Monday Tabbed SEC Player of the Year, Mitsui Named All-SEC

Johannus Monday and Shunsuke Mitsui earned postseason honors from the SEC’s head coaches, the conference announced Thursday.
 
Monday was named 2024 SEC Player of the Year for the second season in a row and subsequently was selected to the All-SEC First Team. Mitsui also received All-SEC First Team honors.
 
The senior is the fourth player in conference history to receive player of the year accolades in back-to-back seasons, following Mississippi State’s Nuno Borges (2017, 2018, 2019), Georgia’s John Isner (2006, 2007) and VFL John-Patrick Smith (2010, 2011). Monday is one of four Vols in program history to be named SEC Player of the Year behind Chris Woodruff (1993), Smith (2010, 2011) and Mikelis Libietis (2013).
 
The Hull, England, native is the highest-ranked SEC player, standing second nationally in the latest ITA rankings. He boasts an impressive 22-2 record atop UT’s singles lineup, including a perfect 10-0 mark in conference action. The senior has notched a stellar 17-1 record vs. ranked opponents in 2023-24. 
 
In doubles, Monday, alongside his partner, Angel Diaz, notched a 17-5 record as Tennessee’s top pair in dual match play. They registered a 10-2 mark vs. ranked opponents. 
 
Mitsui earned All-SEC First Team accolades after going 20-5 in 2024, playing primarily at the No. 2 spot. The junior standout recorded a 10-2 mark in conference play while notching a 9-2 record against ranked opponents.
 
The Shizuoka, Japan, native played at the No. 2 doubles spot alongside Filip Pieczonka this season. The pair tallied a 19-2 record in 2023-24 and went 8-1 in SEC action.
 
The Vols have accumulated 11 first-team All-SEC honors in the Woodruff era and have placed multiple student-athletes on the All-SEC First Team in five consecutive seasons.
 
SEC Player of the Year
Johannus Monday
 
First Team All-SEC
Johannus Monday
Shunsuke Mitsui