Jan. 16, 2012
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By David Buchman
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla.-(UCFAthletics.com)- The UCF men's tennis team will be facing a loaded schedule this spring that will be sure to present great opportunities and challenges. The most recent ITA national team rankings list seven opponents of the Knights in the top 75.
With the season opening on Sunday, the Knights come out of the gates facing nationally ranked opponent Wake Forest (No. 41).
Last season, Wake Forest posted a 14-12 record and finished ranked No. 33. The 2011 season ended for the Demon Deacons with a second round defeat in the NCAA Tournament by No. 1 Virginia. This season, coach Tony Bresky turns to nationally ranked junior Danny Kreyman (No. 115) to lead his team. Following Wake forest, the Knights will face Jacksonville (Jan. 28) and Georgia Southern (Feb. 5) at home, before going on the road to face Louisiana-Lafayette (Feb. 11) and Tulane (Feb. 12).
Home play resume for the Knights on Friday, Feb. 17 in a matchup against No. 74 North Florida. Last season, the Ospreys took the Atlantic Sun regular season title but lost in the conference tournament to Stetson and finished the season ranked No. 75.
The Knights will take on Miami that following Friday (Feb. 24) in Coral Gables, as the Hurricanes are currently ranked No. 31. While in south Florida, UCF will face Florida Atlantic (Feb. 26) and then return home for an eight-match homestand that features two ranked opponents, Indiana (No. 29) and Auburn (No. 21).
After wrapping up the homestand, the Knights will travel to Tampa to face USF. The Bulls are currently ranked No. 46, which is where they finished in last season's final rankings.
In the last week of the season UCF will face its final ranked opponent, Tulsa. The Golden Hurricane are ranked No. 23 and hold the highest ranking out of all Conference USA schools.
With the C-USA Championship being held at the UCF Tennis Complex (Apr. 19-22), the Knights will be able to make a run for the conference title in front of the home crowd.