ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – Senior Monica Matias hit the ground running when she began her career at UCF four years ago. The time since then has been filled with countless accolades and achievements, a new coach and home complex, and the pinnacle this season -- an opportunity to compete in the NCAA Championships for the first time.
"It's been a really great four years," said Matias. "That's the thing about having a team like this. They pushed me harder and I could feel myself getting better with every practice and once it clicked, it clicked."
Along with fellow senior Emilia Granstrom, Matias's leadership throughout this season has been vital for a team with three first-year collegiate players. Together the team has produced a record breaking season and beginning Friday, will compete in the NCAA Team Championships for the first time since 2002.
"The team is definitely headed in the right direction," said Matias. "We have accomplished some great things, but I think there's a lot left for the team to accomplish. We were good and now we're even better. The coaching staff has really pushed us to get to the next level, so I'm really excited to see what's in store for UCF tennis."
Matias came to Orlando already a highly decorated player out of Moca, Puerto Rico. She was a multiple Puerto Rico Junior Open champion in both singles and doubles and was a member of the Puerto Rico Fed Cup team from the age of 14.
After arriving in Orlando back in 2014, she quickly asserted herself as a force for the Black and Gold. Matias knotted 28 singles victories during the fall and spring seasons of her freshman year, which is tied for the all-time record in UCF single season history.
Her sophomore year saw 20 singles victories; junior year 19, and this year, 24 and counting. Matias's win total currently sits at 91, which makes her the all-time leader in program history in singles play. She surpassed the previous school record of 84 back on March 7 with her win over Alejandra Morales of ETSU.
"Moni's been unbelievable the last four years," said Bryan Koniecko, UCF head coach. "Obviously [I] got to experience the last two. She's made a complete transformation as a person, which has been great to see and she is going to go down as the all-time leading winner in matches, so she's meant a lot to this program and is somebody we can trust."
Matias has garnered a laundry list of honors during her time at UCF. She is a two-time American Athletic Conference All-Conference team member and a three-time All-Conference All-Academic team selection. She was also named the AAC's Women's Tennis Scholar-Athlete of the Year earlier this season for the second consecutive year.
She has also been recognized by the ITA as a scholar-athlete every year at UCF. During her junior year, she earned the American's Sport Excellence Award, as well being named UCF women's tennis MVP.
"I think UCF has turned me into not only a great tennis player, but a professional in general," added Matias. It has prepared me for achieving the most on and off the court, so I'm really grateful to UCF. Everything that I am today, I owe to them. Of course my parents helped me get here, but once I got to UCF, I've really seen myself grow a lot."
Matias will embark on a law career after leaving UCF, having been accepted into Villanova law school. She and the rest of the Knights will look to keep their magical run going Friday when they face FIU in the opening round of the NCAA Championships at 11 a.m. from the University of Miami.
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