News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
BIRMINGHAM – Texas A&M standouts Mary Stoiana and Lexington Reed earned SEC Weekly Honors for the second time as a duo this year, the SEC announced Wednesday.
The pair were rewarded for their efforts in the Aggies’ wins against Kentucky (4-0) and No. 7 Tennessee (4-1). Stoiana claimed her third SEC Player of the Week honor this season, while Reed was named the SEC Freshman of the Week for the second time in her career. Stoiana boasts 16 career weekly honors from the SEC, including four freshman of the week awards from her rookie campaign.
Stoiana picked up three ranked victories in the wins over Kentucky and No. 7 Tennessee, marking the team’s eighth win over a top 25 team this season. In singles, the senior started with the match-clinching blow in Texas A&M’s fifth SEC sweep against the Wildcats, defeating No. 59 Zoe Hammond, 6-3, 6-4. She topped No. 7 Elza Tomase, 7-5, 7-6(4) to cap the triumph over the Volunteers for her third-straight victory. She improved to 17-4 against nationally ranked opponents and 20-4 on the year. The Southbury, Connecticut, native also pushed her singles record in SEC play to 7-1.
In doubles, Stoiana paired with Lucciana Perez to capture their fourth ranked win, defeating No. 65 Ellie Eades/Elizabeth Stevens, 6-3. The duo is undefeated against ranked opponents with a 4-0 record.
Reed continues to dominate in league play, as she struck first in singles in each of the Aggies’ wins. Against the Wildcats, she downed Ellie Myers, 6-2, 6-3 to give the Maroon & White a 2-0 lead. In Sunday’s match, the Aggies found themselves down early after dropping the doubles point, but Reed responded with a 6-4, 6-3 triumph over Tennessee’s Saray Yli-Piipari, to even the score at 1-1. Reed improved her overall record to 22-6 and 7-1 in SEC action.
The freshman also assisted in capturing the doubles point versus Kentucky with her partner Nicole Khirin, defeating Myers/Julia Zhu, 6-2 for their fifth-straight win. The duo leads the team in SEC victories with a 7-2 record.
The Aggies are 19-2 and 10-1 in the SEC and return to action against Mississippi State on Friday at 10 a.m. at the Mitchell Tennis Center.