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Matia Cristiani '26 claimed the women's tennis program's third national title and Babson's ninth crown in school history by winning the NCAA Division III Singles Championship in Chattanooga, Tenn., on May 25, 2026.
Cristiani, who entered the championship as the top seed, won all five of her matches in straight sets over Memorial Day weekend to capture her third national title and the Beavers' first singles championship in program history. She finished the season with a perfect 37-0 record that included 34 straight-set wins, and dropped just four sets across 41 matches on the year. Cristiani finished her career with a 117-4 record in singles and was tabbed as the ITA Division III Player of the Year.
Cristiani recorded a 7-5, 6-3 win over Katalina Wang of Case Western Reserve in the first round and followed it up with a 6-1, 6-4 triumph over Izabele Antanavicius of Emory in round two. She defeated eighth-seeded Elsie Van Wieren of Middlebury 6-3, 6-3 in the quarterfinals and fourth-seeded Serena Biria of Chicago 6-3, 6-1 in the semifinals before routing Lia Melvin of Johns Hopkins 6-1, 6-1 in the championship match.
| NCAA Tournament Results |
|
| First Round |
Katalina Wang (Case Western Reserve) |
W, 7-5, 6-3 |
| Second Round |
Izabele Antanavicius (Emory |
W, 6-1, 6-4 |
| Quarterfinals |
#8 Elsie Van Wieren (Middlebury) |
W, 6-3, 6-3 |
| Semifinals |
#4 Serena Biria (Chicago |
W, 6-3, 6-1 |
| Final |
Lia Melvin (Johns Hopkins) |
W, 6-1, 6-1 |
