ST. LOUIS – Five University of Evansville softball players were honored with a spot on the Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete Team in an announcement by the league on Monday.  Representing the Purple Aces was Niki Bode, Taylor Howe, Kate Ridgway, Brooke Voss, and Jess Willsey.
 
Bode, a junior Nursing major, has a cumulative GPA of 3.552. Howe has recorded a 3.806 GPA as a Communication senior. Ridgway, who is majoring in Creative Technologies, has a perfect 4.000 GPA as a sophomore. Exercise Science major Voss holds a 3.832 GPA as a junior while senior Willsey has recorded a 3.605 GPA in Sports Communication.
 
To meet the criteria for the MVC's Scholar-Athlete team, student-athletes must be at least a sophomore academically and athletically.  Redshirt freshmen were not eligible. Nominees must have a 3.50 cumulative GPA, both as an undergraduate and graduate student, where applicable. Eligible nominees must compete in at least 75 percent of the institution's games played OR must start in at least 50 percent of the institution's games. For pitchers, a student-athlete must have made at least 17 appearances OR pitched 35 innings.