Five from the NEWMAC were selected to compete in the 2026 NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Singles and Doubles Championships on Wednesday evening.
32 players were chosen to compete in the singles and championship, and 16 pairings were picked to take part in the doubles championships. Both the singles and doubles draws will be announced on May 21, with play running from May 22-25 at the Champions Tennis Club in Chattanooga, Tenn. 

Babson College senior Matia Cristiani (San Salvador, El Salvador) and first-year Sandra Sikharulidze (Kyiv, Ukraine) were selected to compete in the Division III Singles and Doubles Championships on Wednesday night. 

MIT's Saina Deshpande (Pune, India) was selected to compete in the singles championship, while Alaina Kolli (Buffalo Grove, Ill.) and Artemis Pados (Delray Beach, Fla.) were named as a fourth alternate for the doubles competition. This is the fifth year in a row the Engineers have qualified for this event.

Cristiani was selected to compete in both championships for the fourth consecutive season and paired with Olivia Soffer '25 to win back-to-back national titles in doubles in 2024 and 2025 after advancing to the final as a rookie in 2023. In addition to her doubles success, she reached the semifinals of the 2024 singles draw and the second round in both 2023 and 2025. 

The top-ranked player in Division III, Cristiani won both the ITA Cup and ITA New England Championship back in the fall and is 30-0 on the season. 

Sikharulidze, who is currently ranked 11th in the ITA singles poll, has put together a terrific rookie campaign. She is 21-4 overall and is a perfect 15-0 in dual matches this spring after advancing to the third round of the ITA New England Championship back in September. 

Cristiani and Sikharulidze have been nearly unbeatable in doubles, putting together a record of 31-2 on the year. The duo, which is ranked third in Division III, is 16-0 this spring and captured the ITA New England Championship before advancing to the second round of the ITA Cup in October. 
 
Desphande has compiled a record of 18-9 this year, including a 12-5 mark while playing in the No. 1 singles position. Kolli and Pados have a 19-7 record, which includes a 13-5 performance in the No. 1 doubles spot.
 
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.