Elstein Honored as NCAA Elite 88 Award Recipient

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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Virginia senior Lauren Elstein was honored as the Division I field hockey recipient of the NCAA’s Elite 88 Award. The award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average at the site of a national championship competition. Elstein was given the award Thursday at the annual banquet for the Division I field hockey championship in Wiston-Salem, N.C.

Elstein, a Lawn resident for the 2009-10 academic year, will graduate in May with a degree in economics and a minor in Spanish from the University of Virginia. She is a three-time NFHCA Academic Team selection as well as a three-time ACC Honor Roll recipient. A team captain, Elstein has helped the Cavaliers to their first NCAA semifinal appearance since 1998 and a program record for wins in a season.

The NCAA established the Elite 88 Award to honor the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national-championship level while also having achieved the highest academic standard. It is presented to one student-athlete at the finals site for each of the NCAA’s 88 championships.

No. 2 Virginia plays at 4:30 p.m. Friday in the NCAA semifinals against third-seeded North Carolina. The game will be live streamed on NCAA.com.