ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – After ending the 2019 campaign ranked 30th in the country, the UCF men's tennis team received votes in the preseason release of the Oracle/ITA team rankings. This is the second straight season that the Knights have recieved votes in the preseason poll. The Black and Gold climbed as high as No. 28 last season, tying a program high twice.
The Knights return everyone from their 2019 roster and added JanMagnus Johnson, a blue-chip recruit, to the mix this season. Last season's team of four freshmen and four sophomores has developed into an experienced bunch and are ready for new challenges in 2020.
The fall tournament season was a success for UCF, as many individuals performed at high levels throughout. Gabriel Decamps and Juan Pablo Grassi Mazzuchi went toe to toe with some of the best doubles tandems in the country, beating most of them. In singles play, Decamps won five consecutive matches to end the fall as he was crowned the consolation champion at the ITA National Fall Championships. Grassi Mazzuchi also shone in singles. Bogdan Pavel and Mikhail Sokolovskiy found success this fall in both singles and doubles play as well.
The Knights have three singles players and one doubles team in the rankings heading into the 2020 season. Decamps headlines the bunch as he sits at No. 22 in singles. Just behind Decamps is Grassi Mazzuchi who checks in at No. 29 in the singles rankings. Rounding out the group in singles play is Pavel who is pegged at No. 108.
UCF's lone doubles tandem consists of Decamps and Grassi Mazzuchi, who come into the dual match season ranked No. 6 in the nation. The pair has gone 19-9 since they started playing together, including a 7-3 mark this fall. Last season's dynamic duo of Pavel and Trey Hilderbrand didn't see any action this fall, thus the reason they fell out of the rankings. They were tabbed as the nation's No. 3 pair heading into the fall.
FOLLOW THE KNIGHTS
Follow UCF Men's Tennis on social media on Facebook (/UCF.MTennis), Twitter (UCF_MTennis) and Instagram (UCF.MTennis).
GET THE APP
Never miss any UCF Knights news from your favorite team by downloading the free UCF Knights app right to your iOS or Android phone. The app provides personalized information for men's and women's teams, scores, schedules, loyalty programs and even breaking news. Click here to download the app now.