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Ma, Ruyssen, Zhou and Fernandez highlight 2023-24 Academic All-America® Women's Tennis teams
Four talented student-athletes highlight 2023-24 Women's Tennis Academic All-America® teams
Women's Tennis Release (NCAA & NAIA Divisions):PDF |doc
AUSTIN, Texas –Four standouts on the court and in the classroom – Stanford University’s Connie Ma, Wayne State University’s Anais Ruyssen, Pomona-Pitzer Colleges’ Angie Zhou and Georgia Gwinnett College’s Stephanie Fernandez – highlight the 2023-24 Academic All- America® women’s tennis teams selected by the College Sports Communicators announced today.
Ma (Division I), Ruyssen (Division II), Zhou (Division III) and Fernandez (NAIA) have each been named the Academic All-America® Team Member of the Year for their respective divisions.
NCAA Division I
Connie Ma, a junior from Dublin, California, has a 3.74 GPA majoring in human biology. She clinched Stanford’s 2024 Pac-12 Women’s Tennis Tournament Championship with a doubles and singles win on the final day. Ma, who was ranked No. 7 by Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), wrapped up her All-America season with a 40-6 record in singles including 24-5 against nationally-ranked opponents. She earned Pac 12 Women’s Tennis Player of the Week for the fourth time in her career after a nationally-ranked singles victory and won her doubles match in leading Stanford to a team win over then-No. 9 ranked Cal. Ma landed a spot on the 2024 ITA National Team Indoor Championship All-Tournament Team in No. 2 singles and No. 2 doubles.
Ma was a Pac-12 regular-season champion in 2023, three-time All-Pac-12 selection and a three-time conference tournament champion. She teamed up with Angelica Blake to earn the 2022 Pac-12 Doubles Team of the Year honor. In 2022, she was the ITA National Rookie of the Year and ITA All-American in singles, ITA Northwest Region Rookie of the Year and Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. Ma was named to the ITA Scholar-Athlete list and Pac-12 Honor Roll in 2023.
Six of the 20 members of the Academic All-America® Division I women’s tennis team boast a perfect 4.0 GPA in their undergraduate work or graduate school. The six members of the first team have an average GPA of 3.25.
Six student-athletes are repeat selections on the Academic All-America® Division I women’s tennis team – Stanford University’s Valencia Xu, University of South Carolina’s Sarah Hamner, Ohio State University’s Irina Cantos Siemers, University of Miami’s Isabella Pfennig, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Jill Lambrechts and University of Virginia’s Natasha Subhash. Subash is a three-time selection.
| FIRST TEAM | ||||
| Name | School | Yr. | GPA | Major |
| Connie Ma | Stanford University | Jr. | 3.74 | Human Biology |
| Tian Fangran | UCLA | So. | 3.61 | Psychology |
| Valencia Xu (2) | Stanford University | Jr. | 4.00 | International Relations |
| Sarah Hamner (1) | University of South Carolina | Jr. | 3.91 | Accounting |
| Kari Miller | University of Michigan | Sr. | 3.84 | Business Administration |
| Elizabeth Scotty | University of North Carolina | Sr. | 3.85 | Media & Journalism & Political Science |
| SECOND TEAM | ||||
| Name | School | Yr. | GPA | Major |
| Dasha Vidmanova | University of Georgia | Jr. | 3.74 | Finance |
| Alexandra Yepifanova | Stanford University | Jr. | 3.59 | Science, Technology & Society |
| Sophie Abrams | NC State University | Sr. | 4.00 | Biological Sciences |
| Elise Wagle | UCLA | Jr. | 3.59 | Economics |
| Fiona Crawley | University of North Carolina | Sr. | 3.73 | English & Comparative Literature |
| Alexa Noel | University of Miami | Jr. | 3.62 | Sociology |
| Hannah Viller Moeller | University of California | Sr. | 3.67 | Economics |
| THIRD TEAM | ||||
| Name | School | Yr. | GPA | Major |
| Jill Lambrechts (3) | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | Gr. | 4.00/4.00 | Biology (U) / Biological Science (G) |
| Katja Wiersholm | University of California | Jr. | 3.84 | Undeclared |
| Irina Cantos Siemers (1) | Ohio State University | Gr. | 3.74/4.00 | Communication (U) Kinesiology (G) |
| Natasha Subhash (2) (5) | University of Virginia | Gr. | 3.92/4.00 | Commerce (U) / Accounting (G) |
| Katarina Dukic | Chicago State University | Gr. | 4.00/3.85 | Mathematics |
| Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer | UCLA | So. | 3.77 | Environmental Science |
| Isabella Pfennig (1) | University of Miami | Sr. | 3.99 | Economics |
(1) – 1st team Academic All-America® Women’s Tennis in 2022-23
(2) – 2nd team Academic All-America® Women’ Tennis in 2022-23
(3) – 3rd team Academic All-America® Women’s Tennis in 2022-23
(5)– 2nd team Academic All-America® Women’s At- Large in 2021-22
(6) – 3rd team Academic All-America® Women’s At-Large in 2021-22
NCAA Division II
Anais Ruyssen, a redshirt junior from Nantes, France, has compiled a 3.78 GPA majoring in management She led Wayne State (Michigan) to the NCAA Division II Tournament round eight, NCAA Midwest Region and Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) championships this spring. A three-year member of the All-GLIAC first team (2022, 2023, and both singles and doubles in 2024), put together a 20-9 No. 1 singles record and 26-13 No. 1 doubles ledger for the Warriors when paired with teammate Marta Komar this season. That tandem concluded the 2022-23 season ranked sixth nationally to earn the pair ITA Doubles All-American recognition (first in program history). Ruyssen and Komar were ranked in the top five nationally this season, climbing as high as third for the Warriors in the ITA’s computerized rankings.
