CWSA Release

BABSON PARK, Mass.—Babson College senior Matia Cristiani (San Salvador, El Salvador) was selected as the Division III Honda Athlete of the Year finalist for women's tennis on Wednesday in an announcement made by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of the Collegiate Women's Sports Awards (CWSA). 

The Honda Award finalists are recognized in 11 Division II and Division III NCAA-sanctioned sports; basketball, cross country, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field and volleyball. All Honda Sport Award finalists from Division II and Division III will vie for the prestigious 2026 Honda Athlete of the Year award in their respective divisions, presented live on CBS Sports Network on Monday, July 27 at 7 p.m., in New York City. 

Cristiani is Babson's second Honda Award finalist in department history following former teammate Olivia Soffer's '25 selection last June. 

The most decorated player in Babson women's tennis history, Cristiani is a three-time NCAA champion and eight-time Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-America selection. She put the finishing touches on one of the greatest individual seasons in Division III history on Memorial Day by becoming the Beavers' first NCAA singles champion with a 6-1, 6-1 triumph over Lia Melvin of Johns Hopkins University. 

Cristiani, who was selected as the NEWMAC Player of the Year while earning all-conference recognition in both singles and doubles for the fourth year in a row,  finished the 2025-26 campaign with a perfect 37-0 record in singles. She registered 34 straight-set victories while dropping just four sets across 41 matches on the year, captured her second ITA New England Championships singles title, became the program's first ITA Cup singles champion, and was tabbed as both the ITA Northeast Region and Division III Senior Player of the Year. 

In addition to her success in singles, Cristiani paired with first-year Sandra Sikharuldize (Kyiv, Ukraine) to reach the final of the NCAA doubles championship while setting new single-season program records with 37 singles, 38 doubles and 75 combined victories. She also led Babson to its first New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament title since 2014 and helped the Beavers advance to the NCAA Tournament semifinals for the first time in school history back in May. 

"I'm so grateful to be recognized as one of the finalists for the Honda Athlete of the Year," said Cristiani. "Thank you to my coaches, teammates, and family who have supported me throughout my tennis career. I am so proud of my teammates and everything we have accomplished together. I'm so lucky to be surrounded by an amazing group of women who push and inspire me to do my best every day, both on and off the court. It's an honor to be a finalist for an award that recognizes a group of talented female athletes."

Cristiani, who paired with Soffer to capture back-to-back NCAA doubles championships in 2024 and 2025, has rewritten the record book over the last four seasons at Babson. She concluded her remarkable career with a 117-4 record in singles, a 121-11 mark in doubles and a combined record of 238-15, passing Soffer as the program's all-time leader in all three categories. Additionally, Cristiani was a perfect 63-0 in dual-match singles competition with every victory coming at either number one or number two, and concluded her career with 33 straight wins at number one doubles dating back to March 2025. 

The 2023 ITA Northeast Region Rookie of the Year and 2024 ITA Division III and Northeast Region Player to Watch, Cristiani qualified for the NCAA singles and doubles championships in each of her four seasons at Babson. She advanced to the NCAA doubles final in each of her four seasons, reached the singles semifinals in 2024 and earned All-America honors in both singles and doubles in four straight seasons. 

"Matia is incredibly deserving of being named a finalist for the Division III Honda Athlete of the Year Award," commented second-year Babson head coach Emma Hall. "While her remarkable accomplishments on the court speak for themselves, her character is what really sets her apart. As a captain, she led our team to its first-ever Final Four appearance while setting an incredible standard through her leadership, humility, and commitment to her teammates. She consistently demonstrates outstanding sportsmanship and represents Babson with class and integrity in every competition. 

"Matia has had a tremendous impact on the Babson tennis program, and we could not be prouder of all she has achieved."

Along with her individual success, Cristiani helped Babson make three NCAA Tournament appearances, including the program's first regional final appearance in 2023 and a school-record 19 wins while advancing to the national semifinals this spring.

Now in its 50th year, the CWSA continues to honor the nation's top female collegiate athletes for excellence in athletics, leadership, academics, and community service. Since partnering with Honda in 1986, the program has provided more than $3.4 million in institutional grants, strengthening and advancing women's athletics programs nationwide.

About Honda Corporate Social Responsibility and the Honda USA Foundation 

For more than 65 years in the U.S., Honda has been committed to making positive contributions to the communities where its associates live and work. The company's mission is to create products and services that help people fulfill their life's potential, while conducting business in a sustainable manner and fostering an inclusive workplace. Advancing its corporate social responsibility, Honda and the Honda USA Foundation support this direction through giving focused on education, the environment, mobility, traffic safety, and community.