Taya Hopfauf brings veteran pop, elite reliability, and academic-star polish behind the plate
In the 2026 season, North Dakota catcher Taya Hopfauf was a steady middle-order contributor, hitting .274 with 5 home runs, 30 RBIs, and a team-high 168 at-bats while starting a program-record 207 games in her UND career. She also earned 2026 All-Summit League Honorable Mention and academic all-league recognition, which matches the kind of dependable, high-IQ player coaches love: durable, productive, and clearly trusted in big spots. For a team, she looks like a plug-in leader with real bat-to-ball value and power sneaky enough to matter.
