IWU’s Joldersma Repeats as CL’s Female Athlete-of-the-Year
JACKSON, Mich. – The Crossroads League announced on Thursday that Eva Joldersma of the Indiana Wesleyan volleyball program had been named its 2024-2025 Female Athlete-of-the-Year, marking a second straight CL Female Athlete-of-the-Year recognition for Joldersma.
Joldersma was the key cog in Indiana Wesleyan’s run to a second-straight NAIA National Championship, powering the Wildcats to a 37-2 record and an unblemished, 18-0, mark in Crossroads League play. In addition to the NAIA Championship, Joldersma helped lift IWU to a second-straight sweep of the CL regular season and tournament championships.
Joldersma once again collected a lengthy list of individual awards, being named the NAIA National Player of the Year, the NAIA Attacker of the Year, the Crossroads League Player of the Year and the CSC NAIA Volleyball Academic All-American of the Year. The junior was also touted as a First-Team NAIA All-American, a First-Team All-Crossroads League performer and a First-Team CSC Academic All-American.
The stats backed up those prestigious awards, as Joldersma racked up 568 kills on a hitting percentage of .296 and averaged 4.4 kills, 2.4 digs, 0.5 blocks and 0.3 service aces per set to go with 17 double-double performances.
“Eva is a gifted student-athlete that has helped IWU volleyball become a dominating force on the court,” said Indiana Wesleyan head volleyball coach Candace Moats. “She performs at an extremely high skill level, leading our offense with kills and blocks every match. However, it would not be enough to just talk about her athleticism on the court. Eva leads our team culture through her love for her teammates, her devotion for hard work and passion to be the best she can be, so others succeed, as well as, making sure God is honored! She constantly builds a trust that others count on, and the coaching staff applauds. I am a better coach because Eva has been a part of IWU Volleyball.”
The Crossroads League Female Student-Athlete of the Year award is nominated and voted on by the 10 Athletic Directors from the Crossroads League and announced each summer.
Crossroads League Female Student-Athlete of the Year Recipients
2024-2025 – Eva Joldersma, Indiana Wesleyan (volleyball)
2023-2024 – Eva Joldersma, Indiana Wesleyan (volleyball)
2022-2023 – Addy Wiley, Huntington (cross country/track and field)
2021-2022 – Erin Oleksak, Marian (soccer/track and field)
2020-2021 – Erin Oleksak, Marian (soccer/track and field)
2019-2020 – Erin Oleksak, Marian (soccer/track and field), Hannah Stoffel, Huntington (cross country/track and field)
2018-2019 – Bethany Balcer, Spring Arbor (soccer)
2017-2018 – Bethany Balcer, Spring Arbor (soccer)
2016-2017 – Bethany Balcer, Spring Arbor (soccer)
2015-2016 – Bethany Balcer, Spring Arbor (soccer)
2014-2015 – Alex Berends, Taylor (cross country/track and field)
2013-2014 – Geandra Almeida, Bethel (golf)
2012-2013 – Paige Smith, Indiana Wesleyan (basketball)
2011-2012 – Kelsey Pritchard, Taylor (volleyball)