ORLANDO – For the second year in a row, UCF's Marie Mattel has earned a bid to the NCAA Singles Championship, which will take place at the USTA National Campus from May 22-27.
The 36th-ranked singles player earned an automatic bid to the championship as the highest ranked singles player in the American Athletic Conference.
Mattel has had a phenomenal season, tying the seventh-highest singles ranking in program history, checking into the rankings at No. 30 on Feb. 21. After being ranked No. 90 in the initial preseason rankings, she has continued to impress and collect wins, climbing the ranks each week.
The senior was named the AAC Women's Tennis Player of the Week twice this season, collecting the honor five times in her collegiate career.
Playing at the No. 1 singles spot this season, Mattel has recorded eight dual-match wins, including six against ranked opponents. Her top win comes from the match against No. 15 Vanderbilt, dominating a straight-set victory over the 34th-ranked singles player Celia-Belle Mohr.
The Knights will begin singles action upon the conclusion of the team tournament. UCF is in the NCAA Tournament for the fifth-consecutive season and ninth time in program history. The Black and Gold will head to Gainesville on Friday, May 5 at 11 a.m. to take on No. 17 Georgia Tech in the opening round. The victor will take on the winner of the Florida/North Florida match on Saturday, May 6.