MEDFORD, MA (November 11, 2025) -- The Tufts University women's basketball team comes into the 2025-26 season in very unfamiliar territory that many of the previous seasons in program history. When the D3hoops.com Top 25 poll was released recently, six New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) teams were either ranked or receiving votes in the preseason poll, but Tufts was not one of them.
For a team that has made 14 NCAA appearances since the 2008 season, and 12 NCAA Sweet 16 berths as well in that time span, it certainly is a new position to be the "underdogs" coming into a season, but that's where the Jumbos will start in the first season under the direction of new head coach
Meredith Mesaris.
No stranger to the Division III level and NESCAC, Mesaris has proved to be a winner at every spot in her playing and coaching career, as she was a standout All-American at the University of Scranton before making the NCAA Tournament in her first two seasons as a head coach at Vassar College in the Liberty League. She is excited to continue to build on the proud past set by previous head coachs in Carla Berube and Jill Pace.
"I mean, I would say this is a dream job," said Mesaris. "Obviously, being in the NESCAC previously as an assistant, knowing how great the competition is, and it is one of the best in the country. So wanting to get back to that to work with this type of student athlete and compete against this really good competition has always been a dream of mine. And honestly, I can't really believe that I'm here."
The excitement that Mesaris has shown on the floor with her new team has blended nicely with a group that is ready to step into some new roles along with a strong incoming freshman group. The word though that continued to come up while speaking with Mesaris was competitive. She said this was one of the most competitive groups she's been around, that they want to hold each other accountable to be able to succeed together.
"They all are in the gym all the time, and they want to get better every single day, which has been really fun to be a part of," said Mesaris. "I also think it just speaks to the culture that's kind of been in place at Tufts Women's Basketball with how close-knit this group is, and they want to see each other succeed while also holding each other accountable. It's a really special thing."
The Jumbos did graduate a large group of contributors last season, while last season's NESCAC Rookie of the Year
Monet Witherspoon has also moved on. In all, the top four players in games started do not return this season, but Mesaris is focused on the leadership that did return and the energy the newcomers that have brought a lot so far. "It's kind of like a fresh slate for this whole group," said Mesaris. "I think our senior
Sarah Crossett has done a pretty good job of kind of taking control over everything. And honestly, our underclassmen have been doing a really great job too of just kind of coming in, being vocal, not being scared, being pretty fearless. And really excited to see what
Annie Ryan has in store for us. She's really kind of stepped up and she's really locked into wanting to be good and successful this year."
When asked about what identity the team would have in 2025-26, she was quick to mention that she wants to play a fun, fast brand of basketball, where the players play for one another. "Definitely want to play fast," said Mesaris. "As you look at our roster, we don't have a whole lot of size anyway. So we're going to kind of play to our strengths and have a lot of opportunities for our guards to score in multiple ways. And we just we have a lot of versatility, which is something that I love and I'm really excited about."
In the end though, the goals are the goals at Tufts and she was confident that this team will be one that's fun to watch and brings it every night. "They're really high energy," said Mesaris." They're always having fun. I also think we're extremely competitive group. So I think you'll see them doing a lot of those little things that, you know, diving on the floor, helping people up, crashing the boards, all that good stuff. And I think it's just going to be a really exciting season with all these different personalities that we have.
A position by position breakdown is below:
GUARDS
The Jumbos bring back four players to the guard rotation this season, though three-year starters
Sofia Gonzalez and
Annika Decker have since graduated. Despite that, junior
Stella Galanes returns after a breakout second half of the season for the Jumbos. The 5-8 combo guard started 11 games as a sophomore, playing in 24 while averaging 7.0 points per game on the season. That average though skyrocketed in the second half, posting nearly 12 points per game in NESCAC tilts while shooting nearly 40 percent from three-point land. Her ability to guard as well will be key this season.
Senior
Annie Aspesi also returns for her final season in the brown and blue, and her sound defensive presence and steady offensive play should be vital for the Jumbos. Aspesi played in 17 games for Tufts, starting once, while battling injuries through half of the season. Junior
Annie Ryan has had a strong camp and has taken a larger leadership role this season. Ryan is a strong shooter, gritty defender and earned minutes last season due to her ability to make other around her better. Also back in the guard rotation is sophomore
Claire Kolkhorst got a late start as a first-year due to some injuries, but when on the floor she brings a ton of energy and a smooth shooting stroke from behind the arc.
The coaching staff is excited about the incoming first-year group this season, and thinks it could be group that brings a ton on and off the floor. Guard
Abby Congdon has already taken a lead role for the squad at the point guard position, as her ability to score, pass and defend could bring big things for the West Hartford native. Classmate
Tessa Lozner also is a smooth, gritty guard that has a nice inside/outside game who is a strong passer and great leader for the Jumbos.
Maddy Steel is another scoring guard that the Jumbos are excited about this season, as she is a great shooter and should stretch the defense when she's on the floor.
FORWARDS
Tufts front court group returning hasn't played a lot of basketball during their tenures outside of senior
Sarah Crossett, but its a versatile set of players that is able to step out and shoot, defend, rebound and run the floor well. Crossett is the lone front-court player that started a game for the Jumbos last season, as she played in 12 games while starting nine times. Crossett averaged 7.6 points per game as a junior, and has been a starter during the majority of her career in the front court. Solid around the net, Crossett is a good passer and can step out and shoot it as well. Crossett also pulled in 4.2 rebounds per game last season.
Junior
Hope Nardone played in 14 games as a sophomore and is an athletic, stretch forward that can run the floor well and a solid deep threat. Sophomore
Siobhan Stapleton had some bright spots during her first year, scoring five points in 31 minutes against Trinity College last year and also pulled in six boards in just 18 minutes against the Bantams in the regular season. Stapleton is a strong rebounder and defender, and is also solid down low in the post.
Classmate
Abi Stone is another sophomore that played limited minutes last season, but plays with an edge and high motor. She is good around the basket, going to the line 13 times in her 11 games of action in just 58 minutes of action. She could be a name to watch up front for the Jumbos.
Tufts has just one first-year forward in
Hazel Nelson, who also is on the Tufts volleyball team. Nelson is very athletic and should be a solid defender and rebounder with upside as a scorer for the Jumbos once she joins the squad.
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Tufts will start its season at the University of Chicago Saturday at 5 p.m. against Marian University, playing the host Maroons Sunday at 2 p.m.
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