BELLEVUE, Neb. -- The Bellevue University softball team, under seventh-year head coach Michala Cimino, announced today the signing of six student-athletes to letters of intent to continue their academic and athletic careers at Bellevue beginning in the fall of 2018.

Ashley Young, Ashlyn Teran, Ellie Bliemeister, Kelsey Arnold, Kylee Sargent, and Lauren Jurek have all committed to further themselves at Bellevue as members of the 2018 softball signing class.

Bellevue is coming off their ninth National Tournament appearance in 2017. The Bruins concluded the season with a 50-16 overall record to go along with a 20-6 mark in league play where they claimed the NSAA Regular-Season Title and reached the Championship Series of the NSAA Tournament.

BU opens the 2018 season at the Cowtown Classic on Friday-Saturday, Feb. 9-10. Bruin fans will get their first chance to see the team in person on Wednesday, Mar. 14 when Bellevue hosts the University of Saint Mary (Kan.) in their home-opener at 4 p.m. in a non-conference double-header at the Lied Center.

3B/1B Ashley Young (Los Lunas, N.M./Valencia HS) – Club: New Mexico Sundancers

The daughter of Jeff and Jennifer Young, Ashley will be joining her older sister (Kayla Young) at Bellevue where she intends to major in Psychology. She was coached by her father, Jeff Young, at Valencia High School and by Paul Kohman with the New Mexico Sundancers.

As a junior, Young batted .505 with 13 extra base hits (7 home runs) and 49 RBI. She is already a three-time first team all-district selection (2015-17) while also being named the 2017 District Player of the Year, and a first team All-State selection.

LHP/OF Ashlyn Teran (Normangee, Texas/Normangee HS)

The daughter of Jason Teran, Ashlyn intends to major in Secondary Education at Bellevue. She was coached by Charles Hudgens at Normangee High School.

For her career Teran owns a 17-3 record in the circle with 158 strikeouts in 116.1 innings of work. At the plate she is a career .554 hitting with 64 extra-base hits (48 doubles), 107 RBI, and 53 stolen bases. She's earned numerous accolades including being named a two-time District MVP, a second team All-State selection (2017), and honorable mention All-State (2016).

SS/3B Ellie Bliemeister (Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln East HS) – Club: Nebraska Premier Gold

The daughter of Jeff and Roni Bliemeister, Ellis intends to major in accounting at Bellevue. She was coached by Lance Kingery at Lincoln East High School and by Josh Chronic with the Nebraska Premier Gold. She batted .426 with 27 extra-base hits and 38 RBI as a senior.

For her career Bliemeister hit .409 with 74 extra-base hits and 144 RBI at Lincoln East. She was a two-time Class A All-State selections and a 2016 second team Super-State honoree. She owns Lincoln East's program record for career doubles, ranks second all-time in hits, runs scored, and RBI, and is third all-time in home runs.

1B/OF Kelsey Arnold (Corona, Calif./Centennial HS) – Club: E1 Prospects

The daughter of Loren and Nichole Field, Kelsey intends to major in Education at Bellevue. She was coached by Krista Humphreys at Centennial High School and by Tony Juarez with E1 Prospects.

She led her club team in home runs this past summer and helped the team qualify for the Premier Girls Fastpitch Tournament in each of the last four years.

OF Kylee Sargent (Omaha, Neb./Millard South HS) – Club: Nebraska Quakes

The daughter of Dan and Allison Sargent, Kylee is still taking time to explore her options for a major at Bellevue. She was coached by Steve Kerkman at Millard South High School and by Steve Spreitzer with the Nebraska Quakes.

This past season Sargent hit .368 and was a part of the 2016 Class A State Championship Team at Millard South. She hit .389 with a .490 on-base percentage and 62 runs scored for the Nebraska Quakes, helping that team to the championship game in five of seven tournaments.

RHP Lauren Jurek (Bellevue, Neb./Bellevue West HS) – Club: Nebraska Quakes

The daughter of Leonard and Joan Jurek, Lauren intends to major in Biology at Bellevue. She was coached by Laura Kratochvil at Bellevue West High School and by Brett Vasek with the Nebraska Quakes. She helped the Nebraska Quakes to the 2016 ASA Gold 16-U National Championships in Broken Arrow, Okla.

A two-way player in high school Jurek owns a 40-47 career record in 472 innings in the circle while also possessing a .318 career batting average with 15 extra-base hits and 47 RBI. She went 12-10 during her senior season in 136 innings while batting .282 with five doubles and 12 RBI. She was an honorable mention All-State player in both 2015 and 2016.