Three Jumbos on NFCA Softball Division III Watchlist

MEDFORD, MA (April 2, 2026) - Tufts University Softball first-year Avery Kanouse, junior Heaven Oliva and first-year Paige Murphy are among the 180 student-athletes from across the country who were named to the 2026 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III Pitcher and Player of the Year watchlist on Thursday afternoon.

The list is separated into the 10 NCAA regions and is compiled by the elected members of the NFCA Division III All-America Committee, with one head coach representing each of the 10 NCAA regions.

Head coach Lauren Ebstein's Tufts team is off to a good start at 15-3 overall (4-0 NESCAC), and is ranked #11 in the most recent NFCA Division III poll. Two of Tufts' three losses have been against current #1-ranked and undefeated Virginia Wesleyan University and versus #5 Texas Lutheran University (with whom Tufts split a double-header).

Kanouse, Oliva and Murphy have been key contributors to Tufts' strong start. One of three first-year pitchers who are carrying the load in the circle for the Jumbos, Kanouse is 6-1 with a 2.05 earned run average in 44.1 innings. Oliva, who was one of the team's top returning bats and is a versatile defender who catches and plays third base, is hitting .393 in 18 games with five home runs and 20 runs batted in. Murphy has had an outstanding start to her collegiate career as the Jumbos' shortstop, and is hitting .469 with two home runs and 15 rbis. 

Voted on by the NFCA's Division III All-America Committee, the 2026 NFCA Player and NFCA/Portolite Pitcher of the Year winners will be announced on May 27 prior to the start of the NCAA Division III World Series. Student-athletes do not have to be on this watchlist to be considered for end-of-season awards, which will be voted on by the members of the NFCA Division III All-America Committee. To be eligible to be selected for NFCA Player and NFCA/Portolite Pitcher of the Year honors, a student-athlete's head coach must be a member.

The NFCA Player of the Year award was created in 2016 to honor outstanding softball achievement in NCAA Division III. In 2019, the Association expanded the award to include separate Player and Pitcher of the Year honors.

See the full 2026 NFCA DIII Watchlist HERE.