NORTHAMPTON, Mass. — Smith College senior Marielle Sauber (The Woodlands, TX/The John Cooper School) has been named one of three finalists for the 2026 ITA Ann Lebedeff Leadership Award, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association announced Wednesday. Endowed by global tennis icon Billie Jean King, the national honor recognizes a graduating college tennis player for excellence on and off the court, leadership within the team, and meaningful impact on campus and in the community.
Now in its ninth year, the Lebedeff Award is named for revered college tennis coach and educator Dr. Ann Lebedeff. Sauber joins Lexi Barbee of Sewanee University and Haley Levine of Hobart & William Smith Colleges as the three finalists for this year's honor. Past recipients include Ella Brissett of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (2025), Esther Adehina of Tennessee (2024), and inaugural winner Nithya Kanagasegar of Case Western Reserve (2018).
A double major in neuroscience and Spanish, Sauber has built a four-year career at Smith defined as much by her leadership as by her play. She has served as treasurer of the Smith College Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and as chair of the ITA Student-Athlete Council, leading initiatives in both roles centered on mental health, professional development, diversity and inclusion, and community engagement. Off campus, Sauber interned in the office of U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, putting her academic work into practice and helping shape her post-graduation plans in advocacy, law, and politics.
On the court, Sauber has navigated repeated injury setbacks throughout her career, channeling each into mentorship of younger teammates rather than letting them define her time at Smith. In four seasons, she has helped the Bears reach consecutive NEWMAC Championship tournaments and contributed to the program's highest national ranking in decades during the current campaign. She also earned a spot on the NEWMAC All-Sportsmanship Team during her first year in 2022-23.
Finalists will now submit a resume and a letter from their institution's president for review by the ITA Ann Lebedeff Award Selection Panel. The recipient will be announced at the ITA Awards Ceremony in New York City and will receive a postgraduate scholarship along with a $1,000 donation to their college tennis program.
About Smith Athletics Smith College is a NCAA Division III member of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) that sponsors 11 intercollegiate sports. For more information, log on to GoSmithBears.com and follow the Bears on Facebook and Instagram.
