MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Junior forward Vicki Bendus of the top-ranked Mercyhurst College women's hockey team was the women's hockey recipient of the NCAA Elite 88 Award, an honor given to the student-athlete with the highest grade point average participating at an NCAA Championship event. 

Bendus received the award at the NCAA Women's Frozen Four Champions Banquet, held at TCF Bank Stadium on the campus of the University of Minnesota Thursday evening.

Bendus has a 3.937 grade point average and is currently pursuing a major in biology / pre-medicine at Mercyhurst College. 

On the ice, Bendus has been one of the team's top players all season. She is tied for the team lead in points with 65 and ranks in the top-5 in several national categories. Most recently, Bendus was named a top-three finalist for the 2010 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award in addition to College Hockey America Player of the Year and a First Team All-CHA selection.

Bendus and the Lakers will take on Cornell on Friday, March 19 in the semifinal round of the 2010 NCAA Women's Frozen Four in Minneapolis, Minn.