TROY, N.Y. - Though the possibility of a season remains unknown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) has announced its Division III Preseason All-Americans and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) student-athlete Nicki Phelps has been tabbed an Honorable Mention.

A junior long stick midfielder, he is one of four at his position to be tabbed Honorable Mention with one named on each of the First, Second and Third teams.

Phelps (McMurray, PA / Peters Township) is coming off a truncated 2020 season in which he played two games. He had seven ground balls and two caused turnovers, while winning five face offs. He had three ground balls and two caused turnovers against the University of Scranton and four ground balls at nationally-ranked Williams College. The game with the Ephs was Rensselaer's last because of the coronavirus. 

As a freshman in 2019, Phelps played all 17 games, starting 10. He scored once with three assists while picking up 43 ground balls and causing 16 turnovers. He also won 22 face offs. The aeronautical engineering major had at least two ground balls in 10 contests, including a season-high six against Union College in a regular season game. 

Rensselaer, which is coached by Scott Hackett-Dalgliesh, is ranked 17th in the 2021 Nike/US Lacrosse Magazine Division III Preseason Poll.