AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn sophomore DJ Bennett has been awarded the first SEC Player of the Week for the 2024 season, the conference announced on Wednesday. Bennett earned the honor after an incredible week that featured two straight set singles wins and a doubles win during ITA Kickoff Weekend in Durham, North Carolina.
Bennett, the 34th ranked singles player in the nation, wasted no time getting the Tigers their first singles match win against Denver on Friday, earning a quick 6-0, 6-2 victory over Caroline Driscoll.
On Saturday against No. 15 Duke, Bennett and Adeline Flach came back to win after trailing 3-1 during their doubles match against Brianna Shvets and Iuliia Bryzgalova. The 6-3 victory clinched the crucial doubles point for the Tigers.
Following the doubles point win, the Auburn sophomore quickly won her opening singles set over No. 74 Ellie Coleman 6-2. Bennett was cruising in the second set and built an advantage over Coleman, but Coleman battled back to even the set at five.
The Belleview, Florida native pulled away in the final two games of the set, winning both of them to secure the team victory for Auburn and begin the celebration with her teammates on court three. In the dramatic second set, Bennett won eight of her 10 service games including four that reached a 40-40 score.
LET THE CELEBRATION BEGIN 🎉
— Auburn Women's Tennis (@AuburnWTennis) January 27, 2024
DJ Bennett takes court three and clinches the team victory for the Tigers 🐅#WarEagle pic.twitter.com/5Oj5iOrXY9
The win marked Bennett's team-best 12th singles victory of the 2023-24 campaign and punched Auburn's ticket to the ITA Indoor Team Championships for the third consecutive season.