ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – The UCF women’s tennis team received a new ranking as a team as well as new spots in singles and doubles play.
Despite going 2-0 last weekend, the Knights dropped from No. 21 to No. 30 in the ORACLE/ITA team rankings. The two victories were decisive 6-1 routes over Alabama and Ole Miss. UCF handed Alabama their first loss of the season, as they came into Friday's match 8-0.
The singles rankings saw two Knights in the top 125. Valeriya Zeleva checks in at No. 29 while Marie Mattel makes her first appearance in the rankings at No. 119. Both are perfect in singles play with clean 8-0 records.
No. 29 Zeleva went 2-0 over the weekend at the top spot in the singles lineup. Both victories were over ranked opponents, as she bested the No. 47 and No. 105 players in the nation. Zeleva was ranked at No. 34 for those two contests.
No. 119 Mattel finally debuts in the rankings after winning every match to this point in the season. She hasn't even lost a set, winning in straight sets in all eight of her victories. Mattel has primarily seen time in the fourth spot in the lineup, going 6-0. The other two matches she has won took place on court three, where she is 2-0.
UCF’s dynamic duo of Zeleva and Ksenia Kuznetsova check in at No. 22 in the latest release of the rankings. The pair defeated the top unit for Ole Miss in doubles on Sunday by a score of 6-2. On Friday, the Zeleva and Kuznetsova’s match went unfinished and saw them trailing 5-4.
UP NEXT
The Black and Gold will return home to play three matches in four days. They will face Georgia State on Thursday at 5 p.m. No. 40 Denver comes to town on Saturday for an 11 a.m. start time before the Knights face the No. 48 Florida Gators for College MatchDay on Sunday at 5 p.m.
COLLEGE MATCHDAY
With less than a week until College MatchDay, don’t miss an opportunity to see the No. 30 Knights battle the No. 48 Florida Gators. Click here to claim your free ticket for the match on Feb. 24.
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