WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Paladin women's tennis player Macy Hitchcock represented Furman and the Southern Conference at a press conference Monday in Washington, D.C., with the Senate sponsors of the Protect College Sports Act.

Thirty athletes from around the country attended the press conference, including athletes from VMI, Clemson, and USC Upstate, along with coaches John Calipari, Mark Few, Rick Barnes, Craig Bohl, Kelvin Sampson, Ed Cooley, and Craig Robinson.  Senators Ted Cruz, Maria Cantwell, Shelley Moore Capito, John Hickenlooper were a few of the legislators in attendance.

Prior to Monday's press conference, Hitchcock met with staffers from South Carolina Senator Darline Graham's office and with a staffer from Ohio Senator Jon Husted's office to garner their support for the bill.

"Today's meetings and press conference provided a wonderful opportunity to represent not only Furman and the SoCon, but all collegiate student-athletes," said Hitchcock.  "Being a collegiate athlete has shaped my life in so many wonderful ways, and I want future student-athletes to continue to have those same opportunities."

The Protect College Sports Act is a bipartisan bill designed to stabilize college athletics.  The bill ensures fair opportunities, stability, and long-term success for college athletes while preserving the integrity of collegiate athletics.

Hitchcock is a health sciences major from Eaton, Ohio.  During the 2026 spring season, she led Furman to a 17-5 overall record, a perfect 7-0 league mark, and the SoCon regular season title.  Hitchcock was voted to the All-SoCon second team for singles for the second-consecutive year after recording an 11-5 overall singles record, including a 9-3 mark at flight three.  In SoCon matches, Hitchcock was undefeated with a 7-0 record, all at number three.  An ITA Scholar-Athlete, she was named to the Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll, the SoCon Academic All-Conference Team, and the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team.

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