No. 15 Men's Tennis Set to Welcome South Carolina State for NCAA First-Round Showdown

ORLANDO – The No. 15 UCF men’s tennis team is set to host its third NCAA Regional in program history, opening with a first‑round matchup against South Carolina State on Friday, May 1, with first serve scheduled for 5:00 p.m.

With the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament returning to the City Beautiful, the Knights have been selected as a host site for the second straight year, marking the first time the program has earned back‑to‑back hosting honors. Last season, UCF welcomed a fully in‑state regional, defeating Miami in the opening round and Florida the following day to advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time ever.

This year’s regional begins with No. 19 Florida taking on Stetson at 2:00 p.m. on the collegiate courts at the USTA National Campus, followed by UCF’s match against the Bulldogs hours later. The winners of Friday’s matches will meet in the second round on Saturday at 5:00 p.m.

Almost tourney time in Orlando 😤 pic.twitter.com/dfSXsiV9Yx

— UCF Men's Tennis (@UCF_MTennis) April 29, 2026

Of the three matches held this weekend at the USTA National Campus, only one team will punch its ticket to the NCAA Tournament’s round of 16.

REGULAR SEASON RECAP

The Knights enter postseason play following a standout regular season that featured their second straight appearance at the ITA Indoor National Championship, a program‑best No. 8 national ranking, and an undefeated home slate on the collegiate courts at the USTA National Campus.

UCF closed the regular season with a 19-5 record, with the losses coming on the road during trips to Texas or Arizona. Every setback came against ranked opponents, including three top‑10 teams away from home.

On their home courts, the Knights showed their dominance. UCF did not drop a single match at the USTA National Campus and recorded seven sweeps, showcasing the depth of its roster from top to bottom.

Adding to the resume, the Knights completed a clean sweep of all in‑state opponents this season, winning all six matchups against Florida programs both at home and on the road.

Facing off against some of the best programs that college tennis has to offer, the Black and Gold completed Big 12 play with a 5-3 mark, finishing in the top half of the conference.

THE COMPETITION

ABOUT THE BULLDOGS (vs. UCF)

South Carolina State heads to the NCAA Men's Championship after being crowned the MEAC champions for the sixth year in a row, earning an automatic bid. The Bulldogs currently stand at an overall record of 13-7 while sitting at 5-0 in their conference play. They are led by head coach Hardeep Judge, who has been head coach for both the women's and men's program for over 20 years. Friday’s meeting will be the first time that the Knights and the Bulldogs face each other.

ABOUT THE GATORS (vs. STETSON)

The No. 19 Florida Gators earned their third consecutive bid to the NCAA Tournament under head Coach Adam Steinberg. It is the Gators’ 35^th appearance overall in the tournament, entering this year with a 65-33 record in the competition. The Gators are led by Adam Steinberg who is in his third year at the helm. Most recently, Florida fell in a hard-fought quarterfinal battle, losing to top-ranked Texas, 4-1. The roster features a talented group, highlighted by four ranked competitors in No. 63 Pablo Perez Ramos, No. 75 Heny Jefferson, No. 107 Adithya Ganesan and No. 109 Jeremy Jin. The squad also features a top-15 doubles pairing in the No. 14 duo of Tanapatt Nirundorn and Henry Jefferson.

ABOUT THE HATTERS (vs. FLORIDA)

The Stetson Hatters travel to the NCAA Men’s Championship tournament following a major win, securing their first ASUN title. The Hatters are led by head coach Travis Sandlant, who is in his 10th season at the helm. Stetson achieved an overall record of 14-6 and a 1-2 mark in their conference play. They have earned multiple post season recognitions, including receiving an All-ASUN First Team Honor for Alexandre Verlaguet. The Knights have faced off against the Hatters a total of 40 times dating back to 1982.

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.