ORLANDO, Fla. – The UCF men's tennis team will begin the 2021 season with a new program best ranking as they check in at No. 16 in the Oracle/ITA preseason team poll.
"We're excited to get the new season underway," said Director of Tennis John Roddick. "The new ranking is a testament to the type of season we were having last year before the pandemic shut everything down. Now, its a new year and we need to go out and start performing at a high level again. I know our team can't wait to get started."
The Knights finished the shortened 2020 campaign as one of the hottest teams in college tennis, tallying eight straight wins to an overall record of 10-3. The winning streak got the Black and Gold as high as No. 22, which now stands as their previous best.
In addition to their highest team ranking, UCF boasts two ranked singles players and a top doubles tandem. Gabriel Decamps and Juan Pablo Grassi Mazzuchi team up to make the nation's No. 12 pair. Decamps is ranked individually at No. 16 in singles while Grassi Mazzuchi checks in at No. 52.
The Knights retained their entire starting lineup from 2020 and added some more talented pieces this offseason.
UCF will get a chance to climb the rankings right away, as they're scheduled to face No. 18 UCLA in their first match of the season as part of ITA Kickoff Weekend. The Knights will either face No. 1 USC or Cal, who received votes, the following day. The remainder of the Black and Gold's schedule will be released soon.
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