ORLANDO - Days after being declared the top-ranked team in the ITA Southeast Region (Florida and Georgia) for the first time in program history, the Knights secured three individual honors Tuesday afternoon as the regional awards were announced.
ITA Southeast Regional Coach of the Year: Lloyd Bruce-Burgess
After placing fifth in the region in 2023 without a bid to the NCAA tournament, former women's assistant Bruce-Burgess was appointed by UCF Director of Tennis Bryan Koniecko to push the program back in the right direction.
Now, not even two years since his appointment, the Knights have two NCAA tickets under their belt, having advanced to the second round in 2024 before a breakout 2025 campaign propelled the Black and Gold into the Sweet 16 for the first time.
Placing second in the region during his first season, Bruce-Burgess and his squad took care of business in an all-Florida region, defeating Miami and Florida in the process to take the top spot. UCF finished its historic slate 16th in the nation, its second-best final ranking in program history.
ITA Southeast Regional Player to Watch: Yassine Dlimi
Embarking on his second season leading the Knights' singles display on court one, the junior put the pieces together, especially down the stretch. A career-high 17 wins to just 10 losses against the nation's best, Dlimi took down three top-25 opponents to aid in multiple historic wins. The award is given to athletes who are in a prime position for a strong campaign in 2026.
The Moroccan was named to the All-Big 12 Singles First Team, playing a role in the squad's fourth-place finish during the regular season before making a storied run to the tournament finals.
The third-year finished the season 52nd in the ITA singles rankings, his best-career ranking to date. Dlimi defeated 22nd-ranked Aidan Kim of No. 4 Ohio State and seventh-ranked Jack Pinnington of No. 2 TCU on court one in each of the team's historic top-10 wins.
ITA Southeast Regional Rookie of the Year: Nicolas Oliveira
Securing 13 singles dual-match wins during a prominent freshman season, Oliveira showed the composure and experience not usually seen in first-year collegiate athletes.
The Brazilian native clinched wins over No. 2 TCU and No. 4 Ohio State in a pair of three-set thrillers on court six. His performance during the conference slate was vital for the Knights as they advanced to the finals of the Big 12 Tournament, securing a 4-2 record on courts five and six.
One of the strongest freshman seasons in program history, Oliveira will be a key figure in the squad in the coming years.