CHICAGO, Ill. – North Park softball finished third in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) standings this season, qualifying for their first six-team CCIW Tournament in program history. The Vikings will face six seed Elmhurst University at Illinois Wesleyan's Inspiration Field at 2:00 PM CT on Thursday, May 11.

Head Coach Katie Anderson brings a young, talented squad to this year's league playoffs, as seven of the ten every day players are underclassmen. The Vikings sent four to the All-CCIW list; first teamers in Alyssa Malicki (UTL) and Emily Reczek (DP/C) and a pair of second teamers in Eden Baker (OF) and Kayla Lorenz (SS). Two other newcomers in Kathryn Keehn (3B/1B, .317 BA, 21 RBI) and Maya Lafnear (P, 3.31 ERA, 9 wins, 39 K's) bolster a well-rounded and energetic group of Vikings.

Elmhurst made the playoffs after scratching its way into the final slot. The Bluejays led the league with 59 walks in CCIW action, alongside a .967 fielding percentage. They're led by Hannah Dunk, a first-team All-CCIW selection who maintained a .367/.421/.523 slash line with 11 XBH and 25 runs.

CCIW PREVIEW