Entering her second season with the Illinois women's golf program in 2024-25, Hovland was a four-year letterwinner at South Alabama from 2017-21. She ended her collegiate career as one of the most decorated players in program history. She became the first Jaguar to be named Sun Belt Conference Women's Golfer of the Year in 2021, earning two medalist honors during the season to go along with five Top 5 finishes. Hovland also became the first golfer to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Regional Championship in program history. During her senior campaign, Hovland set program records for lowest 54-hole tournament score (-12, 204), birdies in a tournament (19) and matched a program record by firing a 66 at the USA Intercollegiate.

In her one season as a graduate assistant, Hovland helped guide the Jaguars to one tournament victory to go along with five Top 5 finishes as a team. She also coached two individual medalists on the season as well.

A native of Bergen, Norway, Hovland attended WANG Toppidrett Oslo and was a member at Oslo Golf Club. She helped the club win junior Norwegian titles in 2016 and 2017, and a senior title in 2016. Hovland was an individual medalist three times while with Oslo and placed fifth at the 2016 Junior Norwegian Championship.