Vandewater Set to Participate in European Championships for Israeli National Team
8/28/2025 10:10:00 AM | Softball
OMAHA, Neb. – Creighton Softball's Tara Vandewater will make her return to international play in two weeks as the sophomore catcher was named to the Israeli National Team for the Women's Softball European Championship from Prague, Czech Republic.
"We are very proud of Tara for earning the opportunity to compete with the Israeli National Team," said head coach Krista Wood. "To play on an international stage is a tremendous honor and a testament to her hard work and commitment. Experiences like this not only strengthen her development as a play but it also showcases the caliber of athletes we have within the Creighton softball program."
Israel is a part of Group A with Croatia and Poland, and will open up play on Sunday, September 7 at 4:30 a.m. CT against Poland. The Israeli's will then play Croatia later that day at 9:30 a.m. CT. The winner of Group A will then advance to the winners bracket to play the winner of Group D on Monday, September 8 at 9:30 a.m. CT.
Vandewater has four years of prior experience playing at the international level for the Israeli National Team. In 2022, she guided her country to a gold medal at the Maccabiah Games in Tel Aviv and later helped her squad to a sixth-place finish at the U22 European Softball Championships, where she collected a team-high 14 RBI in tournament play.
"Playing for Israel Softball the last few years has been nothing but a blessing," stated Vandewater. "Being able to travel around the world and play the game I love, while representing my family and heritage has forever changed me. I cannot wait to begin my first season as a Bluejay and represent Creighton Softball and the University at the highest level."
Hailing from Winterset, Iowa, Vandewater arrived at Creighton after appearing in 20 games and scoring a total of eight runs during the 2025 season with Oklahoma State.
A consensus top 50 recruit in the class of 2024, Vandewater played four years of club softball for the Nebraska Gold under coaches Beth Singleton and Craig Boyer. While with Nebraska Gold, Vandewater helped lead her team to a co-championship at the Tulsa Elite Summer Invite, as well as two third-place finishes at the Easton Rawlings Invitational Showcase and the Top Club National Championship.
During her 2022 club season, Vandewater boasted a .429 batting average with 15 home runs, tallying 55 hits, including 11 doubles and 44 RBI while maintaining a .978 fielding percentage.
Her success on the field garnered her an invited to the 2022 Sparkler All-Star Game, as well as to the IDT All-Star Game in 2021. Vandewater also earned USA Softball All-America recognition in 2018 and was a USA Elite Select Futures All-American in 2016.
"We are very proud of Tara for earning the opportunity to compete with the Israeli National Team," said head coach Krista Wood. "To play on an international stage is a tremendous honor and a testament to her hard work and commitment. Experiences like this not only strengthen her development as a play but it also showcases the caliber of athletes we have within the Creighton softball program."
Israel is a part of Group A with Croatia and Poland, and will open up play on Sunday, September 7 at 4:30 a.m. CT against Poland. The Israeli's will then play Croatia later that day at 9:30 a.m. CT. The winner of Group A will then advance to the winners bracket to play the winner of Group D on Monday, September 8 at 9:30 a.m. CT.
Vandewater has four years of prior experience playing at the international level for the Israeli National Team. In 2022, she guided her country to a gold medal at the Maccabiah Games in Tel Aviv and later helped her squad to a sixth-place finish at the U22 European Softball Championships, where she collected a team-high 14 RBI in tournament play.
"Playing for Israel Softball the last few years has been nothing but a blessing," stated Vandewater. "Being able to travel around the world and play the game I love, while representing my family and heritage has forever changed me. I cannot wait to begin my first season as a Bluejay and represent Creighton Softball and the University at the highest level."
Hailing from Winterset, Iowa, Vandewater arrived at Creighton after appearing in 20 games and scoring a total of eight runs during the 2025 season with Oklahoma State.
A consensus top 50 recruit in the class of 2024, Vandewater played four years of club softball for the Nebraska Gold under coaches Beth Singleton and Craig Boyer. While with Nebraska Gold, Vandewater helped lead her team to a co-championship at the Tulsa Elite Summer Invite, as well as two third-place finishes at the Easton Rawlings Invitational Showcase and the Top Club National Championship.
During her 2022 club season, Vandewater boasted a .429 batting average with 15 home runs, tallying 55 hits, including 11 doubles and 44 RBI while maintaining a .978 fielding percentage.
Her success on the field garnered her an invited to the 2022 Sparkler All-Star Game, as well as to the IDT All-Star Game in 2021. Vandewater also earned USA Softball All-America recognition in 2018 and was a USA Elite Select Futures All-American in 2016.
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