MEDFORD, MA (May 27, 2026) – Junior catcher
Heaven Oliva and first-year shortstop
Paige Murphy of the Tufts University softball team were announced today as National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III All-Americans.
Oliva was named to the first team at catcher, the first Tufts player selected as a first team All-American since 2023. Murphy is on the second team, and becomes the Jumbos' first freshman All-American also since 2023. This is the first All-American honor for both players.
Tufts is one of just five teams nationally to have multiple players on the top two NFCA All-American teams, joining Virginia Wesleyan, Texas Lutheran, Linfield and Trine.
Her first team award recognizes Oliva one of the top two catchers in the nation. In 43 games, she hit .403 with a team-high 12 home runs and 46 runs batted in. The 12 home runs are tied for 15th in Division III. Her 106 total bases, which include 12 doubles, are a top-40 national mark. Oliva ranked even better defensively, throwing out 15 would-be base stealers which is the fourth-best total in the nation.
Murphy is one of three shortstops on the first two All-American teams. She led the Jumbos with a .460 batting average and 17 doubles, while also producing five home runs, 38 runs scored and 35 rbis in the 43 games. Her 69 hits are a top 25 national mark, and she also accumulated more than 100 total bases (101). At shortstop, Murphy's 129 assists are the fourth-most in the nation.
In addition to their All-American honors, Oliva and Murphy were both first team NFCA All-Region picks and New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) All-Conference selections. Murphy was also the NFCA Region 1 and NESCAC Rookie of the Year.
With Oliva and Murphy batting 3-4 in the order and holding down key positions defensively, head coach
Lauren Ebstein's Jumbos won 31 games, earned the #1 seed in NESCAC for the regular-season and hosted an NCAA Regional at Spicer Field.
See the full NFCA Division III All-American Teams
HERE.
--JUMBOS--
