BREAKING NEWS: LSU’s Cadence Brace and Kayla Cross Earn Big Prestigious Awards and Honors in SEC Tennis.

LSU Women’s Tennis continues to shine on the national stage, thanks to the incredible performances of freshmen Cadence Brace and Kayla Cross. The SEC announced its yearly honors on Wednesday, and LSU was front and center—Brace was named **SEC Freshman of the Year**, while both Brace and Cross were selected for the **All-SEC** and **All-Freshman** teams.

Brace had a breakout season that more than lived up to expectations. She was awarded **First Team All-SEC**, making her just the 10th LSU player ever to receive that honor. She’s also the second player in LSU history to be named SEC Freshman of the Year, joining Jade Lewis (2017).

Throughout the season, Brace dominated at the top singles spot, racking up **11 wins**, including **eight against nationally ranked players**. She reached **No. 12 in the ITA singles rankings** and was named **SEC Freshman of the Week three times**. Highlights from her season include a dominant win over then-No. 5 Elza Tomase of Tennessee and a gritty, match-clinching victory over South Carolina’s Sarah Hamner, who was ranked No. 19 at the time.

Brace also teamed up with Cross in doubles to form one of the top pairings in the country. The duo finished with a **10-3 record**, including **seven ranked wins**, and reached as high as **No. 3 in the ITA rankings**. They helped clinch key matches against UCLA and Georgia with their chemistry and consistency.

Kayla Cross also stood out in singles, finishing with a **10-2 record** and a **nine-match winning streak** that lasted more than two months. She earned two SEC Freshman of the Week awards and climbed to **No. 44 in the ITA singles rankings**, with impressive wins over top players from UCLA and Texas.

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**What do you think?**

1. Is Cadence Brace the best freshman in LSU tennis history?
2. Can Brace and Cross lead LSU to a national title in the future?
3. Which of their doubles wins impressed you the most?
4. How does this freshman duo compare to past SEC greats?
5. Should Brace be considered for national Freshman of the Year honors?