SCHOLARSHIP WINNER — Minnesota State University-Mankato hitter Krista Hassing (11) elevates to crank a kill during collegiate volleyball action in Mankato in this 2016 file photo. Hassing was awarded a post-graduate scholarship for her efforts in the classroom and on the field of play, and her current efforts in the field of nursing. (Photo courtesy of Minnesota State University-Mankato Sports Department)

BLUE EARTH — Krista Hassing traded her volleyball uniform for hospital scrubs and instead of inflicting pain on an opponent, she tries to prevent it as a registered nurse.

All of the hours of studying on campus and on long bus rides to matches has paid off for the former Minnesota State University-Mankato Maverick volleyball player.

Her rigorous curriculum included anatomy and physiology, microbiology, epidemiology, diversity and culture, human development, pathophysiology and pharmacology in order to graduate, and then had to pass the state boards.

Hassing tacked on another recent accolade, earning an NCAA post-graduate scholarship for her efforts on the court and in the classroom.

“One of my friends won the honor a year ago, so I asked Jeff (Pribyl), our FAR (Facility Athletics Representative), if he could look into this scholarship for me,” Hassing said. “He did and I was chosen for it. It’s quite an honor to be one of 21 chosen among all of the student-athletes at all of the Division 1, Division 2 and Division 3 colleges across the country. The $10,000 is nice to use on my tuition.”

A FAR member is part of a college’s faculty who has been designated to serve as a liaison between the institution and the athletics department, as well as NCAA affairs.

To qualify for the NCAA postgraduate scholarship program, student-athletes must maintain at least a 3.2 grade point average and be nominated by their institution’s FAR.

Hassing checked off all of the boxes and finished her undergraduate studies with a 3.91 GPA.

The scholarships are awarded to student-athletes who excel academically and athletically and are at least in their final year of intercollegiate athletics competition.

The one-time non-renewable scholarships of $10,000 are awarded three times a year, corresponding to each sport season.

“This scholarship is solely for those student-athletes entering a graduate program,” Hassing said. “It’s nice to win it, even though I graduated a few years ago.”

Hassing played for the Mavericks from 2013-16 and was a three-time first-team all-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference selection, a two-time American Volleyball Coaches Association Division II honorable mention All-American, a two-time academic all-NSIC selection and a NSIC Myles Brand Award recipient. She also was was named Minnesota State’s Female Student-Athlete of the Year in 2016.

On the court, Hassing recorded 1,361 career kills, which is sixth in school history, and registered 357 career blocks.

Hassing, who majored in nursing, is the first Maverick to win the award after entering the work force prior to receiving the honor.

During the last five years she has worked as a nurse at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester in the cardiac surgery and heart/lung transplant intensive care unit. She is pursuing her doctorate in nursing practice at the University of Minnesota to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist and is focusing on her schooling and does not currently work. Hassing is in her second semester in her CRNA program. Her work schedule at Mayo includes 12-hour shifts three days per week.

“It’s a very rigorous program, but I will get through it,” Hassing said. “It’s easier now that I can strictly focus on being a student instead of having volleyball to contend with, along with my nursing program. I have good time management skills.

“I kept in good standing with my coaches and teachers. Playing volleyball was tough my last year when I had labs, but I made it through and then I had to study for my boards after I graduated, so there wasn’t a break. I wanted it this way so I could finish.”

This marks the 13th time a Maverick has received an NCAA post-graduate scholarship.

Other MSU student-athletes who earned this scholarship are Bernie Maczuga in football in 1970; Mike Medchill in wrestling in 1972; David Kruse in basketball in 1997; Joey Keillor in men’s cross country/track & field in 1998; Kelli Freeman in women’s basketball in 2005; Michael Robinson in football in 2011; Kendra Huettl in softball in 2012; Ellie Van De Steeg in volleyball in 2016; Adam Cooling in wrestling in 2017; Coley Ries in softball in 2018; Alex Goettl in football in 2019; and Kaylee Jensen in women’s track & field in 2022.

Hassing had an impressive career not only at Minnesota State, but also in high school. The Blue Earth Area graduate was a three-sport athlete.

Hassing was a standout player on the volleyball court as she was all-conference from her sophomore to senior years. She also finished her senior year with an all-state honorable mention selection.

In basketball, she made the all-conference team her final three years.

In addition, Hassing also was a track star as she made all-conference for five years, beginning as an eighth-grader. She was an all-state track member both her junior and senior years.

Hassing’s junior season ended with a second-place finish at the state track meet in the 800-meter run and as a member of the Bucs’ 4×400-meter relay. As a senior, she finished second in the 4×400 meter relay at state.

Hassing’s talent moved to the collegiate level as she made an immediate impact for the Mavericks from her freshman year on. She finished the season third on the team with 157 kills.

Her sophomore year is where she developed into go-to player of the team as she started every match and led the team with 380 kills. She also posted a team-high 94 total blocks in the season.

During her final season at MSU, she was one of the best volleyball players in the country as she received AVCA Division-II All-American honorable mention status. By the end of the 2015 season, she led the team in kills with 431, attacking percentage (3.2), and blocks with 115. She received first-team all-conference for the second year in a row.