Eight of the 18 members of the Academic All-America® Division II women’s tennis teams boast a perfect 4.0 GPA in their undergraduate work or graduate school. The six members of the first team have an average GPA of 3.855.
Including Ruyssen there are four repeat selections on the Academic All-America® Division II women’s tennis team – Maja Jung of Washburn University, Emily Barrett of Tiffin University and Vasileia Griva of Grand Valley State.
The Division II Academic All-America® program is being financially supported by the NCAA Division II national governance structure to assist the College Sports Communicators with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2023-24 Division II Academic All-America® program.
| FIRST TEAM | ||||
| Name | School | Yr. | GPA | Major |
| Anais Ruyssen (3) | Wayne State University | Jr. | 3.78 | Management |
| Lara Schmid | Washburn University | Sr. | 4.00 | Mathematics |
| Nadja Meier | Flagler College | Sr. | 3.53 | International Business |
| Maria Saez Camara | Missouri Western State University | Gr. | 4.00/4.00 | Kinesiology |
| Maja Jung (3) | Washburn University | Sr. | 3.85 | Kinesiology |
| Alina Kupfer | Southern New Hampshire University | So. | 3.97 | Marketing |
| SECOND TEAM | ||||
| Name | School | Yr. | GPA | Major |
| Emily Barrett (3) | Tiffin University | Jr. | 3.87 | Exercise Science |
| Salma Djoubri | Lynn University | So. | 3.50 | Sports Management |
| Katarina Liedbeck | Adelphi University | So. | 4.00 | Computer Science |
| Laia Pasini | Florida Southern College | Sr. | 4.00 | Advertising & Public Relations |
| Letizia Corsini | Angelo State University | So. | 3.60 | Mechanical Engineering |
| Jess Purdy | Wilmington University (DE) | Sr. | 4.00 | Liberal Studies |
| Greta Schieroni | Lynn University | Jr. | 4.00 | International Business Management |
| Clara Versier | Barry | Sr. | 3.73 | Biology |
| THIRD TEAM | ||||
| Name | School | Yr. | GPA | Major |
| Miruna Tudor | Azusa Pacific University | Gr. | 3.58/3.90 | Sports Management (G) |
| Vasileia Griva (3) | Grand Valley State | Sr. | 3.93 | Human Resources Management |
| Emily Hafner | Metropolitan State University of Denver | Sr. | 3.97/4.00 | Business Administration (G) |
| Hannah Yip | Midwestern State | Jr. | 4.00 | Geoscience |
(3)– 3rd team Academic All-America® Women’s Tennis in 2022-23
NCAA Division III
Angie Zhou, a junior from Ann Arbor, Michigan, maintains a 3.89 GPA major in computer science. The two-time Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Player of the Year led Pomona-Pitzer Colleges to the 2024 NCAA Division III Tournament semifinals and advanced to the second round of the Division III singles competition this season. The Sagehens won their first SCIAC championship since 2011 by upsetting No. 1 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. Zhou was the 2023 NCAA Division III Singles Champion to earn All-America honors for the second time enroute to the Division III Tennis Honda Athlete of the Year award. As a freshman in 2022, she was the NCAA Division III Singles runner-up, ITA Rookie of the Year and All-SCIAC honors. Zhou is a two-time Academic All-SCIAC pick.
Nine of the 17 members of the Academic All-America® Division III women’s tennis teams boast a perfect 4.0 GPA in their undergraduate work or graduate school. The six members of the first team have an average GPA of 3.935.
There are four repeat selections – Case Western Reserve University’s Lily McCloskey and Hannah Kassaie, Johns Hopkins University’s Mary Beth Hurley and Linfield University’s Sarah Forester -- on the Academic All-America® Division III women’s tennis team. Kassaie was the 2022-23 Academic All-America® Team Member of the Year for women’s tennis.
