Francis Marion University Athletics

FMU: 4-year returning letterwinner.....ITA Scholar-Athlete 2024, 2022, 2020....Taking advantage of the extra year of elgibility granted by the NCAA because of covid....Conference Carolinas All-Conference Team (third team) 2024....Conference Carolinas Academic All-Conference Team 2024....Enters 2024, 18th on the Patriot career list with 35 singles wins....Conference Carolinas All-Conference Team (first team) 2023....Conference Carolinas Winter/Spring Academic All-Conference Team 2023....Team MVP for 2023....Played in 19 matches in 2023....Posted an 11-8 mark at No.1 singles, including 6-2 in conference play....Went 8-9 at No.2 doubles, but 5-3 against conference foes....Conference Carolinas All-Conference Team 2022 (third team)....Conference Carolinas Spring Academic All-Conference Team 2022....Appeared in 19 of 20 matches in 2022....11-5 singles record, playing mainly at No.3 position....Teamed with Camryn Cassetori to post a team-best 12-5 doubles mark, mostly at No.3 spot (was also 1-0 with Hermion Mikael)....Conference Carolinas Player of the Week (Feb. 14-20, 2022)....PBC Team of Academic Distinction 2021....Missed part of 2021 with an injury....Played No.4,5,6 singles and No.2,3 doubles as a sophomore in 2021....Team MVP 2020....Posted records of 9-0 (singles) and 7-2 (doubles) as a freshman....Played slots No.3 (5-0) and No.4 (4-0) in singles....Played No.2 (0-2) and No.3 (7-0) in doubles....A very consistent player, who doesn’t miss shots.....Has a sister (Sesil) playing professionally, so she has a lot of tennis experience.....Excited about her joining the FMU program.....Expected to fill one of FMU's top two spots, and if that happens, our line-up strength will be greatly enhanced....Part of the Patriot Mentors program....Chi Alpha Sigma national college athlete honor society....Received the Economics Award at the 2023 Academic Awards Day Ceremony....Works in the Writhing Center....Student-Athlete Advisory Committee 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-2023....Division II ADA Academic Achievement Award 2023, 2024....Peach Belt Conference Presidential Honor Roll 2021....FMU Swamp Fox Athletic-Academic Honor Roll 2019 (fall), 2020 (spring, fall), 2021 (spring, fall), 2022 (spring, fall), 2023 (spring, fall), 2024 (spring)....Conference Carolinas Presidential Honor Roll 2022 (spring, fall), 2023 (spring, fall), 2024 (spring).

PERSONAL:

• Born in Sofia, Bulgaria
• Attended both Sveti Kliment Oxridski in Sofia and Manatee High School in Bradenton, Fla., where she played for coaches Radoslav Karatantchev and Ashley Hobson respectively
• Played two seasons as the No.1 player at Manatee
• A past Super Series winner and Super Series finalist (girls U18)
• Nickname is Gabs

PERSONAL FAVORITES:

• As a child what you wanted to be when you grew up: Veterinarian
• Favorite Superhero: Thor
• Favorite Athlete:  Roger Federer
• Favorite Sports Team:  Tampa Bay Lightning
• Favorite Movie or TV Show:  Friends
• Favorite Food:  Chipotle
• Favorite Vacation Spot:  Sewanee
• Favorite Musical Artist: Post Malone
• Favorite Thing About FMU:  The quality of the professors
• Favorite Off-Field/court Activity:  Boxing
• Goals for Upcoming Season:  Improve my game and lead the team to a conference championship
• Why you first chose your sport: My entire family plays tennis
• Biggest mental challenge in your sport: I tend to take on many responsibilities and end up with little time for myself
• Interesting Notes:  I have graduated from two high schools, plan on graduating from FMU with a triple major and my sister was a professional tennis player (Sesil Karatantcheva); I have been a national champion for Bulgaria and represented my country in Europe; I have won many USTA tournaments as a child; at 15 years old I won a WTA point
• Brush With Greatness: With many tennis players due to travel with my sister

CAREER TOTALS: