LA MIRADA, Calif. --- After excelling both in the classroom and in the circle throughout her senior season, DJ Symons was named the PacWest Conference Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Symons, a senior from Seattle, Washington, graduated this past May with a 3.94 cumulative GPA in public health. She balanced excellence in the classroom with one of the most accomplished pitching seasons in program history, helping lead Biola to an NCAA Division II West Regional Site Championship and the program's first-ever NCAA DII Super Regional appearance.

"Beyond her accomplishments, DJ is simply an incredible person," stated head coach Kristin Halte. "She is a great teammate, a positive influence on those around her, and someone who consistently leads with humility and integrity. We are grateful to see her recognized for the dedication she brings to every aspect of being a student-athlete. Extremely proud of DJ and the way she represents everything our program stands for."

The left-handed pitcher earned numerous accolades during her final season, highlighted by PacWest Pitcher of the Year honors. She was also a First Team All-PacWest selection, earned Second Team All-West Region recognition from both the NFCA and D2CCA, was named CSC Academic All-District and collected PacWest Pitcher of the Week honors twice.

Symons dominated the circle throughout the 2026 season, leading the PacWest in wins, complete games, saves, innings pitched and strikeouts. She finished the year with a 20-15 record, a 2.47 ERA and seven saves across 48 appearances and 27 starts. She recorded 154 strikeouts in 203.2 innings pitched, threw 17 complete games and four shutouts, and held opponents to a .247 batting average.

Her remarkable season etched her name into the Biola record book. Symons set the program's NCAA Division II-era single-season records for wins (20), appearances (48) and innings pitched (203.2), while tying the Division II-era single-season record with seven saves.

Symons' impact extended beyond individual accomplishments. She played a pivotal role in one of the most successful seasons in Biola softball DII history, helping the Eagles capture the NCAA West Regional Championship and advance to the NCAA Super Regional for the first time in program history.

Academically, Symons was equally impressive. Her 3.94 GPA earned her CSC Academic All-District recognition and ultimately the PacWest Conference's highest academic honor for softball student-athletes, Scholar-Athlete of the Year.