Georgia Gwinnett College senior women's tennis players
Stephanie Fernandez and
Teodora Jovic have been recognized as NAIA Academic All-Americans, with Fernandez being named Team Member of the Year, by College Sports Communicators. The honors were announced Tuesday, June 4, by the organization.
Fernandez becomes the third player in program history to be named the Academic All-America Team Member of the Year. She joined Jovic in being first team selections.
Fernandez won the match-clinching point in GGC's 4-3 come-from-behind victory in this spring's NAIA national championship match against Keiser University (Florida). She rallied after dropping the opening set on the No. 6 singles court.
The business management major posted a 12-0 singles record and won 16 of 18 doubles matches this spring. She was a member of the top-ranked doubles team and captured the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's 2021 NAIA doubles national championship.
For her career, Fernandez went 36-0 in singles action and had a 41-6 doubles record. She earned second NAIA All-America team honors following the 2023 season and was a three-time ITA All-America selection.
Fernandez joins
Maria Genovese (2021) and
Tereza Koplova (2023) as GGC women's tennis players to earn Academic All-America Team Member of the Year honors.
Meanwhile, Jovic garnered first NAIA All-America team honors this spring for the second straight season and had a 16-5 singles record over two seasons in which the Grizzlies captured national championships.
The English writing major won eight of her 10 singles matches during the 2024 season, including a 7-2 mark on the No. 3 court. Jovic was ranked as high as No. 3 nationally after making consecutive semifinal ITA Cup appearances in 2023 and 2022. She earned ITA All-American singles honors following the 2023 season.
Georgia Gwinnett College has had 35 CSC Academic All-Americans in all sports since 2017, with at least one honoree for eight straight calendar years.
The Grizzlies captured their ninth NAIA national title and had a 18-0 record during the 2024 campaign. The program currently has a 35-match winning streak.
