July 15, 2010
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By Brian Ormiston
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF women's tennis team released its 2010-11 schedule Thursday and there is a lot in store on the courts for the Knights this season. Along with holding two fall tournaments and nine dual-matches in the spring at the UCF Tennis Complex, the Black and Gold also is set to host the 2011 Conference USA Championship April 21-24 at the Lake Cane Tennis Center.
"I'm very excited about the schedule we have put together for this year," said head coach Stephanie Nickitas. "For the first time we will be hosting two fall tournaments which gives us a chance to compete on our home courts early in the year. We are bringing in a variety of schools that we don't normally see such as Arkansas, Missouri, Purdue and Virginia Tech.
"As far as the spring, I've continued to build a very strong schedule. It's my belief that playing against the toughest competition possible will make us better. With the flexibility of not having to play a mandated conference schedule, I have the opportunity to schedule numerous matches against highly-ranked schools. We will play UF, Alabama, USF and Miami on the road and are hosting Michigan, FSU and SMU here on our home courts."
Kicking off the fall campaign, UCF heads south for a tournament at Miami Sept. 24-26 and also will be on the road for the ITA Regionals at the University of Georgia Oct. 22-24. However the Knights will have the opportunity to host two events before the spring season as their first home tournament is slated for Oct. 8-11 and includes Arkansas, Purdue and Missouri, while the fall finale takes place Nov. 5-7 with Stetson, North Florida and Virginia Tech all venturing to Orlando.
Coming off a 13-7 record in the spring of 2010, the Knights will tangle with three top-10 programs in 2011, and will face nine schools which finished last year ranked in the top 75.
It all starts Jan. 22 with a home affair vs. Florida A&M. UCF also welcomes Bethune-Cookman, Louisiana-Lafayette, No. 8 Michigan, No. 14 Florida State, Marquette, Miami (Ohio), SMU and Memphis to its campus this year.
Away from home, the Knights travel to No. 2 Florida, No. 71 Alabama, UAB, No. 26 South Florida, No. 10 Miami, East Carolina, UNC Wilmington (Cary, N.C.), No. 68 North Florida, Stetson, No. 54 FIU and Florida Atlantic.
That will set up the postseason for the Knights, who will host their first C-USA Championship at the Lake Cane Tennis Center at Shadow Bay Park. It also will mark the first time in the history of the program that the UCF women's tennis team will host a conference tournament.
2010-11 UCF Women's Tennis ScheduleSept. 24-26 - at Miami TournamentOct. 8-11 - UCF TournamentOct. 22-24 - at ITA Regionals, Athens, Ga.Nov. 5-7 - UCF TournamentJan. 15-17 - at Florida State Quad TournamentJan. 22 - Florida A&M - 12 p.m.Jan. 26 - at Florida - 2 p.m.Feb. 4 - Bethune-Cookman - 2 p.m.Feb. 12 - at Alabama - 2 p.m.Feb. 13 - at UAB - 12 p.m.Feb. 23 - at South Florida - 2 p.m.Feb. 25 - Louisiana-Lafayette - 2 p.m.Feb. 27 - at Miami - 11 a.m.March 5 - Michigan - 11 a.m.March 9 - Florida State - 2 p.m.March 16 - Marquette - 4 p.m.March 18 - Miami (Ohio) - 4 p.m.March 26 - at East Carolina - 10 a.m.March 27 - vs. UNC Wilmington at Cary, N.C. - 11 a.m.March 30 - at North Florida - 2 p.m.April 2 - SMU - 11 a.m.April 3 - Memphis - 12 p.m.April 9 - at Stetson - 12 p.m.April 16 - at Florida International - TBDApril 17 - at Florida Atlantic - 11 a.m.April 21-24 - Conference USA Championship (Lake Cane Tennis Center)May 14 - NCAA Tournament BeginsHome events held at the UCF Tennis ComplexAll times Eastern and are subject to change