Providence, R.I.—Junior
Arianna DeThomas (Providence, R.I.) was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player as No. 1 Rhode Island College defeated No. 2 UMass Boston, 4-2, in the finals of the 2026 Little East Women's Tennis Championship at the RIC Tennis Center on Saturday afternoon.
THE BASICS
No. 1 Rhode Island College 4, No. 2 UMass Boston 2
Rhode Island College (14-3)
UMass Boston (11-4)
HOW IT HAPPENED
• With the win, Rhode Island College secured a berth in the 2026-27 NCAA Div. III Women's Tennis Championship, which takes place in May.
• The Little East Tournament Championship marks the 13
th title in program history and the seventh for the club in the last 10 years.
• By posting a 7-1 record in conference play this fall, Rhode Island College claimed its 15
th Little East Regular Season Championship and its ninth in the past 12 years.
• The Anchorwomen have reached the Little East Championship final in each of the last 11 campaigns.
• DeThomas went 2-0 at both No. 2 singles and No. 2 doubles during the club's two LEC Championship matches. Both of her singles wins clinched the match for the Anchorwomen.
• RIC quickly won two matches in doubles to secure the contest's important first point. DeThomas and classmate
Emilia Houwers (Whitewater, Wis.) clinched the point with a 6-2 victory at No. 2 doubles.
• Houwers won in straight sets (6-0, 6-3) at No. 3 singles and senior
Ivy Par (Pawtucket, R.I.) won (6-3, 6-2) at No. 6 singles to pull the Anchorwomen within a point of the title.
• The Beacons won at No. 1 and 5 singles to close the gap to a single point, 3-2.
• DeThomas came back from a second set loss at No. 2 singles to win (6-3, 3-6, 6-2) the title for the Anchorwomen.
• The win avenged a 4-3 setback to the Beacons on Oct. 18, which cost the Anchorwomen the outright Little East Regular Season Championship.
WHAT'S NEXT
In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will resume competition in the spring in preparation for the 2027 NCAA Div. III Women's Tennis Championship.
