AUBURN, Ala – For the second time this season, DJ Bennett has been tabbed SEC Player of the Week, the conference office announced Wednesday. Bennett has now earned the honor three times in her career.
Bennett, a senior, led Auburn to a road victory over Florida on Saturday to open the Tigers’ SEC schedule in Gainesville. A native of nearby Belleview, Florida, Bennett delivered in a homecoming match, clinching the doubles point at No. 1 doubles and securing the team victory at No. 1 singles. The win marked the program’s fifth over the Gators in the all-time series.
On the top singles court, Bennett jumped out to a 4-1 lead over No. 54 Valery Gynina before taking the first set 6-3. The Auburn senior carried that momentum into the second set, winning the first five games. She clinched the match 6-3, 6-3 to secure the team victory for the Tigers.
In doubles, the top Auburn team of Bennett and Ava Esposito clinched the doubles point with a 6-3 win over Xinyi Nong and Nikola Daubnerova, the 23rd-ranked doubles team in the nation.
Bennett and the Tigers will return to action Thursday on the road against No. 11 Oklahoma in Norman.