CLINTON, Miss. — Mississippi Christian University women's tennis standout Emily Buchanan has been named the 2025-26 College Sports Communicators Academic All-America® Team Member of the Year for NCAA Division II, CSC announced Tuesday.
Buchanan, a junior from Jackson, Miss., becomes one of four women's tennis student-athletes nationally selected as an Academic All-America® Team Member of the Year across all NCAA and NAIA divisions. She was also named to the Academic All-America® First Team.
Double majoring in occupational therapy kinesiology and psychology, Buchanan capped off a remarkable season on the court and in the classroom while helping the Choctaws reach unprecedented heights during the 2025-26 campaign.
Competing for Mississippi College during the season prior to the institution's transition to Mississippi Christian University on June 1, Buchanan posted a 22-4 record at the No. 1 singles position and earned Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-America honors in both singles and doubles. She finished the year ranked No. 4 nationally in both disciplines and teamed with Ann Cabot Stockett to compile a 20-6 doubles record that included five victories over nationally ranked opponents.
Buchanan was one of 20 players selected to the ITA Division II Women's Singles All-America team and, alongside Stockett, was one of 10 doubles teams recognized on the ITA Division II Women's Doubles All-America squad.
A First Team All-Gulf South Conference selection, Buchanan played a pivotal role in leading the Choctaws to the NCAA Division II National Semifinals, the deepest postseason run in program history. MC finished the season with a 27-2 overall record and a No. 4 national ranking.
The Academic All-America honor adds to an already distinguished collegiate career for Buchanan. Prior to transferring to MC, she earned ITA South Central Region Player to Watch honors at Dallas Baptist after a sophomore season in which she posted a perfect 25-0 singles record. She was also named the Lone Star Conference Women's Tennis Player of the Year and Sportsmanship Player of the Year while helping guide the Patriots to their first conference tournament championship and an appearance in the NCAA Division II Round of 16.
Buchanan becomes the first player in program history to earn CSC Academic All-America® Team Member of the Year honors and further highlights the continued rise of MC women's tennis on the national stage. Her selection is also a historic achievement for the Gulf South Conference, as she becomes the first men's or women's tennis student-athlete from the league to earn CSC Academic All-America® Team Member of the Year recognition. Buchanan is just the sixth GSC student-athlete to receive the honor in a specific sport and the first conference honoree since 2018.
The College Sports Communicators Academic All-America program recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined achievements in competition and in the classroom. Buchanan headlined the NCAA Division II Women's Tennis Academic All-America Team, which featured 18 student-athletes from across the country.
