ORLANDO - The 23rd-ranked UCF women’s tennis team has adapted to conditions once again, replacing a trip to Los Angeles for the ITA Kickoff Weekend with a pair of matches against two top programs. The Knights will welcome No. 24 Florida State to the USTA National Campus on Saturday afternoon before traveling to Fort Myers for a meeting with Columbia the following day.
Both opponents were each scheduled to travel to California, with the Seminoles pulling out of the Pepperdine regional and the Lions joining UCF in opting out of the UCLA regional.
LAST TIME OUT
This past weekend UCF faced off against Georgia Southern in its season opener. After moving the match indoors to avoid poor weather conditions, the Knights disposed of the Eagles 6-1. This win marked the fourth consecutive season the Black and Gold secured a win in their season-opening match.
The Knights clinched the first sets on five of six courts, and the squad would carry this momentum throughout the rest of the match. Notably, four freshmen on the team were able to secure their first wins of the season.
QUICK HITS
- The win moved the Knights up in the latest ITA rankings, slotting in at 23rd. UCF and Oklahoma State (4th) remain the only two Big 12 Conference teams to be featured.
- Freshmen Aya El Aouni, Jade Psonka, Olivia Bergeler and Hannah Rylatt each tallied their first collegiate dual-match wins against Georgia Southern, all in straight sets.
- Sophomore Olivia Lincer and Freshman Hannah Rylatt are currently ranked No. 65 in doubles. The pair had a standout fall season and followed it up with a dominating display in the season-opening win, taking court two, 6-1.
THE OPPONENTS
FLORIDA STATE (Saturday at noon)
No. 24 Florida State is making its way to the USTA National Campus to compete against the Knights for the 14th overall meeting. The team is led by Jennifer Hyde, who is entering her 21st year as the Noles head coach. So far FSU is 2-0 on the season, going 4-0 in their most recent match against Alabama State. The Knights last faced off against Florida State on Apr. 16, 2021, in Tallahassee where UCF bested their in-state foe, 4-3.
COLUMBIA (Sunday at noon)
Columbia will be traveling to compete against the Knights in Fort Myers, Florida this Sunday. The Lions most recently competed against FGCU on Jan. 20 in their season opener, where they came out victorious 4-0. Columbia’s team features a mixture of returning athletes and newcomers, leaving an exciting matchup in the cards.