Jan. 21, 2005
ORLANDO - The UCF women's tennis team tests itself for the first time this spring when the Golden Knights host Flagler College in an exhibition match on Saturday at the UCF Tennis Complex. First serve is scheduled for noon.
Sixth-year head coach Patricia Allison is excited about the prospect of seeing the squad back in competition. "The whole team has been working hard and is making solid progress," she said.
Leading the team are its two seniors Kristina Lohmos and Ola Luczak, who both finished with identical 3-3 records after the fall season. With 58 career victories, Lohmos needs only six more to move into the top 10 in the UCF record book, while her attitude and performance on the court has also set a benchmark for her teammates. Luczak is poised to make the best of final year with the Golden Knights building upon her previous accomplishments.
After compiling a 4-2 record during the fall tournaments, junior Pamela Fernandez continues to play well, while sophomore Megan Rosario-Hunter has taken advantage of the time she worked over the summer. She has been performing well in doubles and is developing into a solid singles player.
The Golden Knights' will also benefit from having sophomore transfer Becky Gordon in the lineup. Her experience as the No. 1 singles player for Appalachian State during 2003-04 has proved to be an asset to both herself and the team.
"Not only is her doubles play solid, but she is also making a statement with her singles play," said Allison. Gordon boasted a 4-1 mark in the fall that included an impressive three set win over Florida State's Yana Stoeva.
UCF's four freshmen have already begun to leave their mark on the program. Jennifer Carati played at top of the lineup in the fall and finished at 2-4, while Anna Yakimchenkova, who was 3-1, was the runner-up in the Flight Five singles bracket at the Lady Seminole Classic. She and doubles partner Rosario-Hunter combined for a 4-0 record as well.
Meanwhile, Kyla McNichol has suffered some injuries but could make a significant difference once she is healthy and back on the court. Although she is sitting out the year, rookie Viviana Yrureta has proved her skill and pushed her teammates in practice sessions.
The Golden Knights finished last season at 12-9 and were the runner up to Troy at the Atlantic Sun Championships. They open the regular season on Jan. 27 at No. 2 ranked Florida.