Matia Cristiani, a senior from Babson College, has been named a finalist in tennis for the DIII Honda Athlete of the Year, as announced today by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of The Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) presented by Honda.

The announcement comes during a landmark moment for the organization, as the CWSA celebrates its 50th anniversary during the 2025–26 collegiate athletics season. Cristiani is now among 11 elite finalists for this prestigious award, which recognizes the top NCAA Division III athletes across various sports. The DIII Honda Athlete of the Year will be selected by senior women administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools and will be honored during a live broadcast on CBS Sports Network on Monday, July 27th, at 7:00 pm ET, in New York City.

“I’m so grateful to be recognized as one of the finalists for the Honda Sports Award,” 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 made history by capturing the program’s first NCAA singles national championship and finishing as the national runner-up in doubles at the 2026 NCAA Division III Tennis Championships. She completed a perfect 37-0 singles season and held the No. 1 national ranking in Division III from the release of the first ITA rankings in November 2025 through the championship.

The senior from San Salvador, El Salvador, also teamed with Sandra Sikharulidze to reach the NCAA doubles championship match, where the pair fell in a tightly contested three-set final that included a tiebreaker, ending the duo’s 23-match winning streak.

Cristiani, the NEWMAC Athlete of the Year, earned ITA All-America honors four times in both singles and doubles and was a four-time All-NEWMAC First Team selection in both disciplines.

The most decorated player in Babson program history, Cristiani will graduate as an eight-time All-American, three-time NCAA champion, four-time NCAA doubles finalist and the 2025 ITA Cup singles champion- first player at Babson to claim the Cup. She leaves as the program’s all-time leader with 238 combined career victories, compiling a 117-4 singles record and a 121-11 doubles mark over four seasons. Her 37 singles wins, 38 doubles victories and 75 combined wins during the 2025-26 season each established new single-season program records.

“Matia is incredibly deserving of being named a finalist for the DIII Honda Athlete of the Year Award,” stated 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.”

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.  

Learn more at http://csr.honda.com/.