ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - UCF Director of Tennis John Roddick revealed the finalized 2017 men's tennis signing class on Friday with the addition of three international players – Vasyl Kiselyov, Makhail Sokolovskiy and Eero Vasa.
The Knights announced that Gabriel Decamps and Alan Rubio inked National Letters of Intent in April. The five-member class consists of four players ranked inside the Top 55 in the ITF Junior rankings.
"We are very excited to welcome Eero, Mikhail and Vasyl, in addition to Gabriel and Alan, to UCF and our men's tennis program," Roddick said. "Their experience and success in international tennis will, no doubt, help us compete on a national stage. My staff and I can't wait to get to work with them on the court."
In the first year under the direction of Roddick, the Knights made the fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in school history by earning the program's first at-large bid. UCF knocked off five Top-30 programs – No. 23 Texas Tech, No. 25 USF, No. 27 Tulane, No. 29 Florida State and No. 29 South Alabama – on its way to 16 victories, the most since 2004.
| Gabriel Decamps |
| Fr. | ITF Junior: 17 | Sao Paulo, Brazil |
- Ranked as the No. 1 junior in Brazil and has landed as high as No. 17 in the ITF Junior rankings
- Member of the Brazilian Davis Cup Team
- ITF Junior singles titles: XXX Yucatan Cup 2016, Copa Banco de Venezuela, Bahia Junior Cup, 2015 Monterrey San Agustin ITF Cup, 2015 Monterrey Contry ITF Cup, 2014 Copa Club Farallones, 2014 Copa Mundo Maya
- ITF Junior doubles titles: Sudamericano Individual GB1 2017, Copa Guga Kuerten 2015, 2015 Monterrey San Agustin ITF Cup, 2015 Monterrey Contry ITF Cup, 2014 Uruguay Bowl
- Won the 2016 ITF Grade 1 Yucatan Cup, defeating the ITF World Junior No. 1 in the quarterfinals
- Appeared in the 2017, 2016 and 2015 Roland Garros Junior French Championships
- Competed in the 2016 US Open Junior Tennis Championship
- Played in the 2016 The Junior Championships, Wimbledon
"I am really happy to join UCF, and I am motivated to achieve my goals! I am really thankful for the opportunity that coaches are giving me and I will give my heart everyday!"
-Gabriel Decamps |
| Vasyl Kiselyov |
| Fr. | ITF Junior: 332 | Crimea, Ukraine |
- Ranked as high as No. 322 in the ITF Junior rankings
- ITF Junior doubles title: 2016 South Carolina ITF
- Finished runner-up in the singles and doubles draw at the 2016 VII Copa Mangu in Tampico, Mexico
- Reached the finals at the Tihta Aruba 2016 in the doubles bracket
- Advanced to the semifinals in singles play at the 2016 Junkanoo Bowl, 2016 ITF Junior De Saint-Francois and 2016 Tournoi International Junior de Martinique – Le Diamant
- Earned a berth into the semifinals in doubles draw at I Copa Mangulina and Copa Coqui – Cabo Rojo 2015
"I am thankful for everyone who played part in helping me join the team. I am ready for the challenge and look forward to helping the Knights to the top!"
-Vasyl Kiselyov |
| Alan Rubio |
| Fr. | ITF Junior: 29 | Hermosillo, Mexico |
- Ranked as the No. 1 junior player in Mexico and has landed as high as No. 29 in the ITF Junior rankings
- ITF Junior singles titles: 2017 Copa Barranquilla, Monterrey Contry ITF Cup 2016, 2016 Copa Tampico, 2016 Copa Mundo Maya by Universidad Galieo, 2016 JITIC, 2015 Monterrey Contry ITF Cup, 2014 Monterrey Contry ITF Cup, 2014 Copa Tampico, 2014 Copa El Salvador
- ITF Junior doubles titles: Monterrey Contry ITF Cup 2016, 2015 Monterrey San Agustin ITF Cup, 2015 Monterrey Contry ITF Cup
- Won the title at the ITF Grade 1 Copa Barranquilla Tournament in Colombia
- Member of the 2017 Mexican Davis Cup team
- Appeared in the 2017 and 2015 Roland Garros Junior French Championships
"I am very excited to become part of the Knights family. I will give my best to help the team reach their goals and represent them with honor."
-Alan Rubio |
| Mikhail Sokolovskiy |
| Fr. | ITF Junior: 40 | Moscow, Russia |
- Ranked as high as No. 40 in the ITF Junior rankings
- ITF Junior singles titles: 2017 Ozerov Cup, 2016 Ozerov Cup
- ITF Junior doubles titles: 2016 Lee Duk Hee Cup Incheon International Championships, 27th Sarawak Chief Minister's Cup Championship (Grade 1) 2016, 2016 Trofeul D. Sturda, Smash International Junior Championships
- Appeared in singles and doubles bracket of the 2017 Roland Garros Junior French Championships
"I'm very excited to start a new chapter in my tennis career. I know that I will do everything I can to help the team reach its highest potential. Go Knights!"
-Mikhail Sokolovskiy |
| Eero Vasa |
| Fr. | ITF Junior: 52 | Turku, Finland |
- Ranked as high as No. 52 in the ITF Junior rankings
- Achieved ATP rankings as high as No. 1167 in singles and No. 980 in doubles
- ITF Junior singles runner-up: 2013 Riga Open, ITF Kramfors High Coast World Tournament 2013
- ITF Junior doubles titles: 2015 SF Motors – 27th International Indoor Championships, 16th Serbia Junior Open Novi Sad 2014, Pancevo International 2014,ITF Juniors International Championship, 2012 Latvian Open, 2012 Stabekk Autumn Open, 2012 Dancock Junior Cup
- Reached the semifinals of the doubles draw at the 2016 Chinese Taipei F2 Futures in Kaohsiung, Chinease Taipei
- Advanced to the quarterfinals of the singles bracket and semifinals of the doubles bracket at Finland F2 Futures in Helsinki, Finland
"I'm looking forward to being in Orlando and super excited to join the team! I can't wait to be part of the team and a member of the UCF Knights family!"
-Eero Vasa |
