HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, Fla. – Elle Nichols became the first player in Horizon League women’s or men’s history to be named the Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year in the same season, while Alyssa Albright was named to the All-League team, as voted on by the league’s seven head coaches and announced the Horizon League on Thursday.

Nichols, a native of Okemos, Mich., is the first player in program history to be named the conference player of the year and freshman of the year. She leads the Horizon League with a 76.64 stroke average and is looking to set Oakland’s single-season stroke average record. Nichols has collected three top-5 finishes including earning medalist honors at the Golden Grizzlies Invitational on Sept. 28. She holds the second-best 36-hole tournament score (145) and third-best 54-hole tournament score (224). Nichols is also a two-time Horizon League Golfer of the Week honoree.

Albright, a native of Lansing, Mich., earns all-League honors for the first time in her career. She ranks sixth in the Horizon League with a 78.76 stroke average. Albright finished tied for 11th at the Golden Grizzlies Invitational and a 12th-place finish at the IPFW Spring Classic. She shot her best round of the season at the GCU Invitational with a final round 73 (+1) to card a 231.

Nichols, Albright and the entire women’s golf team begins the Horizon League Championship on Friday from Mission Inn Golf and Tennis Resort on Friday with live scoring available at GolfStat.com.

Horizon League Women’s Golf All-League Team
Alyssa Albright, Oakland
Emily Dixon, Youngstown State
Allyson Hackman, Cleveland State
Kelsey Jensen, UIC
Elle Nichols, Oakland
Avery Steen, Green Bay
Sarah Thompson, Detroit

Women’s Freshman of the Year: Elle Nichols, Oakland
Women’s Player of the Year: Elle Nichols, Oakland
Women’s Coach of the Year: Carol Rhoades, UIC