LEXINGTON ? Kentucky senior All-American Jesse Witten continues to reap his share of postseason awards, as the Naples, Fla., native was named the ITA Southeast Region Ted Farnsworth Senior Player of the Year on Monday.

Witten collects his second player of the year selection in less than three weeks after being named the SEC Men?s Tennis Player of the Year last month. The recognition from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association is his first since being named the ITA Southeast Region Rookie of the Year in 2002. Witten becomes a finalist for the ITA National Senior Player of the Year honor to be awarded on May 25 during the NCAA Men?s Tennis Championships at Texas A&M.

?It?s a great honor for him to win this award,? UK Coach Dennis Emery said. ?The competition in our region is very strong. Our region has another former No. 1 player in (Ole Miss?) Catalin Gard, and as far as I know, we?re in the only region with two former No. 1 players competing for the same honor.

?It speaks to the hard work that Jesse has put in to go from being a rookie who had to play the qualifying round in his first college tournament to becoming the top senior player in our region.?

Witten and his Wildcat teammates begin NCAA competition this Saturday, May 14 with the NCAA regional at UK?s Boone Tennis Complex. The Cats meet Butler at 12 p.m. Witten is slated for NCAA singles competition beginning on May 25 and will begin play in the NCAA doubles championships on May 26 with fellow senior Tigran Martirosyan.