ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) -- The UCF men's tennis team opens the 2017 season with three matches in three days, starting on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 5 p.m. when the Knights take on No.23 Texas Tech.
The Knights will open the 2017 season at their brand new home, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) National Campus in Lake Nona. The new 100-plus court national campus includes a collegiate center with 12 lighted, hard courts and room for 1,200 fans.
"From a non-tennis perspective, it is very exciting to start at the new facility, to play some of the first matches and events that they've had at the USTA National Campus," said head coach John Roddick. "From our team standpoint, we've put in a lot of work in the fall semester and even early this year already. I think we have established some good habits throughout the school year so far and hopefully that transitions into the weekend."
Following the match against Texas Tech, the Knights will face New Mexico on Sunday, Jan. 15 at 2 p.m. and Arizona on Monday at noon.
"It will be a tough weekend between three good teams and with one of the teams being ranked in the top 25," said Roddick. "We have a good opportunity and we have a good idea of what we are trying to do. It will be a matter of going out and executing and trying to play at a high level."
Last season, the Knights dropped a close 4-3 decision to Arizona. New Mexico comes to Orlando after a solid 15-7 campaign last season. This will be the first time UCF has played either Texas Tech or New Mexico in the last 13 years.
Last season the Knights went 9-13, and fell in the quarterfinals of the American Athletic Conference tournament. UCF returns six players and adds four transfers and two freshmen to the roster.
One of the Knights top returners is Nicolo De Fraia who went 16-12 in singles play last season. Mariano Porter also returns and has teamed up with newcomer Harrison Richmond. The duo is ranked No. 27 in the Oracle/ITA national doubles rankings.