The Division III Academic All-America® program is being financially supported by the NCAA Division III national governance structure to assist the College Sports Communicators with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2023-24 Division III Academic All-America® program.
| FIRST TEAM | ||||
| Name | School | Yr. | GPA | Major |
| Angie Zhou | Pomona-Pitzer | Jr. | 3.89 | Computer Science |
| Lily McCloskey (1) | Case Western Reserve University | Jr. | 4.00 | Biomedical Engineering |
| Rena Lin | University of Chicago | Gr. | 4.00/4.00 | Program Humanities |
| Hannah Kassaie (1) | Case Western Reserve University | Jr. | 4.00 | Nutrition |
| Mary Beth Hurley (2) | Johns Hopkins University | Gr. | 3.92/3.80 | Nursing |
| Erica Ekstrand | Williams College | Sr. | 3.80 | History |
| SECOND TEAM | ||||
| Name | School | Yr. | GPA | Major |
| Sahana Raman | Middlebury College | Jr. | 3.81 | Neuroscience |
| Ricki Budewitz | Concordia Wisconsin | Sr. | 3.99/4.00 | Business Administration (G) |
| Ava Deguzman | Baruch College | Jr. | 4.00 | Computer Information Systems |
| Rebecca Jackson | UT Dallas | Sr. | 4.00 | Neuroscience |
| Lindsay Eisenman | Claremont-Mudd-Scripps | So. | 3.89 | Science Management |
| Alisha Chulani | Claremont-Mudd-Scripps | Jr. | 3.74 | Engineering |
| Sarah Forester (3) | Linfield University | Sr. | 4.00 | Biochemistry |
| Katherine Taylor | Transylvania University | Jr. | 4.00 | Biology |
| THIRD TEAM | ||||
| Name | School | Yr. | GPA | Major |
| Mackenzie Lindow | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | Sr. | 4.00/4.00 | Special Education |
| Cassie Lee | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | Jr. | 3.89 | Human Performance |
| Sarah Yang | Carnegie Mellon University | Jr. | 3.73 | Electrical & Computer Engineering |
(1) – 1st team Academic All-America® Women’s Tennis in 2022-23
(2) – 2nd team Academic All-America® Women’ Tennis in 2022-23
(3) – 3rd team Academic All-America® Women’s Tennis in 2022-23
NAIA
Stephanie Fernandez, a senior from Caracas, Venezuela, has compiled a 3.80 GPA majoring in business management. She won her singles match 3-1 (1-6, 7-6, 7-5, 6-4) to help Georgia Gwinnett College rally from a 3-1 deficit and defeat Keiser University 4-3 to secure the Grizzlies’ eighth straight NAIA National Championship and ninth overall. She was a member of three national championship teams. Fernandez and teammate Iryna Lysykh formed the ITA’s No. 1-ranked doubles team that went 16-2. She also went 14-0 in No. 2 singles matches as Georgia Gwinnett went 18-0 in 2024 and have a 35-match winning streak.
A three-time ITA All-America team selection (2023 singles; 2023 and 2022 doubles), Fernandez concluded the 2023 season as the No. 14-ranked NAIA singles player by the ITA after compiling a 17-0 record. She has 38-0 singles record during her career and went 41-5 in doubles competition.
Teodora Jovic of Georgia Gwinnett College is the lone member of the Academic All-America® NAIA women’s tennis team to maintain a perfect 4.0 GPA in her undergraduate work. The six members of the first team have an average GPA of 3.848.
Fernandez is joined by Vanja Vidanovic of Keiser University and Vitoria Barandas of Ave Maria University as repeat selections on the Academic All-America® Division II women’s tennis team.
The NAIA Academic All-America® program is being financially supported by the NAIA national governance structure to assist the College Sports Communicators with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2023-24 NAIA Academic All-America® program.
| FIRST TEAM | ||||
| Name | School | Yr. | GPA | Major |
| Stephanie Fernandez (1) | Georgia Gwinnett College | Sr. | 3.80 | Business Management |
| Teodora Jovic | Georgia Gwinnett College | Sr. | 4.00 | English Writing |
| Vanja Vidanovic (2) | Keiser University | Jr. | 3.74 | Business Analytics |
| Lucy Carpenter | Loyola University New Orleans | Sr. | 3.80/3.85 | MBA |
| Martina Picardi | Southeastern University | Jr. | 3.82 | Sport Management |
| Delfina Stuzynska | Morningside University | Sr. | 3.88 | Business Administration |
| SECOND TEAM | ||||
| Name | School | Yr. | GPA | Major |
| Vitoria Barandas (2) | Ave Maria University | Jr. | 3.77 | Accounting |
| Emily Clotfelter | Morningside University | Sr. | 3.78 | Biology & Chemistry |
| Marina Nagai | University of the Cumberlands | So. | 3.88 | Business Administration |
| Ximena Matamoros | Cornerstone University | Jr. | 3.74/3.74 | Biology |
| Flaminia Guidantoni | Southeastern University | Sr. | 3.56/3.87 | Global Business Administration (G) |
| Anastasiia Ivanchenko | Lindsey Wilson College | Jr. | 3.68 | Business Administration |
(1) – 1st team Academic All-America® Women’s Tennis in 2022-23
(2)– 2nd team Academic All-America® Women’s Tennis in 2022-23
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Jeff Schwartz, Retired, North Dakota State University | Academic All-America® Co-Director for Publicity
Schwartzy2@yahoo.com | (701) 793-0538
