GREENVILLE, S.C. -- The Furman women's tennis team placed four players on the 2024-25 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team, as announced today by the CSC Academic All-America Committee.
Seniors Jess Dawson and Ellie Schulson earned the honor for the third-consecutive year, while Marissa Pennings and Grace Thomas each were given the citation for the second-straight season. After leading the Paladins to the 2025 SoCon Championship, all four graduated Saturday in Furman's commencement ceremony.
A native of Hull, East Yorkshire, Dawson completed an accounting degree with a 3.78 GPA. In addition to being nationally ranked in doubles, she was honored with All-SoCon citations for singles and doubles during her Paladin career. A member of the SoCon Academic Honor Roll and the ITA All-Academic Team, Dawson came from behind to clinch a thrilling third-set tiebreaker over ETSU to deliver Furman's SoCon regular season title during her sophomore campaign.
Schulson, who hails from Newburyport, Mass., graduated with a 3.81 GPA in business administration. She has received All-SoCon accolades in both singles and doubles and has ranked as high as 34th nationally in doubles. Schulson is a member of the ITA All-Academic Team and received Furman's Hall Of Leaders Award for Excellence in Service & Leadership.
Clearwater, Fla., native Pennings earned an economics degree with a 3.68 GPA. An All-SoCon selection for singles, she posted a 10-2 league singles record over the past two seasons. Pennings is a member of the SoCon Academic Honor Roll, the SoCon Academic All-Conference Team, and the ITA All-Academic Team.
Thomas, who hails from Sunshine Coast, Australia, graduated with a 4.0 GPA in neuroscience and earned Furman's Elizabeth Blackwell Academic Achievement Award. She earned All-SoCon citations in both singles and doubles after going undefeated in league singles matches as a junior and in league doubles matches as a senior. Thomas was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and is a member of the ITA All-Academic Team.
Nominations and voting for the CSC Academic All-America programs are conducted by members of the College Sports Communicators, formerly College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
CSC Academic All-District Team selections were required to have posted a 3.50 or better GPA, completed at least two semesters at their current school, played in at least half their team's competitions, and be considered a starter or key contributor. Freshmen and student-athletes who have transferred in the last year were not eligible.
