CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.—Senior Matia Cristiani (San Salvador, El Salvador) and junior Alessandra Cristiani (San Salvador, El Salvador) both recorded victories in singles and doubles as No. 5 Babson College defeated No. 2 University of Chicago, 4-0, in an NCAA Tournament quarterfinal on Monday afternoon at the Champions Tennis Club.
 
Babson, which has won five in a row and 15 of its last 16 matches going back to March, advances to the NCAA semifinals for the first time in program history. The Beavers also became the first team from the NEWMAC to advance to the semifinals. Chicago, which was making its ninth consecutive quarterfinal appearance, ends the season at 18-5 overall.
 
The Green and White secured the all-important doubles point with victories at Nos. 1 and 2. Sophomore Alessandra Cristiani and first-year Elizabeth Shu (Sugar Land, Texas) jumped out to a 4-0 lead en route to a 6-2 win over first-years Tina Kintiroglou (New Vernon, N.J.) and Lily Zawaneh (Scottsdale, Ariz.) at number two, while senior Matia Cristiani and first-year Sandra Sikharulidze (Kyiv, Ukraine) rallied to take the final three games in a 6-4 victory over junior Oliwia Mikos (Willowbrook, Ill.) and senior Lauren Khou (Johns Creek, Ga.) at number one.
 
Beavers’ junior Dana Kamal (Cairo, Egypt) and first-year Jolie Wang (Los Altos Hills, Calif.) won the first three games at number three but trailed Chicago sophomores Isabelle Chong (Lake Forest, Ill.) and Clara Zou (Potomac, Md.) 4-3 at number three when the point was clinched. 
 
Babson carried its momentum into singles, winning the first set in five of the six matches. Matia Cristiani, the top-ranked player in Division III, secured the first point with a 6-3, 6-3 win over second-ranked junior Sarena Biria (Kansas City, Kan.) at number one. First-year Tina Liu (Plantation, Fla.) rallied from a 4-2 deficit in the first and recorded a pair of service breaks early in the second to down Maroons’ senior Brooke Pedersen (San Anselmo, Calif.) 6-4, 6-2 at number five. 
 
The Beavers clinched the match moments later at number four singles where Alessandra Cristiani defeated Zawaneh 6-0, 7-5. Following a dominating first-set performance, Cristiani fell behind 4-1 in the second following a break by Zawaneh and trailed 5-3 before winning four consecutive games to win in straight sets.
 
Sikharulidze, who is ranked 10th in singles, led 24th-ranked Zou 6-4, 5-4 at number two, while Shu and Wang were both involved in tight matches. Shu won the opening set but trailed 18th-ranked first-year Anika Paul (Warren, N.J.) 6-4, 3-6, 0-1 at number three, while Wang was down 6-7 (2-7), 1-2 against Chong at number six.
 
Babson will now face No. 3 Washington University (Mo.) in the national semifinals on Tuesday at 5 p.m.

About the NEWMAC

The NEWMAC is an association of 13 selective academic institutions: Babson College, Clark University, U.S Coast Guard Academy, Emerson College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Saint Anselm College (beginning reclassification process with NCAA in 2027-28), Salve Regina University, Smith College, Springfield College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, that are committed to providing high quality competitive athletic opportunities for student-athletes within an educational and respectful environment that embodies the NCAA Division III Philosophy. The conference also partners with eight Associate Members: Brandeis University (Women's Lacrosse, 2026-2027), New York University (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), Norwich University (Football), Simmons College (Rowing), SUNY Maritime College (Football), SUNY New Paltz (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Football), and Vassar College (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), while sponsoring 21 sports.