The squad made quick work of the Cincinnati Bearcats in its first matchup of the weekend on Friday, cruising to a 4-0 victory. Just two days later, the team traveled to Morgantown to face West Virginia with history on the line, aiming to become the first team in UCF Athletics history to win back-to-back Big 12 titles—and they delivered.
The opening point came swiftly thanks to a pair of decisive doubles wins. On court three, Jade Psonka and Donatella Guarnieri overwhelmed West Virginia’s Lyla Byers and Sosanne Malaak, 6-1, giving UCF an early spark. Moments later, Olivia Bergler and Lauren Seye sealed a steady 6-3 victory on court two to clinch the doubles point and give the Knights a 1-0 lead heading into singles play.
At the top of the lineup, Tilbuerger turned in one of the day’s most dominant performances, cruising to a 6-1, 6-2 win to double UCF’s advantage. Marina Gatell followed with a poised showing on court three, taking the first set 6-2 before holding off a late push to secure a 7-5 second set, putting the Knights within one point of the title.
The Mountaineers refused to fold, though, responding with wins on courts four and six to tighten the match and shift the pressure onto UCF.
But Psonka delivered. Earning her fourth clinching point of the season, she edged a tense first set in a tiebreak before taking control in the second, closing out a 7(7)-6(2), 6-4 victory on court five to seal both the match and the Big 12 crown for the Knights.
