Sept. 18, 2012
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By Mike Garabedian
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - As last year suggests, UCF men's tennis head coach Bobby Cashman schedules tough dual-match opponents for his team, and this year will be the same.
The 2012 spring slate was announced Tuesday and features Florida, Drake and Middle Tennessee, three schools that competed in the 2012 NCAA Championships. Following three road matches to kick-off the season, UCF returns to Orlando Feb. 8 for the home opener against FAU.
"Last year, I challenged our team with a difficult schedule and I think it prepared some of the younger players for elite Division I play," Cashman said. "This year I hope we can build on last year's play and compete with some of the top opponents in the country."
The Knights will host 14 regular-season matches at the UCF Tennis Complex during the spring, including a 10-match homestand to conclude the regular season.
UCF opens the schedule with arguably the toughest match of the season, on the road against last year's 12th-ranked Florida squad on Jan. 23. The Knights will play three more Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) ranked members from a year ago - Miami (Feb. 1), UNF (March 1) and San Diego State (March 5) - away from home.
The Knights will host four more teams that were ranked last year: Cornell (March 20), Drake (March 21), Middle Tennessee (April 12) and USF (April 14).
"The only way to get better is to play the best and I believe playing eight ranked teams will allow us to be ready for the Conference USA Championship in late April," Cashman said.
During dual-match play, nine of the team's contests will be against schools from the state of Florida. In addition to playing the four ranked Florida schools, the Knights will travel to FAMU (Jan. 25), and host FAU (Feb. 8), FGCU (Feb. 15), Rollins (March 30) and Bethune-Cookman (April 4).
UCF will conclude the season with the C-USA Championship, in Memphis, Tenn., April 18-21.
UCF returns five players from last season's team and adds a pair of incoming freshmen in Amar Hromic and Pedro Wagner.