UF WTN: McCartney Kessler Named SEC Player of the Year
Thursday, April 28, 2022 | Women's Tennis
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Following an impressive 2021-22 campaign, graduate McCartney Kessler has been named the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year, the SEC announced Thursday afternoon. Alicia Dudeney and Marlee Zein also brought home All-Conference honors for the Gators.
McCartney Kessler | SEC Player of the Year | First Team All-SEC
Kessler earned SEC Player of the Year honors and First Team All-SEC honors after recording the best singles record for UF at 19-7 (17-5 in dual matches; 12-1 in SEC), winning 13-straight singles victories from Feb. 12-Apr. 8, along with a team-best 13 ranked-victories. She claimed two top-10 singles victories as well.
Kessler went 16-6 in doubles contests (15-5 in dual matches; 8-3 SEC), going 8-4 at the top position and 7-1 at three, while earning three ranked wins. She was named the SEC Player of the Week on Apr. 18 and owns the 37th-most total victories in Florida history with 176.
The Calhoun, Ga., native is now a three-time First Team All-SEC honoree, also boasting a second team honor from the 2018-19 campaign. She is currently ranked 12th in the nation in singles by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. With her Player of the Year honor, she is the ninth Gator in program history to earn the award and first since the 2016 season.
Alicia Dudeney | Second Team All-SEC | SEC All-Freshman Team
After a stellar freshman campaign, Dudeney was honored by the SEC with Second Team placement while also being named to the All-Freshman Team. The Hove, United Kingdom, native recorded a 26-9 singles record (14-4 dual; 7-3 SEC) at primarily the three and four spots. She went 1-0 at the top singles spot, earning her lone win against UAB. She won four ranked matches and 10 of her final 11 singles matches during the year.
In doubles, Dudeney ended with the most doubles wins for UF at 28-11 (14-5 dual; 6-4 SEC), including victories in six of her last seven matchups with four ranked wins. She was 5-1 at the top doubles spot.
Dudeney was named SEC Player of the Week on Feb. 9 and Freshman of the Week twice on Apr. 13 and Apr. 18. She was named to the SEC All-Tournament team for her efforts against Arkansas and Texas A&M, the latter of which resulted in a straight-set victory over No. 70 Mary Stoiana.
Marlee Zein | Second Team All-SEC
In her final go-around with Florida, Marlee Zein picked up Second Team All-SEC honors for the second time in her career. Zein recorded a 16-16 singles record at the two and three slots (10-9 dual matches; 7-5 SEC). When matching up with ranked opponents, Zein earned six singles wins and four ranked doubles victories.
In doubles play, the Sugar Land, Texas, native went 20-15 (11-9 dual matches; 5-6 SEC) at the one and two spots. She won five-straight matches during the season, with two ranked wins during that time. Zein currently boasts 101 career victories, the 53rd-most in Florida history. She was ranked as high as 34th during the season.
The Gators will await their regional fate in the NCAA Tournament on Monday, May 2, when the NCAA Selection Show airs live on NCAA.com at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Florida SEC Players of the Year
Brooke Austin – 2015, 2016
Jill Craybas – 1995, 1996
Lauren Embree – 2010, 2012, 2013
Alexis Gordon – 2004
McCartney Kessler – 2022
Jessica Lenhoff – 2002
Divya Merchant – 1994
Lisa Raymond – 1993
Allie Will – 2011
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McCartney Kessler | SEC Player of the Year | First Team All-SEC
Kessler earned SEC Player of the Year honors and First Team All-SEC honors after recording the best singles record for UF at 19-7 (17-5 in dual matches; 12-1 in SEC), winning 13-straight singles victories from Feb. 12-Apr. 8, along with a team-best 13 ranked-victories. She claimed two top-10 singles victories as well.
Kessler went 16-6 in doubles contests (15-5 in dual matches; 8-3 SEC), going 8-4 at the top position and 7-1 at three, while earning three ranked wins. She was named the SEC Player of the Week on Apr. 18 and owns the 37th-most total victories in Florida history with 176.
The Calhoun, Ga., native is now a three-time First Team All-SEC honoree, also boasting a second team honor from the 2018-19 campaign. She is currently ranked 12th in the nation in singles by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. With her Player of the Year honor, she is the ninth Gator in program history to earn the award and first since the 2016 season.
Alicia Dudeney | Second Team All-SEC | SEC All-Freshman Team
After a stellar freshman campaign, Dudeney was honored by the SEC with Second Team placement while also being named to the All-Freshman Team. The Hove, United Kingdom, native recorded a 26-9 singles record (14-4 dual; 7-3 SEC) at primarily the three and four spots. She went 1-0 at the top singles spot, earning her lone win against UAB. She won four ranked matches and 10 of her final 11 singles matches during the year.
In doubles, Dudeney ended with the most doubles wins for UF at 28-11 (14-5 dual; 6-4 SEC), including victories in six of her last seven matchups with four ranked wins. She was 5-1 at the top doubles spot.
Dudeney was named SEC Player of the Week on Feb. 9 and Freshman of the Week twice on Apr. 13 and Apr. 18. She was named to the SEC All-Tournament team for her efforts against Arkansas and Texas A&M, the latter of which resulted in a straight-set victory over No. 70 Mary Stoiana.
Marlee Zein | Second Team All-SEC
In her final go-around with Florida, Marlee Zein picked up Second Team All-SEC honors for the second time in her career. Zein recorded a 16-16 singles record at the two and three slots (10-9 dual matches; 7-5 SEC). When matching up with ranked opponents, Zein earned six singles wins and four ranked doubles victories.
In doubles play, the Sugar Land, Texas, native went 20-15 (11-9 dual matches; 5-6 SEC) at the one and two spots. She won five-straight matches during the season, with two ranked wins during that time. Zein currently boasts 101 career victories, the 53rd-most in Florida history. She was ranked as high as 34th during the season.
The Gators will await their regional fate in the NCAA Tournament on Monday, May 2, when the NCAA Selection Show airs live on NCAA.com at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Florida SEC Players of the Year
Brooke Austin – 2015, 2016
Jill Craybas – 1995, 1996
Lauren Embree – 2010, 2012, 2013
Alexis Gordon – 2004
McCartney Kessler – 2022
Jessica Lenhoff – 2002
Divya Merchant – 1994
Lisa Raymond – 1993
Allie Will – 2011
FOLLOW THE GATORS
SOCIAL: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: #GoGators
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