No. 8 Men's Tennis Returns Home for Competition Against No. 28 Clemson and UNCW

ORLANDO – Fresh off receiving the highest ITA ranking in program history, the No. 8 UCF men’s tennis team returns to the USTA National Campus for matches on both Friday evening and Sunday afternoon.

On Friday, the Knights will return to Orlando to face off against No. 28 Clemson, while on Sunday they will look to take on UNC Wilmington with first serve slated for noon.

LAST TIME OUT

The Black and Gold last competed at the ITA National Indoor Championships in Waco, Texas beginning with play against now ranked No. 5 Baylor. The Knights dropped the match 0-4, moving into the back draw to take on UC Santa Barbara. There, UCF flipped the script, sweeping the Gauchos, 4-0.

UCF saw victories in doubles by the now-ranked No. 69 tandem of Paul Colin and Yassine Dlimi at 6-3 as well as the pairing of Nicolas Oliveira and Luca Hotze at 6-4. Moving into singles play, it was Oliveira who struck first, taking a commanding win on court six, 6-2, 6-2.

Just shortly after, No. 52 Wissam Abderrahman took court two in straight set fashion at 6-1, 6-1. Finally, it was senior Paul Colin who clinched court five and ultimately the match in a tiebreak, 6-1, 7-5.

The next day, the Knights fell in the final day of competition at the prestigious championship, falling to the now-ranked No. 5 LSU Tigers, 0-4.

QUICK HITS

• HISTORY MADE IN THE RANKS: The Knights reached a new program milestone, climbing to No. 8 in this week’s ITA Rankings, marking the highest ranking in team history following its second consecutive appearance at the ITA Indoor National Championship. The Black and Gold climbed from 14 to 12 to nine before slotting in at the program-high of nine. The Big 12 continues to demonstrate its depth with seven teams in the top 75, including five in the top 20 along with the Knights.
• REPPING THE BLACK AND GOLD: The Black and Gold continue to make their presence felt in the national singles landscape, with two players earning spots in this week’s rankings once again. Wissam Abderrahman delivered one of the most impressive climbs of the week, jumping more than 50 positions to reach No. 52. Yassine Dlimi also maintains his place among the nation’s best, holding steady within the top 125 at No. 116 as he continues to anchor UCF’s depth and consistency. In doubles, the Knights added another milestone as Dlimi and Paul Colin became the first UCF pair this season to break into the national rankings. The duo made a strong debut at No. 69, adding yet another layer of momentum to UCF’s historic start.
• KINGS OF FLORIDA: Since 2024, UCF has firmly positioned itself as a powerhouse within the state of Florida and beyond. The Knights finished the 2025 campaign as the highest‑ranked team in the state and currently hold that distinction again in 2026. Their dominance now stretches across the entire southeast region, where they stand as the top‑ranked program in the area. This surge has also rewritten the narrative of an in-state rivalry. After decades of frustration and a 0‑22 all‑time record against Florida, UCF finally broke through in 2024. That long‑awaited victory proved to be more than a one‑off as the Knights have since strung together three straight wins over the Gators.

ABOUT THE TIGERS

No. 28 Clemson men’s tennis heads to Orlando under the leadership of Brandon Wagner, who is now in his third year at the helm and has led the team to their most successful campaign in over a decade. The Tigers are coming off a 22-8 overall record and a 8-5 mark in the ACC. The Tigers currently stand at a 3-5 overall record this season. The team is led by three nationally ranked singles players including No. 37 Romain Gales, No, 64 Viktor Markov, and No.99 Edorando Cherie Ligniere. The Tigers also have a ranked doubles team at No. 62 in Matisse Farzam and Marko Mesarovic.

ABOUT THE SEAHAWKS

The Seahawks are led by head coach Mait Dubois, entering his 19th year with UNCW after 5 consecutive CAA titles. He has consistently led the Seahawks into the NCAA Regionals with 12 appearnaces since he's been with the team. Last year, the Seahawks had a strong record of 12-8, and a 3-0 in the CAA. UNCW has faced off against the Knights a total of three times, dropping each one. Currently the Seahawks are 2-2 into the season, winning every home match. Veteran Jordi Domenech posted a 7-4 overall record in singles competition last season while senior Lukas Steffen had an impressive run and was named a third team All-CAA selection for singles. 

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.