COLLEGE PARK, Md. --  After a stellar first season, University of Maryland freshman Ayana Akli  has been named Big Ten Freshman of the Year, the conference announced Wednesday. This marks the first Freshman of the Year award in program history. 

Akli finished her freshman year with a 21-3 singles record and 16-5 doubles record playing solely at the No. 1 position in both singles and doubles.  The Silver Spring, Md., native ended the season ranked No. 90 in the nation by the ITA in singles and has been as high as No. 71.

Akli started the fall season winning the top flights of both singles and doubles at the William & Mary Hall of Fame Classic. She also won her flight at the University of Alabama Roberta Alison Fall Classic beating three SEC opponents, including Emma Antonaki of Mississippi State, then ranked No. 41 nationally. 

At the ITA Regional Championships, she reached the quarter-finals before losing in three sets to top seeded Paola Delgado, a 2018-19 All-American, nationally ranked No. 31 at the time. Akli was able to turn the tables and beat Delgado of VCU in straight sets during the dual match season. 

Following back-to-back nationally ranked singles wins over No. 30 Columbia and VCU, Akli was named Big Ten Player of the Week on February 4, 2020. Her 11.15 UTR (11.3 highest) rates her as the third-highest ranked player overall in the Big Ten, and one of the highest ranked freshman in the nation.