Ava Tepe

Biography

Fresh off a strong collegiate playing career at Middle Tennessee (2022-25), Ava Tepe enters her first season as a graduate assistant coach for the Ball State softball program in 2026. A four-year starter for the Blue Raiders, Tepe played for then-MTSU associate head coach Helen Peña during the team’s magical run in the 2023 season. A starter in 51 games at catcher that season, Tepe helped guide MTSU to a program record 42 wins, the program’s second-ever Conference USA tournament title and a berth in the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional Final. Middle Tennessee earned three wins in regional play, including knocking off host and fifth-seeded Alabama to force a decisive seventh game. While the Crimson Tide won the final contest by a score of 1-0 and eventually advanced to the Women’s College World Series, the Blue Raiders’ three regional wins were the most by a Conference USA team since 2014. Overall, Tepe finished her career as the program’s all-time leader in times hit by a pitch (40). She compiled a .219 career batting average with 12 total home runs, six each in her junior and senior seasons. One of those home runs, a two-run blast to center field, came in MTSU’s 4-3 victory over the Pena-led Cardinals on Feb. 28, 2024. One of three catchers at MTSU her freshman season, Tepe became the everyday catcher for the Blue Raiders a month into the regular season. From there, she would not leave the lineup, starting in 182 of the 188 games she played for the Blue Raiders, including time at ca