Men's Tennis Achieves Program-High ITA Ranking of No. 8

ORLANDO – The UCF men’s tennis team has once again etched its name into program history, climbing to No. 8 in this week’s ITA Rankings, marking the highest team ranking the Knights have ever achieved. 

This milestone comes on the heels of another historic moment in the program’s first back-to-back appearance at the ITA Indoor National Championship, held last week in Waco, Texas.

The Big 12 continues to showcase its depth, placing seven teams inside the top 75. Five appear in the top 20, with conference squads sweeping spots six through eight with Baylor at No. 6, TCU at No. 7, and UCF at No. 8. Arizona State (11) and Arizona (17) round out the league’s top 20 representatives, while Oklahoma State checks in at 27 and BYU at 47.

Clemson, UCF’s next opponent, sits just outside the top 25 at No. 28 following its ITA Indoors run.

In singles, the Knights continue to feature two players in the national rankings. Wissam Abderrahman made one of the week’s biggest leaps, soaring more than 50 spots to No. 52. Yassine Dlimi also remains in the top 125, slotting in at No. 116.

Dlimi and Paul Colin became the first UCF doubles team to crack into the rankings this season, debuting at No. 69.

With the highest team ranking in program history now secured, the Bruce‑Burgess era continues to be defined by landmark achievements. In his first season, Bruce‑Burgess guided the Knights to a then‑record 7‑0 start, only for that mark to be surpassed in each of the next two seasons with an 8‑0 opening run.

Since 2024, UCF has established itself as a dominant force in Florida, finishing as the state’s highest‑ranked team in 2025 and serving as the current highest-ranked Florida program in 2026. The Knight have also secured themselves as the top team in the entire southeast region.

The Knights’ rise has also reshaped the in‑state rivalry against their foes from Gainesville. After going 0‑22 against Florida, UCF finally broke through in 2024 and has since built a three‑match win streak over the Gators.

Seniors Dlimi, Colin, Mehdi Benchakroun, and Luca Hotze have been at the heart of this historic run, anchoring the program through every milestone as they compete in their final collegiate season.

The Knights now focus their attention on competition later this week against No. 28 Clemson on Friday and UNCW on Sunday at their home courts at the USTA National Campus.

ABOUT UCF ATHLETICS
UCF is a proud member of the Big 12 Conference. Our mission is to positively transform the lives of our students academically, athletically, and personally through a nationally competitive intercollegiate athletics program that enhances the reputation and visibility of the University. We strive to be Florida's preeminent athletic program, representing UCF and our community with distinction on the national stage as "Orlando's Hometown Team". To learn more about UCF and Athletics, please visit our websites at www.ucf.edu and www.ucfknights.com.