ITA Student-Athlete Council Spotlight – Marielle Sauber, Smith College

Tempe, AZ – Throughout the 2024-25 college tennis season, members of the ITA Student-Athlete Council will have the opportunity to be featured in monthly spotlights that will give the greater college tennis community an inside look at some of our Student-Athlete Council members and what they are accomplishing on and off the court.

In the October spotlight, Marielle Sauber of Smith College will share a little bit about herself and some of her experiences as a returning member of the ITA Student-Athlete Council. Sauber currently serves as the chair of the Council and guides her fellow council members in monthly meetings in which they discuss many important challenges facing our sport and student-athletes.

Read more about Sauber in this October spotlight below:

Hello, my name is Marielle Sauber and I am a junior at Smith College. Outside of tennis, I am studying Neuroscience and Spanish with the hopes of pursuing a career in research or law. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, reading, and exploring the charming small towns around Smith!

Why was it important to you to apply to the ITA Student-Athlete Council, and what are some topics that you hope you hope that your fellow council members and you can tackle over the upcoming year? Why are these topics important to you and what experiences have you had that might make these topics more important or personal to you?

I decided to apply to the ITA Student-Athlete Council because I was excited by the opportunity to amplify the voices of student-athletes and make a meaningful impact on the issues that matter to me. I’m excited to continue collaborating with others who share the same vision ofenhancing the student-athlete experience for players across the country.

This year, my fellow council members and I are committed to expanding the ITA’s community outreach and advancing diversity and inclusion within college tennis. We want to make sure that every athlete has the chance to experience the same opportunities and sense of community that college tennis has given us.

As a queer student-athlete, finding a sense of community through sports has been incredibly important to me, and I believe that seeing diverse representation in college tennis is essential for fostering inclusion and strengthening the sport.

As a returning ITA Student-Athlete Council member, and the current chair, what lessons did you learn from year one that you hope can help benefit the council this year?

Over my time working with the Council, I’ve learned how effective social media can be as a tool for engaging our audience and building connections within the college tennis community. Last year, we discovered that by better leveraging these platforms, we can foster a greater sense of community among student-athletes. This year, our goal is to strengthen our digital presence to more effectively connect our peers with valuable resources, amplify their voices, and celebrate their achievements.

What unique perspectives do you hope to bring to the council? What kind of opportunities has the Student-Athlete Council given you or other members of the council when it comes to expressing important perspectives and creating initiatives to support them?

As an athlete, I have experienced the mental health challenges of juggling the responsibilities of performing on the court and in the classroom while working in research and representing my team in various leadership capacities. From my personal experience, I believe deeply in the importance of destigmatizing mental health awareness and making resources more easily available to student-athletes.

Additionally, as a queer athlete attending a historically women’s college, I believe that promoting diversity and inclusion is crucial for fostering a supportive environment in college tennis. Serving on the Student-Athlete Council has provided me with a platform for expressing these identities, which has allowed me to work with my fellow council members to create meaningful initiatives that support the well-being and inclusivity of all student-athletes.

Why was college tennis the right choice for you, and what encouragement would you give to a junior player considering playing college tennis?

College tennis was the right choice for me because it has allowed me to further my passion for the sport alongside pursuing my academic goals, all while learning valuable life skills that have shaped both my athletic and personal growth. The experience has not only strengthened my resilience, teamwork, and discipline, but it has also empowered me to embrace my identity and advocate for myself and the issues that matter to me. For junior players considering college tennis, I encourage you to embrace the journey and focus on finding a program that invests in you! It’s an incredible opportunity to develop as an athlete and as a person, so make the most of every moment!

The ITA Student-Athlete Council is a committee of student-athletes who play college tennis assembled to provide insights regarding the sport with a special emphasis on the student-athlete experience. The goals of this committee are as follows: Present a student-athlete voice within the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) (1), Offer input regarding matters pertaining to the sport, particularly issues impacting the lives of student-athletes (2), Work to enhance the student-athlete experience specific to college tennis across all divisions (3), Invest in the leaders of tomorrow by creating leadership and professional development opportunities (4).