Men's Tennis Set for Season-Opening Doubleheader Against Louisiana

ORLANDO - A momentous debut campaign in the Big 12 a season ago leaves much to be anticipated for year two of the Lloyd Bruce-Burgess era in Orlando. Saturday afternoon, the UCF men’s tennis team will welcome Louisiana to the USTA National Campus for the first of five double-headers to open action in 2025.

The first match will begin at Noon, followed by a quick break ahead of the final contest at 5 p.m. (subject to change). UCF was originally scheduled to play Elon before the Phoenix had to cancel due to insufficient availability of players.

LAST TIME OUT

Just over eight months following the climactic finish to a dramatic season, the Knights built a solid foundation as they navigated their first spring under head coach Bruce-Burgess and assistant Kareem Allaf.

Its first appearance in the NCAA tournament since 2021 saw the Black and Gold topple Florida in the first round, securing the program its first win over the Gators. An eventual exit at the hands of hosts Florida State in the second round concluded a season that saw multiple 4-3 triumphs and single-season records.

QUICK HITS

• Tabbed to place sixth out of nine in the Big 12 preseason poll, UCF is familiar with surpassing expectations as a promising fourth-place finish during its inaugural season came after being predicted to land tied for sixth. Reigning national champions TCU, who travel to Orlando on March 14 for the Knights’ conference home opener, were tabbed first.
• UCF welcomes back multiple marquee pieces from a year ago, including an established group of juniors consisting of Yassine Dlimi, Mehdi Benchakroun, Paul Colin and Santiago Giamichelle, who each reached the nine-win mark in 2024.
• Benchakroun, Dlimi and Giamichelle were each named captains ahead of the home opener, taking the mantle from Lleyton Cronje who concluded his collegiate career last season. The trio combined for 38 singles wins during the 2024 dual-match season and each played a critical role in the squad’s doubles efforts.
• Multiple new faces will be at the USTA National Campus this spring, as the first four signees under Bruce-Burgess and Allaf will look to make their debuts. Walid Ahouda and Simeon Terziev return after redshirting their freshman year while promising newcomers Adriano Dzhenev and Nicolas Oliveira embark on their first collegiate season.

THE OPPONENT

The Ragin Cajuns are led by first-year head coach Thomas Sevel, who was elevated from an interim role in July following the departure of Luc Godin. The France native has served as an assistant coach with the program since 2022 and has enjoyed stops at his alma mater Temple and a short stint at Harvard before moving to Lafayette. 

UCF and Louisiana had a plethora of common opponents in 2024, as the Sun Belt squad joined the Knights in defeating Coastal Carolina, South Florida, Southern Miss and South Alabama, though fell in contests with Florida Atlantic, FGCU and Georgia Southern. The two programs last met in 2009, the last of four all-time meetings which have been split between them.

Louisiana is led by senior Vasil Dimitrov who went 11-10 in singles during the last dual-match slate, including a premier win versus Utah. Oriol Fillat Gimenez (7-6) and Samual Kyjaci (6-9) also return as more established pieces.