award recipient.  In addition, honors include UMD Swenson College of Science and Engineering Dean's List honoree (all semesters) and UMD Labovitz School of Business Dean's List honoree (all semesters). Balts was named as a Third Team All-American this season by the American Volleyball Coaches Association and finished out her career leading all setters across all divisions in both assists (5,559) and assists per set (12.22) over their career. With that total, Balts was able to move into fourth all time at UMD, moving past Greta Iisakka (5,537). She had 1,378 total assists this season, which came out to a 12.19 per set average, sitting second in DII and across all divisions. She lead the team to a .247 hitting clip on the year. She was also able to nab 73 kills (highest of her career) while clipping at a .314 efficiency (highest of her career). She grabbed 248 (2.19 per set, both total and per set highest of career) digs this season, totaling out to 858 while with the Bulldogs. She was able to grab 27 block assists this season, giving her a 171 career total. Balts has played every set for the Bulldogs this season, with 43 coming against regionally ranked opponents and 59 coming against top 25 ranked teams in the nation this season. In those 43 sets, Balts had 516 assists, which comes to a 12.00 average per set. Along with that total, Balts had 28 kills, six aces, 87 digs (2.02/set) and 10 blocking assists. In matches against top 25 nationally ranked teams, she had 699 assists, coming out to an 11.85 average. She also had 35 kills, seven aces, 132 digs (2.24/set) and 15 blocking assists. She was awarded with four the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Setter of the Week awards this season, was named to First Team NSIC All-Conference, NCAA Central Regional All-Tournament Team and D2CCA All-Region Second Team.

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