News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
BIRMINGHAM – Texas A&M’s Mary Stoiana and Lucciana Perez highlighted the Aggies’ postseason awards, as the pair were named SEC Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year, respectively. The Maroon & White also garnered five All-SEC honors.
The No. 1 player in the nation, Stoiana became the first Aggie to win SEC Player of the Year last season, and now has received the honor in back-to-back years. She also became the first player to win the award in consecutive seasons since 2016. The junior finished the conference regular season 11-1 in singles play and downed six top-40 nationally-ranked players, including a pair who were ranked in the top-10. Playing with partner Mia Kupres, the No. 7 ranked doubles team in the country held a 6-1 record in court 1 doubles, with four of the victories coming against ranked opponents. Stoiana led the conference all year in the ITA rankings and finished league action as the top ranked player in both singles and doubles. She was also a First Team All-SEC selection, which marks her fourth time receiving all-conference recognition in her three-year career with another first-team selection last season, and a second-team and all-freshman honor during her rookie campaign.
Perez had a freshman year to remember, as she became the first member of the Maroon & White to ever win SEC Freshman of the Year. A mainstay on court 4 singles, Perez finished the season boasting a 10-3 record in conference play. Her 10 wins tied for the most by a freshman across the conference this season but did so playing on the highest ranked court. She also contributed to the Aggies doubles success throughout the year, picking up six wins with partner Jeanette Mireles. Her performance during her rookie season garnered her an SEC Freshman of the Week honor. Starting her postseason campaign, Perez secured four wins during the SEC Tournament, including an undefeated run in singles play, highlighted by a victory over fellow league freshman then-No. 111 Qavia Lopez from Florida. She was awarded SEC All-Tournament Team honors at the conclusion of the championships. Perez was also named Second Team All-SEC and SEC All-Freshman Team.
A&M secured another pair of First Team All-SEC honors, as Nicole Khirin and Kupres were selected by the league’s coaches. Khirin put on a dominant showing on court 2 singles, accumulating a record of 10-1 while also missing two matches due to a Billie Jean King Cup selection where she represented Israel. In doubles action, her and partner Sydney Fitch paced the Maroon & White in victories, as the pair claimed nine wins to only two losses. Kupres received her third all-conference selection after being named to the All-SEC Second Team and SEC All-Freshman Team last season. She held down court 3 with an 8-2 record in singles play, and dominated up top in doubles with Stoiana.
The Aggies now await seeding information for the opening two rounds of the NCAA Tournament which will be held at campus sites.