TEMPE, AZ – Johns Hopkins women's tennis sophomore Sahana Madala is one of 10 students selected to the 2025-26 Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Student-Athlete Council. The committee have been selected to represent more than 20,000 student-athletes competing in tennis at the collegiate level.
 
The student-athlete-led council, entering its third year of existence, is committed to providing 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).
 
"I'm looking forward to serving on the ITA Student-Athlete Council as a way to give back to a sport that has given me so much, and to work alongside fellow athletes to promote inclusivity, service, and leadership on a broader scale," said Madala.
 
Madala went 12-1 in singles and 20-7 in doubles in her freshman season while helping Johns Hopkins to the NCAA Semifinals. Her 20 doubles' wins are tied for the most by a freshman in program history. Madala is majoring in neuroscience and public health and was named an ITA Scholar-Athlete for 2024-25.
 
This year's Student-Athlete Council will build on the initiatives and progress made by the first two classes, which have seen advancements such as monthly student-athlete spotlights aimed at highlighting diverse individuals within our sport, the development of the ITA Student-Athlete Podcast, the relaunch of the ITA Community Service Challenge, and the launch of the ITA Student-Athlete Mentorship Program. 
 
The Council Selection Committee received a record number of applications from exceptionally qualified and committed student-athletes for the 2025-26 term. In total, ten student-athletes will serve on the ITA Student-Athlete Council and represent college tennis players from across all levels of our sport. Across the 10 members, three are Division I student-athletes, four student-athletes represent Divisions II and III, while the remaining three student-athletes come via the NAIA, JUCO, and Wheelchair levels.
 
Each of these members will spend the next year working to better the student-athlete experience at every level of the sport and will meet each month to discuss pressing issues and initiatives that are of the utmost importance to each council member.