MELBOURNE, Fla. - Barry University tennis athlete Deniz Khazan has been named the 2020-21 Sunshine State Conference Female Athlete of the Year. Khazan finished 2020-21 as a National Champion and the No. 1 ranked singles player in NCAA Division II by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA).
Voting for the award is conducted among Athletic Directors, Senior Woman Administrators, Athletic Communication Directors, and Faculty Athletic Representatives from each of the 11 SSC member institutions.
Khazan, a native of Netanya, Israel, recorded an 11-0 record at #1 singles which included five victories against Top-10 nationally-ranked opponents. She finished 10-1 at #1 doubles, with four wins against Top-5 teams, accompanied by partner Madeline Bosnjak. Her list of accolades in 2020-21 includes ITA First Team All-America singles and doubles and All-SSC First Team honors in singles and doubles. In addition to her ITA No. 1 singles ranking, Khazan landed at No. 5 in the Final ITA doubles ranking.
With the play of Khazan, the Buccaneers finished the season 15-0 overall and 8-0 in league play. Barry captured its sixth NCAA Division II Women’s Tennis national championship (fourth consecutive) and a record 12th SSC tournament title. Currently pursuing a degree in Sports Management, Khazan was selected to Barry Athletics’ 4.0 Club and the SSC Commissioner’s Honor Roll in Spring 2021.
Khazan becomes the sixth Barry student-athlete to be honored as SSC Female Athlete of the Year1 and the second this decade, joining 2017-18 winner Sonja Larsen (tennis). She is also the fourth tennis student-athlete, third consecutive, to win the Female Athlete of the Year2 since the award was established in 1987-88.
Complete Listing: SSC Athletes of the Year
1Previous Barry winners: Sonja Larsen, Barry (2017-18), Geralyn Elam (2001-02), Cindy Yuan (1997-98), Mickisha Hurley (1995-96); Katrina Lofton (1990-91)
2Leolia Jeanjean, Lynn (2018-19); Sonja Larsen, Barry (2017-18) & Stacy Moss, Rollins College (1993-94, 1994-95)