EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Evansville women's soccer player Emily Griebel received a rare honor this week when she named the Missouri Valley Conference Elite 18 Award recipient at the Women's Soccer Tournament Championship.
 
Griebel, a sophomore midfielder from Peoria, Illinois, is only the fourth Purple Ace to ever earn the prestigious distinction (Swimmer Christina Schmidgall – 2011, Golfer Quinn Vilneff – 2013, Swimmer Abby Smith – 2014).
 
"Emily is a tremendous young woman, and she has the highest character values one could have," said Emily's head coach Krista McKendree. "I am thrilled for her to be recognized in this fashion. It is remarkable what some of these young student-athletes are able to do with the demands placed upon them. Emily is someone who will be successful in anything she does and I am happy she is a part of our program."  
 
The Elite 18 Award was modelled after the NCAA Elite 88 Academic Recognition Award Program and was installed in the MVC in the fall of 2010. The Elite 18 Award honors the highest achievement in academics and athletics by a student-athlete in each MVC-sponsored sport. The award is bestowed to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average while competing at the finals at each of the MVC's 18 team championships.
 
Emily has a perfect 4.0 cumulative GPA in exercise science and desires to become a physical therapist. Griebel played in nine matches this year for UE and took five shots (one on goal). This one honor is something that Emily is very thankful for.
 
"It means a lot to represent UE, the women's soccer program and my other teammates the best I can," said Griebel. "I couldn't have success without the support of my teammates and coaches, both on and off the field."