ORLAND - A season ago, then-first-year head coach Lloyd Bruce-Burgess and assistant Kareem Allaf secured a top-25 (No. 24) position for the first time in over two years. Today, just days after advancing to the program’s first ITA Indoor Championships, the Knights return to the field, this time in an even more convincing fashion.
The UCF men’s tennis team has been tabbed 22nd in the nation following the latest edition of the ITA coach’s poll. One of three Big 12 teams to feature, the Knights have proven they belong among the best, reaching their highest rank since 2022 when the squad was placed 20th in the preseason poll.
Jumping No. 23 Arizona State, the Black and Gold are one of four Big 12 teams to be included, joining their ITA Kickoff Weekend host No. 11 Arizona and No. 2 TCU who continue to prove why it's the reigning national champion.
After disposing of Oklahoma State in the first round, UCF secured its highest-ranked win in program history against then-No. 6 Arizona to punch its ticket to Waco, Texas.
The announcement also comes just under a day after junior and team captain Mehdi Benchakroun retained the Big 12 Player of the Week honor, becoming the first Knight to go back-to-back since Gabriel Decamps collected three consecutive American Athletics Conference awards in 2021.
Sitting at 7-0 for the second-consecutive season, a win next Monday at South Florida would propel the Knights to their best start in program history.