CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference recently announced the 27 student-athletes selected for the 2025 Women’s Tennis Academic All-MAC Team. Leading the pack is the Miami RedHawks, which boasts five top performers. Close behind are Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, and Northern Illinois, each with four representatives.
The Academic All-MAC award highlights athletes who excel not only in sports but also in their studies. To qualify, student-athletes need a minimum GPA of 3.20 and must have participated in at least half of their team’s games. First-year and transfer students in their initial academic year are not eligible.
Three exceptional RedHawks, Catherine Denysiewicz-Slowek, Sarah Dev, and Emilia Valentinsson, were also honored as part of the CSC Academic All-District Team. Denysiewicz-Slowek stands out as a finalist for the CSC Academic All-America award, putting her one step closer to national recognition.
Academic All-MAC Team Breakdown
Ball State (3)
- Ella Hazelbaker, Business Administration, 3.726
- Sarah Shahbaz, International Business, 3.750
- Isabel Tanjuatco, Professional Selling, 3.977
Bowling Green (3)
- Leticia Fonseca, Exercise Science, 4.00
- Hannah Neuman, Visual Communication Technology, 4.00
- Lucy Furness, Economics, 4.00
Buffalo (4)
- Esmee Andresen, Business Administration, 3.681
- Deanne Choo, Exercise Science, 3.473
- Jagmeet Kaur, Educational Psychology, 4.0
- Julia Laspro, Biomedical Science, 3.708
Eastern Michigan (4)
- Sabina Brichackova, Sport Management, 3.72
- Regina Mendez, Exercise Science, 3.46
- Kseniia Saenko, Finance, 3.49
- Prerna Vichare, International Business Management, 3.71
Northern Illinois (4)
- Jenna Horne, Finance, 3.317
- Nataly Ninova, Manufacturing Engineering Tech, 3.258
- Isabella Righi, Biomedical Engineering, 3.865
- Reagan Welch, Psychology, 4.0
Miami (5)
- Catherine Denysiewicz-Slowek, Marketing, 3.82
- Sarah Dev, Organizational Leadership, 3.62
- Lauren Joyce, Marketing, 3.48
- Nishitha Saravanan, Public Health/Premedical Studies, 3.25
- Emilia Valentinsson, Finance, 3.54
Toledo (2)
- Jone Ibanez, Bioengineering, 3.583
- Gaby Rondon, Pre-Business, 3.667
- Western Michigan (2)
- Julia Frazier, Sport Management, 3.60
- Audrey Smitek, Accountancy, 3.88
This recognition highlights the balance between athletic success and academic excellence. Recently, a nationwide survey by the NCAA found that 90% of student-athletes believe their sports experience has positively impacted their studies. These findings show that with dedication and time management, student-athletes can thrive in both arenas.
In a world where balancing sports and school can be challenging, these individuals shine as examples of hard work and achievement.