BISMARCK, N.D. -- Four players from the Bellevue University softball team earned first-team all-North Star Athletic Association honors in an announcement made today by the conference office. In addition, two Bruins were named to the second team and one was named to the NSAA Gold Glove Team. 

Bruins who earned first-team honors included: senior catcher Allison O'Driscoll, sophomore shortstop Ellie Bliemeister, junior outfielder Maricela Egan, and freshman third baseman Lauren Russell. Second-team selections included second baseman Ashley Young and sophomore pitcher Lauren Jurek. Egan was selected to the NSAA Gold Glove team. Senior outfielder Emily Mendick was Bellevue's recipient of the Champions of Character award. 

O'Driscoll, who appeared in 53 of the team's 56 games at the catching position, batted .355 on the year with 10 doubles, three home runs, and 26 RBIs.  

Bliemeister started all 56 games at shortstop and as the team's lead-off batter. She was fourth on the team with a .342 batting average and nine home runs. She collected 11 doubles and drove in 37 runs while scoring a team second-best 40 runs. 

Egan led the Bruins with a .375 batting average and 16 home runs while finishing second on the team with 56 RBIs. She also stole a team-high 13 bases on the season. She committed just two fielding errors in 130 chances on the season. Egan finished second in the league in RBIs (56), first in home runs (16), and fourth in slugging percentage (.726). 

Russell made an immediate impact as a freshman, batting .322 on the season with 13 home runs, 12 doubles, and a team and NSAA-leading 58 RBIs. She was fifth in the league with a .692 slugging percentage.  

Young was second on the team with a .362 batting average while leading the Bruins with 18 doubles. Her 18 doubles was the second-highest total in the league. She also added five home runs and 23 RBIs. 

Jurek finished the season with a 17-8 record in the circle. She recorded a team-leading 2.42 ERA and 166 strikeouts. At the plate, Jurek batted .286 with seven doubles, a home run, and eight RBIs. 

The Bruins ended the season with a 36-20 overall record and a 21-7 mark in the NSAA. BU finished second in the final NSAA regular-season standings. Bellevue established a school record in single-season home runs this season with 77. 

2021 North Star Athletic Association Softball All-Conference First Team
 

2021 North Star Athletic Association Softball All-Conference Second Team
 

* 2019 NSAA Softball All-Conference First Team
$ 2018 NSAA Softball All-Conference First Team
& 2018 NSAA Softball All-Conference Second Team

2021 North Star Athletic Association Softball Postseason Awards
Pitcher-of-the-Year:  Emily Smith – Valley City State (N.D.)
Co-Player-of-the-Year:  Makenzee Stone – Valley City State (N.D.) and Xitlali Lopez – Dakota State (S.D.)
Newcomer-of-the-Year:  Makenzee Stone – Valley City State (N.D.)
Coach-of-the-Year:  Mark Mattson – Valley City State (N.D.)

2021 North Star Athletic Association Champions of Character recipients
Bellevue (Neb.):  Emily Mendick
Dakota State (S.D.):  Xitlali Lopez
Dickinson State (N.D.):  Emilie Sicker
Mayville State (N.D.):  Hayle Boechler
Presentation (S.D.):  Haylie Vallery
Valley City State (N.D.):  Saige Forseth
Viterbo (Wis):  Caitlyn Almberg
Waldorf (Iowa):  Katie Chapman

2021 North Star Athletic Association Softball Gold Glove Team: