Box Score Cristiani Claims Singles Crown, Pairs with Soffer to Earn Beavers' First ITA Regional Doubles Title

MIDDLETOWN, Conn.—Babson College sophomore Matia Cristiani (San Salvador, El Salvador) captured the singles title and paired with junior Olivia Soffer (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) to win the doubles draw at the ITA New England Championships on Sunday afternoon. 

Cristiani, who reached the semifinals in her ITA regionals debut last September, defeated second-seeded Sahana Raman of Middlebury in the semifinals, 6-2, 6-2, and followed it up with a 6-0, 6-3 victory over Sarah Youngberg of Wesleyan in the final. She becomes the second Babson player in as many seasons to win the ITA singles title following Soffer's triumph last year. 

The top-seeded doubles tandem in the draw after reaching the Division III title match last May, Cristiani and Soffer became the Beavers' doubles pairing to claim and ITA New England championship on Sunday. They downed Natalie Hu and Stephanie Woodbury of Tufts 8-3 in the semifinals and then cruised to a 6-0, 6-2 win over the second-seeded pairing of Raman and Amy Delman of Middlebury in the final. 

With Sunday's victories, Cristiani and Soffer qualified for the ITA Cup held in Rome, Ga., from October 12-16. Cristiani will compete in singles and the duo also will take part in doubles. 

Babson returns to action on October 6 when it competes in both the Bowdoin Invitational and the NEWITT Tournament.