Freshman Tyler Zink and sophomore Philip Henning of the Georgia men’s tennis team swept this week’s Southeastern Conference (SEC) weekly honors, the league office announced Wednesday. For the second time this season, Zink was named SEC Freshman of the Week, while Henning was dubbed SEC Player of the Week.
“I’m so proud of both Philip and Tyler for their roles, not only this past week, but throughout the year,” Georgia head coach Manuel Diaz said. “Their commitment to getting better every day is paying off for them and for our entire team.”
Zink boasted a combined 3-0 record in singles and doubles last week to help Georgia knock off a pair of top-10 teams. Last Friday, Zink clinched the doubles point and then clinched the match with his 6-2, 4-6, 6-0 victory against Tennessee’s Martim Prata. Against third-ranked Ohio State last Sunday, Zink and teammate Trent Bryde knocked off the No. 3-ranked duo of John McNally and Robert Cash, 6-1 in doubles. The Bradenton, Fla., native then took 33rd-ranked Kyle Seeing to a third set, before Henning clinched the match before Zink could finish. Zink, ranked No. 80 in ITA singles rankings, is now 8-3 in singles and 7-1 at the No. 1 doubles court this season.
Henning, the highest-ranked Bulldog at No. 11, played at the No. 2 singles position and won both matches without losing a set to lead Georgia to a pair of wins against top-10 teams this past weekend. In the match against No. 3-ranked Ohio State, Henning fell behind 5-1 in the first set, before storming back to deliver a match-clinching 7-6 (6), 6-4 triumph against 7th-ranked John McNally. This came after he defeated Tennessee’s Luca Wiedenmann, 6-2, 6-4, to help the Bulldogs defeat the Vols, 4-2, last Friday. Not only did Henning win every set he played in singles, but he also teamed with Blake Croyder to go a perfect 2-0 in doubles last week. Henning, who has won four-straight matches, now leads Georgia with a 19-7 singles record, which includes a team-best 6-4 mark against ranked opponents. He also paces the Bulldogs in doubles with a 17-8 overall mark and 6-1 record at the No. 2 court.
(Photo by Chamberlain Smith)
Georgia, named this week’s USTA Team of the Week, caps a six-match home stretch this week against SEC foes Ole Miss and Mississippi State. First, the Bulldogs face the Rebels on Friday, March 6, at 2:30 p.m. Georgia returns Sunday, March 8, against Mississippi State in a battle of the Bulldogs, with the match slated to begin at 1 p.m.