GREENWOOD, Ind. – Three Ramblers of Loyola Chicago softball were named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team, announced by the organization on Tuesday, May 26. Junior Nat Lesnicki, senior Sierra Sass and sophomore Averi Vander Woude each earned the first CSC honors of their careers.
The 2026 Academic All-District® Softball Teams recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. Elected honorees must hold at least a 3.5 GPA while playing a significant role in the team's success.
With a 4.0 GPA, Lesnicki was selected as a CSC Academic All-America® finalist and advanced to the national ballot to be announced mid-June. The criminal justice & criminology major was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Conference First Team and Academic Team earlier this spring. Hailing from Plainfield, Ill., Lesnicki finished her junior campaign as the team leader in batting average (.374), hits (58), doubles (11), slugging percentage (.516) and OPS (.966). She also had the team-high 314 putouts and nine double plays.
Sass earned A-10 All-Tournament Team honors after helping lead the Ramblers to a championship appearance and runners-up finish. Out of Orland Park, Ill., Sass wrapped up her collegiate career with a 3.57 GPA as a multimedia journalism major. She was first on the team in stolen bases (16) and runs scored (32) and made 45 starts at center field.
In a standout season for Loyola, Vander Woude earned her second-ever postseason accolade after being named to the conference All-Tournament Team. She was second in batting average (.341), hits (47) and walks (17). The Frankfort, Ill. native made 47 starts in 50 games played and totaled 21 RBI in her sophomore season. She finished with a .971 fielding percentage at right field and only accumulated two errors all year.
Loyola capped an iconic season with the program's first A-10 Regular Season Championship, its fourth straight conference tournament appearance and the Coach and Rookie of the Year awards.
First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced June 16, 2025, after being voted on by CSC members.
