ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – The slate for the eight-team Friends of Jaclyn Foundation Invitational has been set for Feb. 9-11 in Winter Springs, Fla. UCF opens the season with a 2:30 p.m. doubleheader vs. Louisville and Butler at Soldier's Creek Park.
UCF is also slated to face Providence and Illinois on Feb. 10 at 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., respectively. The tournament concludes for the Knights on Sunday with a noon start vs. North Carolina.
The invitational also includes North Florida and South Alabama. The three-day event features 18 games played on two fields at Solder's Creek Park, located 15 minutes away from the UCF campus.
"Our program is excited to help host the Friends of Jacklyn Invitational and bring seven quality teams to the Orlando area," head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie said. "This inaugural event will showcase the beautiful softball facility at Soldier's Creek and help create a premiere tournament that teams around the country want to be a part of."
UCF is set to begin preparations for the season on Monday with its first team practice, which coincides with the start of the spring semester.
Five Knights that earned all-conference accolades last season return for the upcoming campaign. Junior Cassady Brewer and sophomore Kyra Klarkowski were recognized on the first team, while senior Courtney Rotton and sophomores Alea White and Jazmine Esparza were selected to the second team. The Knights also added six newcomers to their roster.
Friends of Jaclyn Invitational
| Feb. 9 | Stadium | Field 2 |
| 12:00 p.m. | Louisville vs. Butler | Illinois vs. Providence |
| 2:30 p.m. | Louisville vs. UCF | Illinois vs. UNF |
| 5:30 p.m. | Butler vs. UCF | Providence vs. UNF |
| Feb. 10 | Stadium | Field 2 |
| 11:00 a.m. | South Alabama vs. Providence | Butler vs. North Carolina |
| 1:30 p.m. | UCF vs. Providence | Butler vs. UNF |
| 4:00 p.m. | South Alabama vs. Illinois | Louisville vs. North Carolina |
| 6:30 p.m. | UCF vs. Illinois | Louisville vs. UNF |
| Feb. 11 | Stadium | Field 2 |
| 9:30 a.m. | North Carolina vs. Providence | South Alabama vs. Butler |
| 12:00 p.m. | North Carolina vs. UCF | South Alabama vs. UNF |