For the second consecutive week, a Tennessee Lady Volunteer has taken home Southeastern Conference Player of the Week honors as Rebeka Mertena was recognized by the conference Wednesday afternoon for her outstanding effort over the weekend.
Mertena played a big role in Tennessee’s success against Auburn and Alabama, as she has for much of the year. The fifth-year senior earned a ranked victory in singles, but her impact was even more impressive on the doubles courts where she picked up a pair of ranked wins with Esther Adeshina.
“We are thrilled for Rebeka to be named SEC Player of the Week,” head coach Alison Ojeda said. “She is ready to perform at the level required each time she walks on the court. We know that as coaches, now the rest of the country is learning that too. It is really fun to watch.”
Mertena kicked off the weekend with a top-20 double win, taking down #20 Carolyn Ansari/Ariana Arseneault, 6-4, on Court 1 with Adeshina. She then stared down #41 Ansari in singles, getting the 6-4, 6-4 win as part of Tennessee’s singles onslaught against the Tigers.
Sunday’s match was marked by another ranked doubles victory, topping #58 Loudmilla Bencheikh/Anne Marie Hiser, 6-4, to jumpstart the Lady Vols’ doubles comeback against Alabama.
For her career, Mertena currently has 99 singles victories and will become the ninth player in program history to reach triple-digits with her next win.
The honor marks Tennessee’s second consecutive week claiming the SEC Player of the Week. Elza Tomase did so on March 15.
“For one of our players to receive this honor in back-to-back weeks is really impressive,” Ojeda finished saying. “It really goes to show how everyone on our team is contributing at a very high level.”
For Mertena, it marks her second career SEC Player of the Week honor, having last won the award on Jan. 29, 2020. She is no stranger to conference awards, however, having earned All-SEC acclaim in 2021 and 2022 after being named to the SEC All-Freshman Team in 2019.
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