Planinsek Named Alabama Men's Tennis' First SEC Freshman of the Year
4/29/2022 11:02:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Filip Planinsek is the first Crimson Tide player in program history to be named SEC Men’s Freshman of the Year
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. –– Filip Planinsek made history as the first member of the Alabama men's tennis team to be named the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year, as announced by the league office Friday. Planinsek also earned Second Team All-SEC honors, while he and Enzo Aguiard were tabbed for the All-Freshman Team.
Planinsek became the 21st player in Crimson Tide history to be named Second Team All-SEC after he finished the year as the lone SEC freshman to be ranked in singles and one of just four conference freshmen to be ranked in doubles. With the achievement, he was the first UA player to earn either first or second-team honors in his rookie campaign since Thibault Cancel was named both a second-team and all-freshman honoree in 2017.
Planinsek and Aguiard were UA's seventh and eighth players to be named to the SEC All-Freshman Team, marking the first time in program history that two Alabama players were selected for the first-year team in the same season. Alabama has had an athlete earn all-conference honors every season since 2007 and has earned a total of 85 accolades.
The SEC first recognized the top freshman in the conference in 2000, before adding an all-freshman team to its end-of-year awards in 2008. SEC postseason honors were not awarded in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
From Head Coach George Husack
"The majority of our team this year was made up of young, fresh faces who committed a lot to learning what Alabama tennis and competing in the SEC is all about. That process began last July and the noticeable improvements majorly impacted the growth of our team. Each player was accountable to themselves and that focus won't stop next season.
"Filip and Enzo faced some of the country's best players throughout the spring. Their willingness and ability to respond each weekend strengthened their commitment to their games and excitement in getting better. I'm happy that the conference coaches recognized them both but that credit also extends to their teammates who challenged them at practice to improve. I'm excited about the future growth of our team as relentless competitors."
Filip Planinsek | Freshman of the Year, Second Team All-SEC, All-Freshman Team
- Only SEC freshman to hold a national ranking in singles and one of just four to be ranked in doubles this season
- Currently ranked 25th in singles and ranked with two doubles partners coming in at No. 60 with Patrick Kaukovalta and No. 62 with German Samofalov
- Competed as the No. 1 singles player and member for the No. 1 doubles team for the Crimson Tide all season
- Holds a team-leading 21 singles wins, capturing 14 wins while playing at the No. 1 spot
- Recorded a team-leading 21 doubles wins with 15 victories coming at the top of the lineup
- Has been ranked with three different doubles partners this year, recording a season-high No. 16 with Juan Martin, No. 28 with Samofalov and No. 53 with Kaukovalta
- Won the ITA Southern Regional Championships Doubles Draw with Martin, earning an automatic berth the ITA National Fall Championships
- Recorded ranked singles wins against then-No. 1 Ben Shelton (Florida), then-No. 44 Finn Reynolds (Ole Miss), then-No. 44 George Harwell (Vanderbilt), then-No. 50 Ronald Hohmann (LSU), then-No. 112 Oscar Cutting (Memphis), then-No. 107 Alex Reco (Arkansas) Reco during the regular season as well as then-No. 35 George Harwell (Vanderbilt) in SEC Tournament
Enzo Aguiard | All-Freshman Team
- Competed at the No. 2 spot in the Crimson Tide's singles lineup in 19 matches
- Captured 18 singles wins throughout the year, second-most on the team, and 14 doubles victories
- Recorded ranked singles wins over then-No. 53 Alex Martinez (Oklahoma), then-No. 79 Trisan McCormick, then-No. 86 Ezequiel (Tulsa) and then-No. 88 Jeremy Taylor (Memphis) during the regular season in addition to then-No. 105 Jourbert Klopper (Vanderbilt) during the SEC Tournament
- Upset then-No. 24 doubles team of Trent Bryde and Philip Henning (Georgia) to close out the regular season
- Named SEC Freshman of the Week
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