MINNEAPOLIS -- Augustana volleyball libero Erika Bute has been named the 2019 Minnesota Sports Awards Girls High School Athlete of the Year. Bute was one of three finalists named on Oct. 29 and competed in volleyball, basketball and softball at Alden-Conger High School. 
 
The Alden, Minnesota, native earned the honor at the third annual Minnesota Sports Awards, a gala that celebrates the best of sports in Minnesota over the past year. The evening's awards show featured appearances by some of Minnesota's best-known athletes and sports legends, and a new class of inductees into the Star Tribune's Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame.
 
After a stellar athletic career in high school, Bute committed to Augustana to play volleyball. While at Alden-Conger, Bute tallied over 2,000 assists and over 1,000 digs. She was a four-year letter winner and a two-year captain. Bute was also named to an all-area team three times. 
 
During her freshman season at Augie, she earned a spot on the All-NSIC Second-Team and earned NSIC Defensive Player of the Week honors twice. Bute played in every set and recorded a team-high 583 total digs (5.40 digs per set) which finished second in the NSIC. 
 
The boy's high school athlete of the year, men's and women's college athlete of the year, professional athlete of the year and coach of the year were among the other awards being presented on Wednesday night inside the Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, The Depot in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 
 
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