ATHENS, Ga. — After going 2-0 in doubles play during the ITA Kickoff Weekend, Aysegul Mert earned her first Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week Award, the SEC announced Wednesday afternoon.
Paired with Dasha Vidmanova to combine as the No. 58 ranked doubles duo in the ITA women’s tennis doubles rankings, Mert was key in two matches over the weekend against South Florida and South Carolina.
In her first match against South Florida, Mert was a force at the net as her and Vidmanova helped clinch the doubles point after a 6-2 victory over Grace Schumacher and Nadja Bay Christians (USF) at the No. 1 spot.
In the ITA Kickoff Weekend Championship game against South Carolina, Mert was key at the net once again with several return points and a pair of long rally wins en route to a 6-3 win against Sarah Hamner and Misa Malkin (SCAR) at the No. 2 spot.
The Istanbul, Turkey-native improved to a 14-9 doubles record on the season while winning six of her last eight matches, including a victory over the No. 8 pairing in the country in Michigan’s Kari Miller and Jaedan Brown on Jan. 14.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2024/1/1225887/lady-dogs-aysegul-mert-earns-tennis-sec-freshman-of-the-week-honors