Tempe, AZ – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) is happy to announce today Marielle Sauber of Smith College as the recipient of the 2026 ITA Ann Lebedeff Leadership Award as endowed by global sports icon Billie Jean King.
“Marielle Sauber embodies the integrity, and commitment to service that define the Ann Lebedeff Leadership Award.” stated ITA CEO, David Mullins. “Throughout her collegiate career, she has demonstrated the ability to positively influence those around her, lead by example, and make a meaningful impact both within her campus community and through the sport of tennis. The ITA is proud to recognize Marielle for her outstanding achievements and contributions, and we are grateful to Billie Jean King for her continued support of this award and its mission to celebrate the next generation of women leaders.”
As one of the most storied and prestigious honors in all of college tennis, Sauber will be honored with a postgraduate scholarship as well as receive special recognition at the ITA Leadership Awards Weekend later this year in New York. Additionally, the Smith College women’s tennis team will be awarded a $1,000 donation from the ITA in Sauber’s honor.
“From day one, Marielle showed herself to be a leader committed to uplifting others,” said Smith College Head Coach, Caitlyn Lawrence. “During her time at Smith, I watched her dedicate herself to numerous initiatives that strengthened our community. What was even more impressive was the countless, unseen hours she invested behind the scenes to help foster the leadership of others. Marielle has made a profound impact on our team, our athletic department, our campus community, and college tennis as a whole. We are incredibly proud of Marielle and excited to see the positive difference she will continue to make in the world.”
Since she was young, Sauber has always used tennis as a safe space from many of the day-to-day struggles that affected her and allowed her a place to focus solely on what was in front of her on the other side of the net. When transitioning into college tennis, Sauber found even more ways to use the sport she loved, finding both community and purpose on the campus and with her teammates at Smith College.
As a leader both on and off the court, Sauber turned adversity into opportunity during her time as a student-athlete, becoming active in numerous groups while sidelined with injury. Some of these leadership roles included serving as the Treasurer of the Smith College SAAC and as the Chair of the ITA Student-Athlete Council.
In all of leadership opportunities she aimed to lead initiatives focused on mental health, professional development, diversity and inclusion, and community engagement. This past summer Sauber interned in Senator Elizabeth Warren’s Office where she put all of these initiatives into action and learned valuable insights that will play a key role in her post-graduation plans.
At Smith College, Sauber is double-majoring in Neuroscience and Spanish, with the goal of pursuing advocacy, law, and politics after graduation.
“I am incredibly honored to receive the 2026 ITA Ann Lebedeff Leadership Award,” stated 2026 recipient, Marielle Sauber. “Representing Smith College throughout my collegiate tennis career has been a privilege, and the experiences I’ve had as a student-athlete have shaped me not only as a competitor, but as a leader and advocate. From serving my campus community to working with student-athletes across college tennis, I’ve been inspired by the power of sport to create meaningful change and bring people together. I am proud to represent Smith College and grateful to the coaches, teammates, mentors, and peers who have supported me along the way. This award reinforces my commitment to serving others, uplifting those around me, and continuing to use my voice to make a positive impact.”
About the ITA – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) is the governing body and coaches association of college tennis, both an advocate and an authority for the sport and its members. Comprised of 1,260 colleges and universities, 20,000 student-athletes, 1,800 varsity programs, 3,000 coaches, and 1,350 college tennis officials, the ITA empowers college tennis coaches at all levels to deliver vibrant tennis programs that are vital to their college communities and transformational to their student-athletes. Follow college tennis on the ITA website and ITA social channels on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.