Andy Andrade, Sam Riffice, Duarte Vale, Blaise Bicknell and Ben Shelton named to various SEC teams
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Florida’s Bryan Shelton was named the 2021 Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year after guiding the Gators to an undefeated 12-0 record in SEC play and a 20-2 record overall this season, the conference announced on Friday.
Shelton, who oversaw his program’s second regular season conference title in three years, was awarded the SEC Coach of the Year award for the third time in his career, winning it also in 2016 and 2019.
The SEC also named its first, second and freshman teams for the year with Andy Andrade, Sam Riffice, Duarte Vale, Blaise Bicknell and Ben Shelton earning recognition.
Andrade, Riffice and Vale were named First Team All-SEC while Bicknell was named Second Team All-SEC. Shelton was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team.
Andrade is 14-7 in dual singles matches this season and has added eight doubles wins as well while Riffice has put together an 18-4 singles record and a 13-6 record in doubles. Vale, who has played at the No. 1 spot all season, went 15-6 in singles and tallied 12 wins in doubles.
Bicknell was an impressive 20-0 in dual singles matches this season and a perfect 29-0 overall for the 2020-21 year in singles.
To round out the honorees, Shelton was 17-4 in dual singles matches this season and 12-6 in doubles play on the year.
Florida will now await the NCAA Selection Show on May 3 at 6:30 p.m. ET to find out their seed and location for the NCAA Tournament. It was already named a pre-approved potential site to host the first and second rounds at the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex.
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