CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Senior shortstop
Ashleigh Tavaska (Jackson, N.J.) has been named Third Team All-America by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), the organization announced this evening at the NCAA Division II Championship banquet at the Tennessee Aquarium.
Tavaska, also an NFCA and D2CCA First Team All-Region pick the past two years, leads the CACC in home runs (10), RBI (59), slugging (.839) and OPS (1.294), and last month was selected as the CACC Player of the Year and to the league's First Team. Tavaska, who also ranks second in the circuit in hits (68), doubles (17) and triples and third in triples (7) runs (44) and batting average (.442), was also named to the All-CACC First Team in voting by the league's 12 coaches. She is fourth in Caldwell history in hits (259), fifth in home runs (22), eighth in batting average (.389), third in RBI (182), fifth in doubles (60), first in triples (16), sixth in runs (149), ninth in SB (45), first in total bases (417), fifth in slugging (.627). Tavaska was named CACC Player of the Week twice in 2025, and was the league's Student-Athlete of the Month in March.
Tavaska is the first softball Cougar to earn All-America status since 2022, when current teammate, outfielder
Jessica Klein (Trevose, Pa.) earned Third Team honors. Other Caldwell softball All-Americans include:
1999, Kim Mahoney, Second Team
2001, Kim Mahoney, Second Team
2001, Danielle Guerra, Second Team
2004, Corinne Reiser, Second Team
2008, Gina Capardi, First Team
2010, Kyrie Timbrook, Fist Team
2012, Kristen Knorr, Honorable Mention
2013, Alyssa Calderon, Second Team
2014, Kristen Knorr, Second Team
2014, Brielle Reighn, Second/Third Team
2015, Alyssa Calderon, Honorable Mention
2016, Marisa Monasseri, Second Team
2017, Marisa Monasseri, First Team
2017, Sydney Ponto, Third Team
2022,
Jessica Klein, Third Team
Fifty-six student-athletes from 43 different institutions have been voted to one of three 2025 NFCA Division II All-America teams. Tavaska is the only player from the East Region to earn this honor.
About Caldwell University
Founded in 1939 by the Sisters of Saint Dominic, Caldwell University promotes intellectual, spiritual, and aesthetic growth to a diverse population and welcomes all cultures and faith traditions. Inspired by St. Dominic de Guzman and our Catholic heritage, we transform students' lives by preparing them through the liberal arts and professional studies to think critically, pursue truth, and contribute to a just society.
