Arkansas’ Hudson gets second team All-SEC honors

Arkansas senior co-captain Shannon Hudson earned second-team All-Southeastern Conference honors as voted by the league’s head coaches, it was announced Thursday.

Hudson is the 13th All-SEC selection at Arkansas under head coach Michael Hegarty. Her selection marked the third straight year a Razorback has earned All-SEC acclaim.

“To receive this recognition in perhaps the strongest year ever in the conference makes it even more impressive to see Shannon awarded this honor,” Hegarty said. “Her career has been filled with highlights, and this ranks right up there with any of them.”

Hudson, from Virginia Beach, Virginia, is ranked No. 45 nationally in singles and No. 38 in doubles with partner Giulia Pairone. A two-time SEC Player of the Week this season, Hudson has turned in 16 overall singles victories, including 11 at the No. 1 spot this spring and five against nationally ranked opponents.

Five of her wins clinched team victories for the Razorbacks, with three coming in SEC play. She also posted 15 overall doubles wins, including 13 this spring, nine at the top spot and two against ranked competition.

Playing in the nation’s toughest conference, which boasts 11 teams in the top 25 of the national rankings, Hudson has helped the No. 19 Razorbacks to a 17-9 (7-6 SEC) record so far this season and a top 20 ranking in each of the last nine weeks.

Arkansas was ranked as high as No. 14 in the country on April 18, which was its highest ranking since March 8, 2011.

The Razorbacks have defeated 11 teams in the current national team rankings, including No. 13 Auburn, No. 20 Texas A&M, No. 21 LSU and No. 22 Tennessee.

Arkansas will find out its NCAA Tournament destination on May 2 at 4:30 p.m. during an NCAA.com selection show.