ORLANDO – The first matches of the 2023-24 season have been confirmed, as the No. 39 UCF women's tennis team selected to travel to Norman, Oklahoma in this year's ITA Kickoff Draft on Wednesday afternoon. The Knights will face host No. 13 Oklahoma, as well as No. 32 California or No. 34 Illinois from January 26-29, 2024, at the Headington Family Tennis Center.
The ITA Kickoff Weekend Draft is a unique opportunity, allowing teams from around the country to choose which host site they would prefer to play at during the 2024 ITA Kickoff Weekend. With many factors taken into consideration (travel, opponent, etc.), the Kickoff Weekend draft is always an exciting event that gives coaches the power to choose where their team plays. With the 15 host sites already determined based on 2023 year-end rankings, the remaining teams were able to choose where they want to play based on year-end finish starting with the No. 16 ranked team and running until all the spots are filled.
The four teams in the Oklahoma regional will battle it out for the chance to travel to the ITA National Indoors Championship. After a successful 2022-23 season highlighted by the fifth consecutive NCAA Team Tournament and Individuals Tournament appearances, the Knights earned the 23rd pick in the draft and selected the fourth seed at the Oklahoma Regional.
Last year at the ITA Kickoff Weekend, No. 23 UCF secured a 4-2 upset over No. 19 Arizona State to start the season with a bang and advance to the Sunday Championship.
More of the 2023-24 UCF women's tennis schedule is set to be released later this summer.
