MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - Thanks to their success in the classroom and on the court this season, a trio of Penn State Harrisburg tennis players have earned College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District recognition. 


Women's tennis player Breanna DeSantis secured the honor, while Derwin Merca and Peng Mark Hou earned the accolade on the men's side. 


For DeSantis, the academic all-district plaudit is her second in three years. The senior capped her illustrious career by becoming the program's all-time leader in singles victories with 47 career wins. This season, the El Paso, Texas native recorded 13 victories in solo action, with 11 coming from the No. 2 position, including six wins in United East play. She also teamed with Allison Wootton to win 13 doubles matches from the No. 1 spot, with seven of them coming against conference opponents. In a United East Championship victory over St. Mary's (Md.) earlier this month, she secured the title-clinching singles win and was named the United East Championship Tournament MVP for her efforts. DeSantis served as the chair of Penn State Harrisburg's Student-Athlete Leadership Council during the 2024-25 campaign and represented the school on the United East Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). The Kinesiology major recently graduated with a 3.77 cumulative GPA. 


Merca's academic all-district honor is his second in the last three seasons. The senior completed his impressive career this spring with 11 victories in solo action and 11 more in doubles play. The Hummelstown, Pa. native accumulated 71 career wins, including 37 in singles competition and 34 in doubles action. Thanks to his efforts in the United East Championship win over St. Mary's (Md.) in early May, Merca was named the United East Championship Tournament MVP. The Biobehavioral Health major recently earned his degree with a 3.71 cumulative GPA. 


Hou went 14-1 in singles play this season and finished 5-0 in United East play from the No. 1 solo position. The sophomore also finished 15-2 in doubles action, including a perfect 7-0 against United East opponents. For his efforts, the Datong, China native recently earned an "In Consideration" moniker for an NCAA Regional Ranking and was named the United East Player of the Year. He earned a spot on the United East All-Conference First Team as both a singles and doubles player and he was tabbed the United East Player of the Week four times this season. The Psychology major also holds a 3.67 cumulative GPA.


Fans can keep up with Penn State Harrisburg men's and women's tennis all season long on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) by following the Lions using the handle @pshbgtennis.