INDIANAPOLIS - Graduate student Elli Kluegel has become the first-ever Loyola University Maryland women's lacrosse player to earn the IWLCA Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, as announced by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Monday.
 
"Elli has been the epitome of a student-athletes throughout her career at Loyola and I am beyond grateful to the IWLCA for recognizing that with this incredible honor," head coach Jen Adams said. "She is truly deserving of this award and I could not be more proud of Elli!"
 
Throughout her career, Kluegel maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average, as she was the lone Loyola student-athlete to graduate with a 4.0 in 2021, earning her degree in biology with an innovation and entrepreneurship minor. She then posted an unblemished GPA through her graduate program in emerging media.
 
A two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American, Kluegel was twice selected as the Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year for women's lacrosse and was also named the Patriot League's Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year for all sports in 2021. A four-time CoSIDA Academic All-District selection, the two-time All-Patriot League performer made Dean's List every semester of her undergraduate career and was a Presidential Scholarship recipient.
 
A three-time honoree on the Patriot League All-Academic Team and IWLCA Academic Honor Roll, she was a member of the Alpha Sigma Nu Jesuit, Phi Beta Kappa and Chi Alpha Sigma honor societies. She also served as the secretary for Omicron Delta Kappa – Loyola's chapter of the National Leadership Honor Society, was a member of Loyola's Leadership Academy and was a BioNavigators Ambassader – an organization aimed at introducing college students to the wide variety of career paths related to STEM.
 
A three-time team captain, Kluegel concluded her career ranked 12th on Loyola's career records for goals scored, with 156. She also assisted 23 others for 182 career points, while she added 80 ground balls, 15 draw controls and 41 caused turnovers in 83 games played. She also helped Loyola to three-straight Patriot League titles, an NCAA record for consecutive conferences games won and four-straight NCAA Tournament appearances throughout her career.