Official Release
​
NEWARK, NJ–Four NJIT women's tennis players were selected to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) All-District Team on Tuesday, including Arina Babkova, Irene Cocero, Paula Menendez Alvarez and Shalom Salvi.

The 2024-25 Academic All-District® Women's Tennis Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.

Babkova, a graduate student from Dubna, Russia, posted a 3.8 GPA in the MS Management Program at NJIT.  Babkova undergraduate degree was in Economics from UNC Greensboro. This season, Babkova finished the season with a 9-5 overall mark (4-2 at fourth singles; 5-3 at fifth singles) and went 5-5 at second doubles with teammate Shalom Salvi.  

 

Cocero, a junior from Alcala De Henares, Spain, was named to the Dean's List five times.  A business major, Cocero recorded a 3.711 GPA.  She​ was crowned Southland Conference Doubles Champions at the 2024 Southland Conference Individual Tennis Championships with teammate Laura Wipfli.  The pair advanced to the 2024 ITA Masters Championships. Cocero combined for a 10-4 overall record (3-0 at third singles; 7-3 at fourth singles) and went 7-2 at first doubles with Wipfli.

 

Menendez Alvarez, a junior from Gijon, Spain, is an industrial engineering major, boosting a 3.839 GPA.  She went 10-6 overall on the season (4-1 at first singles; 6-5 at second singles) and combined for an 8-3 doubles record with Feyza Aydin at the third spot.

 

Salvi, a graduate student from Modena, Italy, completed her undergraduate degree in Mathematical Sciences from NJIT, graduated Summa Cum Laude, recording a 3.933 GPA and being named to the Dean's List eight times.  As a graduate student, Salvi holds a 3.917 GPA, majoring in Data Science Statistics Track.  On the court, Salvi finished the season with an even 8-8 overall record ( 3-1 at second singles; 5-7 at the third spot) and combined for a 5-5 mark in doubles action at the second spot.

​The NJIT women's tennis team concluded the 2025 season with its fourth consecutive trip to the Southland Conference Tournament, advanced to its second Southland Conference Semifinal appearance, fourth straight double-digit victory, perfect 9-0 at home inside The Naimoli Family Athletic and Recreational Facility and Cocero and Wipfli were crowned Southland Conference Doubles Champions at the 2024 Southland Conference Individual Tennis Championships and advanced to the 2024 ITA Masters Championships.