Four bearcats named Volleyball Academic All-District

Four Willamette student-athletes have been named to the 2025-26 Academic All-District® Women's Volleyball Team. Leina Chu, Katey Cramer, Dream Takemoto, and Chelsea Velez all earned the Academic All-District honor.

The 2025-26 Academic All-District® Women's Volleyball teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes women's volleyball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.

Players nominated for the CSC All-District Team must have competed in 90 percent or started in at least 66 percent of the institution's matches while maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale

Leina Chu: CSC Academic All-District

Chu played a pivotal role for Willamette during the 2025-26 volleyball season, participating in all 24 matches. As the team's primary setter, she led the squad with 843 set assists, showcasing her ability to orchestrate the offense effectively. Chu also contributed 211 digs, demonstrating her defensive capabilities.

In a match against Whitworth on October 17, Chu recorded a season-high 61 set assists, highlighting her playmaking skills. She also delivered a strong performance against Webster University on August 30, tallying 41 set assists and 12 digs, contributing to a hard-fought victory.

Chu's service game was another asset, as she accumulated 18 service aces throughout the season. Notably, she achieved three aces in a straight-sets win over Pacific Union on September 5. Her all-around contributions were further evidenced by her 26 kills and nine total blocks, adding depth to her performance on the court.

Overall, Leina Chu's leadership and consistent play were instrumental in Willamette's competitive season, as she led the team in set assists and provided valuable contributions in multiple facets of the game.

Katey Cramer: CSC Academic All-District

Cramer played a pivotal role for Willamette during the 2025-26 volleyball season, participating in 21 of the team's 24 matches. As a key offensive contributor, Cramer led the team in total attack attempts, amassing 716 over the course of the season. Her efforts resulted in 235 kills, showcasing her ability to consistently challenge opposing defenses.

Cramer demonstrated her offensive prowess in several standout performances. On September 19, against Whitman, she recorded a season-high 23 kills on 58 attempts, achieving a hitting percentage of .328. This performance was complemented by two service aces and five digs, contributing to her total of 26 points in the match. Another notable outing came on November 7 against Lewis and Clark University, where she achieved a hitting percentage of .500 with 17 kills on 28 attempts, marking one of her most efficient matches of the season.

Defensively, Cramer contributed 100 digs and 14 total blocks, including two solo blocks, throughout the season. Her all-around play was further highlighted by her performance on September 27 against Pacific Lutheran University, where she recorded 16 digs and three service aces, adding to her season total of 12 aces.

Cramer's consistent performance and leadership on the court were instrumental in Willamette's competitive season, as she accumulated a total of 252 points, underscoring her significant impact on the team's overall success.

Dream Takemoto: CSC Academic All-District

Takemoto played a pivotal role for Willamette during the 2025-26 volleyball season, participating in all 24 matches. As a defensive specialist, Takemoto led the team with an impressive 453 digs, showcasing her consistency and reliability on the court. Her defensive prowess was evident in multiple matches, including a standout performance against Bluffton University on August 30, where she recorded 27 digs.

Takemoto also contributed significantly from the service line, tallying 28 service aces throughout the season. She demonstrated her serving strength in a match against Webster University on August 30, where she delivered four aces, helping her team secure a victory. Additionally, she provided 75 set assists, further highlighting her versatility and ability to support her teammates in various aspects of the game.

In a series against Lewis and Clark University on November 7 and 8, Takemoto combined for five service aces and 28 digs, underscoring her impact in back-to-back matches. Her all-around contributions were crucial in Willamette's competitive season, as she consistently delivered strong performances that anchored the team's defensive efforts.

Takemoto was selected as CSC Academic All-America® finalists and will advance to the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced January 13, 2026.

Chelsea Velez: CSC Academic All-District

Velez played a pivotal role for Willamette during the 2025-26 volleyball season, participating in 23 of the team's 24 matches. Over the course of the season, Velez accumulated 113 kills, 30 service aces, and 216 digs, showcasing her versatility on the court. Her contributions were highlighted by several standout performances.

In a match against George Fox University on September 16, Velez recorded 12 kills, two service aces, and eight digs, contributing significantly to the team's 3-1 victory. She also delivered a strong performance against Whitman on September 19, where she tallied 17 kills, two aces, and 17 digs, amassing a total of 19 points in the match.

Velez's service game was particularly effective, as demonstrated by her four aces against Pacific Lutheran University on September 27 and another four aces against Puget Sound on October 25. Her defensive skills were on display throughout the season, with a notable 16-dig performance against Cal Lutheran on September 5.

Overall, Velez's season was marked by her ability to impact the game in multiple facets, contributing to Willamette's efforts both offensively and defensively. Her consistent play and key performances were integral to the team's competitive presence throughout the season.