Kotzen Tabbed SEC Newcomer of the Year, Two Vols Named First Team All-SEC

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee men’s tennis standouts Shunsuke Mitsui and Alex Kotzen brought home Southeastern Conference accolades, the conference announced Thursday.

Both individuals were awarded First Team All-SEC recognitions, and Kotzen was also tabbed the SEC Newcomer of the Year. Tennessee has had at least two members on the All-SEC team since the 2018 season – a mark that only four other teams in the conference share with UT.

This year marks the fourth straight campaign Mitsui has been awarded All-SEC honors, which marks only the ninth time this milestone has been achieved in school history. The Shizuoka, Japan, native has notched an impressive 35-8 record in singles play, including a 19-3 mark in dual matches. Currently, Mitsui is ranked 31st in the country in singles.  He has provided many heroics this season, such as the decisive clincher in the Vols’ 4-3 victory over No. 27 Auburn in March.

Earlier this season, Mitsui earned ITA All-American honors in singles after a run to the Round of 16 at the NCAA Individual Championships in Waco, Texas. This is the second year in a row the senior has earned such an honor, reaching the same round after the conclusion of the 2024 NCAA Championships back in May.

His 35 singles triumphs on the year have helped him reach over 125 for his career, moving him into sole possession of fifth place in school history. In doubles play, Mitsui holds a 16-5 dual match record and is on a five-match winning streak alongside partner Alan Jesudason.

A transfer from Columbia, Kotzen currently holds a 23-11 overall record in singles play, including a 15-7 (9-5 SEC) mark in dual matches. The New York native earned seven ranked victories over singles foes over the course of the dual season. A transfer from Columbia, Kotzen has a 13-7 mark in doubles during the spring campaign, competing primarily at the No. 1 spot, tallying five wins over ranked pairs in the process.

In the fall, he earned a spot in singles at the NCAA Individual Championships after his impressive run at the ITA Ohio Valley Regional Championships.  Kotzen is currently ranked 11th in the country in doubles with partner Alejandro Moreno and 22nd overall in singles play.

Mitsui, Kotzen and the rest of the Vols await their NCAA Tournament draw in the selection show, airing April 28 at 5:30 p.m. ET.

The full list of SEC Yearly Awards can be found below.

First Team All-SEC
Petar Jovanovic, Mississippi State
Benito Sanchez Martinez, Mississippi State
Timo Legout, Texas
Connor Thomson, South Carolina
Filip Planinsek, Alabama
Alex Kotzen, Tennessee
Sebastian Gorzny, Texas
Theo Papamalamis, Texas A&M
Shunsuke Mitsui, Tennessee
Ryan Colby, Georgia
Adhithya Ganesan, Florida
Thomas Paulsell, Georgia
Pierre-Yves Bailly, Texas
Antoine Ghibaudo, Kentucky

Second Team All-SEC
Miguel Perez Pena, Georgia
Niccolo Baroni, Mississippi State
Casey Hoole, South Carolina
Jeremy Jin, Florida
Luis Alvarez, Oklahoma
Lucas da Silva, South Carolina
Alex Frusina, Auburn
Oscar Lacides, Oklahoma
Lukas Palovic, Arkansas
JC Roddick, Texas A&M
Alessio Vasquez, LSU
Jack Loutit, Kentucky

All-Freshman
Antoine Ghibaudo, Kentucky
Oscar Lacides, Oklahoma
Niccolo Baroni, Mississippi State
Timo Legout, Texas
Alex Frusina, Auburn
Theo Papamalamis, Texas A&M

Player of the Year
Timo Legout, Texas

Newcomer of the Year
Alex Kotzen, Tennessee

Freshmen of the Year
Timo Legout, Texas

Coach of the Year
Bruce Berque, Texas