Sophomore Sam Riffice collects additional ITA honors as the regional “Player to Watch”
ITA RELEASE<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.wearecollegetennis.com_2020_05_18_ita-2Dregional-2Dplaying-2Dawards-2Ddivision-2Di-2Dmen_-23southeast&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=l8eMamhrV7uFePIvpT0QWC_JpwfMukAG3jEeI9cmE7c&s=Uh7RCMDmMoKgoUIQVcWUNdSkYZ0tdnSfhM0EqCeWX34&e= > | RIFFICE FEATURE<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_news_2020_4_19_mens-2Dtennis-2Dsam-2Driffice-2Dto-2Dnot-2Dtake-2Danything-2Dfor-2Dgranted.aspx&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=l8eMamhrV7uFePIvpT0QWC_JpwfMukAG3jEeI9cmE7c&s=0ksbKyVBFwiUEQIba5yZHrhW9c52Bmlu9Jhnj6wi4dw&e= >
TEMPE, Ariz. – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) announced the 2020 Division I Men’s ITA Regional Playing Awards on Monday morning, as sophomore captain Sam Riffice was named the ITA Southeast Region Player to Watch.
Riffice collects ITA honors for the second consecutive season, being named the ITA Southeast Region Rookie of the Year last season<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_news_2019_5_19_mens-2Dtennis-2Dshelton-2Driffice-2Dand-2Dcrawford-2Drack-2Dup-2Dita-2Dhonors.aspx&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=l8eMamhrV7uFePIvpT0QWC_JpwfMukAG3jEeI9cmE7c&s=b57hLCwoy9FZMqgkUDx4H9ImUbvbMNsRgcAQaew7wUc&e= > in addition to adding ITA All-American honors in both singles and doubles<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_news_2020_4_28_mens-2Dtennis-2Dgators-2Dlead-2Dnation-2Dwith-2Dfive-2Dita-2Dall-2Damerican-2Dhonors.aspx&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=l8eMamhrV7uFePIvpT0QWC_JpwfMukAG3jEeI9cmE7c&s=AbiQRkDxh96a5Aj-k9WE_GUSUB-2r3RxhxDkleX5bbY&e= > in April.
Additionally, it marks the second straight year a Gator has been named the ITA Southeast Region Player to Watch, as Oliver Crawford claimed ITA Regional and National Player to Watch accolades in 2019<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_news_2019_5_19_mens-2Dtennis-2Dshelton-2Driffice-2Dand-2Dcrawford-2Drack-2Dup-2Dita-2Dhonors.aspx&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=l8eMamhrV7uFePIvpT0QWC_JpwfMukAG3jEeI9cmE7c&s=b57hLCwoy9FZMqgkUDx4H9ImUbvbMNsRgcAQaew7wUc&e= >.
Riffice produced a solid sophomore campaign prior to the season’s end, finishing 16-4 overall in singles and 14-3 in doubles.
In the fall, the Orlando, Fla. native reached the singles finals of the ITA All-American Championships in Tulsa, Okla., becoming the first Gator to finish national runner-up since Daniel Courcol in 1992. Riffice reached a career-high ranking of No. 4 throughout the dual season as he recorded an 11-3 record in singles, with a 9-2 mark at the No. 2 position, and 3-1 record through SEC competition. Additionally, the sophomore clinched three matches for the Gators this season (Stetson, Illinois, Auburn).
Crawford and Riffice went 9-2 together at the top spot for the Gators in doubles, finishing 3-0 in SEC play, as the pair opened the season on a six-match win streak that included a top-five win over Columbia’s Jack Lin and Jackie Tang – who were also named ITA All-Americans. The tandem reached a career-high ranking of No. 13 prior to finishing ranked No. 14, as the duo also won the consolation doubles draw of the ITA All-American Championships in the fall.
A three-time ITA All-American, Riffice holds career overall records of 42-15 in singles and 34-9 in doubles.
