ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – UCF head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie announced on Wednesday the Knights' early signing class. The five-member class features four freshmen that signed National Letters of Intent and one junior college transfer.
| 2018 UCF Softball Signing Class |
| Name | Pos. | Cl. | Hometown / High School (Previous School) |
| Alyssa Oakes | C | So. | Winter Park, Fla./Lake Howell (Seminole State) |
| Karissa Ornelas | C | Fr. | Murrieta, Calif./Vista Murrieta |
| Ashley Stephenson | P | Fr. | Rockledge, Fla./Rockledge |
| Tera Testa | OF | Fr. | San Marcos, Calif./San Marcos |
| Breanna Vasquez | P | Fr. | Paramount, Calif./Norwalk |
Sophomore catcher Alyssa Oakes will have an immediate impact, bringing collegiate experience after one season at Seminole State. She is eligible to join the Knights in January.
UCF also added a pair of pitchers in Ashley Stephenson and Breanna Vasquez along with catcher Karissa Ornelas and outfielder Tera Testa. The quartet will make their way to Orlando for the fall 2018 semester.
"This is one our strongest signing classes and are exited for them to come in next year," Coach Gillispie said. "Each of them being a ton of leadership because they were raised in quality families. They were developed in strong programs that competed nationally."
| Ashley Stephenson |
| P | 5-7 | R/R | Fr. | Rockledge, Fla./Rockledge |
HIGH SCHOOL - Three-year letterwinner for head coach Michael Inman at Rockledge High School
- Helped the Raiders win three district titles and finish as regional runner-up in 2016
- Two-time Cape Coast All-Conference Team (2016-17)
- Two-time FHSAA All-State Miracle Sports Team (2016-17)
- Two-time Friday Night Locker Room (FNLR) Player of the Game
- 2017 Raiders' Most Valuable Player
- 2016 Raiders' Most Outstanding Player
- 2015 Raiders' Rookie of the Year
- Participated with the Florida Storm Gold coached by Jerry Shepherd during the club season
- Helped the Florida Storm Gold finish ninth at the 2016 and 2017 ASA Nationals
- Also played with the golf team as a junior and senior
- Member of the World Languages Club, Spanish Club and Renaissance
- An honor student that is expected to graduate in May 2018
"Ashley is a pitcher that can hit and will be able to help us on both sides of the plate. She is a hard-nosed player that has a lot of movement on her pitches and has experience facing some of the top hitters in the country. We believe she will help take UCF softball to the next level."
-Head Coach Renee Luers-Gillispie |
| Tera Testa |
| OF | 5-5 | L/R | Fr. | San Marcos, Calif./San Marcos |
HIGH SCHOOL - Three-year letterwinner for head coach Steve Tidd at San Marcos High School
- Two-time All-League First Team (2015, 2017)
- 2017 San Diego All-Academic Team
- 2016 All-League Second Team, All-San Diego CIF Honorable Mention
- 2016 Knights' Defensive Player of the Year
- 2015 Knights' Offensive MVP
- Leadoff batter as a senior and posted a .551 slugging pct., .450 on-base pct. And .400 batting average on the Knights, who were ranked 10th in California and 20th in the nation by Max Preps
- Compiled a .974 fielding pct., as a junior and contributed as a leadoff hitter and centerfielder on the 2016 San Diego Open Division Champions
- Registered a .410 batting avg., as a freshman
- Competed with Athletics T/O Mercado coached by Brian Tidd
- Won the 2012 PGF National Championship, serving as a leadoff hitter and compiling a .405 average
- Finished four times inside the PGF Top 10 at nationals from 2013-2017
- Also played on the soccer team at San Marcos High School
- Member of National Honor Society and earned the 2016 national science scholarship award
- Expected to graduate with honors and as an AP Scholar in May 2018
"Tera will provide depth to our outfield and her bat in our lineup will be an offensive threat. The talent and leadership qualities that she bring will be assets to our program."
-Head Coach Renee Luers-Gillispie |
| Breanna Vasquez |
| P | 5-6 | R/R | Fr. | Paramount, Calif./Norwalk |
HIGH SCHOOL - Three-year letterwinner for head coach Gasporra at Norwalk High School
- Three-time Lady Lances Most Valuable Player (2015-17)
- Two-time All-District First Team (2015-16)
- 2017 Lady Lancers Co-Most Valuable Pitcher
- 2016 All-CIF First Team
- Tossed a perfect game for Norwalk High School
- Competed in the summer with Athletics Mercado T/O coached by Brian Tidd, Greg Testa and Fernando Ornelas
- Ranked 39th for travel ball on FloSoftball and finished sixth at the 2017 PGF Nationals
- Apart of championship teams at TCS Park City, Utah in 2014 with Artesia Punishers Vasquez, TCS Colorado and PGF Shootout in 2015 with SoCal Athletics
- Expected to graduate with honors in May 2018
"Breanna will make an immediate impact on the mound. We seen her throw against some of the top hitters in the nation and know that she will compete in the circle and record victories against the best competition at UCF."
-Head Coach Renee Luers-Gillispie |
| Karissa Ornelas |
| C | 5-5 | L/R | Fr. | Murrieta, Calif./Vista Murrieta |
HIGH SCHOOL - Three-year letterwinner for Katie Terreza at Vista Murrieta High School
- Helped Broncos capture the league title as a junior and paced the team RBI
- Competed in the summer with Athletics Mercado T/O coached by Brian Tidd, Greg Testa and Fernando Ornelas
- Won the 2012 PGF National Championship and 2012 TCS World Series
- Finished four times inside the PGF Top 10 at nationals from 2013-2017
"Karissa is a high-caliber catcher and has a dynamic bat that will strengthen our lineup. She has tremendous softball IQ behind the plate and a strong arm, which will by a key contribution to our pitching staff and create catching depth for UCF softball for years to come."
-Head Coach Renee Luers-Gillispie |
| Alyssa Oakes |
| C | 5-11 | R/R | So. | Winter Park, Fla./Lake Howell (Seminole State) |
SEMINOLE STATE COLLEGE - Helped Seminole State earn its first-ever conference title in 2017
- 2017 NJCAA All-American Third Team
- 2017 NFCA All-Region Second Team
- 2017 Mid-Florida Conference All-State First Team
- 2017 Mid-Florida Conference First Team
- 2017 Mid-Florida Conference Scholar Athlete Award
- 2017 FCSAA All-Academic Team
- Posted a .403 batting average with 18 doubles, three triples and six home runs, while driving in 59 runners
- Paced team in homers, RBI and doubles
HIGH SCHOOL - Four-year letterwinner for head coach Tom Kreahling at Lake Howell High School
- 2016 All-State Second Team
- 2016 All-Seminole Athletic Conference First Team (C)
- 2013 All-Seminole Athletic Conference Second Team (OF)
- Played in the 2016 FACA All Star Game
- Competed over the summer with Wagners Gold coached by Sean Dunn
- Helped summer ball team posted a seven place finish as the 2016 ASA Nationals
- Member of the National Honor Society and National English Society
- Graduated as a Silver Scholar for posted a GPA above 3.7 and was a varsity scholar all four years
"Alyssa is a local player from Seminole State that will be able to help us immediately in January. We have watched her grow and develop over the years. We believe that she will help provide depth behind the plate and add another powerful bat in the lineup."
-Head Coach Renee Luers-Gillispie |
