AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn junior DJ Bennett has been named a finalist for the Honda Award for Tennis, the Collegiate Women’s Sports Awards announced Tuesday. Bennett joins Dasha Vidmanova of Georgia, Mary Stoiana of Texas A&M and Elza Tomase of Tennessee as finalists for the prestigious honor.
One of the best in women’s college athletics 👏
— Auburn Women's Tennis (@AuburnWTennis) May 27, 2025
DJ Bennett has been named a finalist for the @CWSA_HondaCup for Tennis 🏆#WarEagle pic.twitter.com/ApcBjVntfL
Bennett, who will be a senior in 2025-26, has established herself as one of the most accomplished players in program history during her three seasons on the Plains. In November, she made program history by becoming just the second Auburn player to reach the NCAA Singles Championship final and was part of the second doubles team in program history to advance to the NCAA Doubles Championship semifinals.
Bennett earned first-team All-SEC honors this spring after posting a 27-10 overall singles record and a 15-6 mark in dual matches primarily at the top of the Tigers’ singles lineup. She and doubles partner Ava Hrastar, who regularly competed at the top of the Auburn doubles lineup, finished the season with a 19-11 overall record. Bennett picked up 15 singles victories over ranked opponents this spring, including wins over No. 2 Stoiana, No. 8 Valerie Glozman of Stanford and No. 11 Celia-Belle Mohr of Vanderbilt.
She remained inside the top five of the ITA singles rankings and the top 25 in doubles throughout the spring, finishing the season ranked No. 3 in singles and No. 11 in doubles.
Nominees for the 12 Division I Honda Sports Awards are submitted via ballot for voting by senior woman administrators at approximately 1,000 NCAA member institutions. The award reflects not only athletic achievement but also the ideals of team contribution, scholastic excellence, school and community involvement and the personal characteristics promoted by the NCAA’s philosophy.
In June, the 12 individual Honda Sports Award winners are placed on a final ballot. Following a vote by NCAA schools, three finalists are selected. The CWSA Board of Directors then reviews the top three and, by confidential vote, names the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year, announced during the annual June awards ceremony.
The Collegiate Women Sports Awards program is governed by a board of directors and executive committee that includes representatives from NCAA institutions, members of the media, organizational representatives and a former Honda Cup recipient.