No. 20 Women's Tennis Set to Commence NCAA Action Against Navy

ORLANDO – Set for its 11th NCAA Tournament appearance, the No. 20 women’s tennis team will take on third-seeded Navy in the first round of the NC State Regional on Friday, May 1, at 2 p.m. at the J.W. Isenhour Tennis Center.

The bid marks the seventh NCAA Tournament appearance in head coach Bryan Koniecko’s 10-year tenure, during which he holds a 7-6 record. Overall, the Knights are 23-4 in NCAA Tournament play, including just four appearances before Koniecko arrived in 2016.

NC State, the nation’s eighth seed, will face Morgan State following the conclusion of UCF’s match against Navy on Friday. The winners will meet Saturday at 5 p.m., with a spot in the Round of 16 on the line. 

LAST TIME OUT
After earning a share of the Big 12 regular-season title for the second straight year, the Black and Gold followed with a strong run to the conference tournament final, defeating BYU and Arizona before falling 4-1 to No. 23 TCU in a hard-fought championship match.

Throughout the tournament, the Knights showcased just how versatile their roster is, highlighted by match-clinching performances from freshman Marina Gatell and senior captain Jantje Tilbuerger.

Gatell delivered the decisive point in a nearly three-hour quarterfinal against BYU. After dropping a tightly contested first set, she rallied for a 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 comeback win to seal a 4-2 victory and send the Knights to the semifinals.

Tilbuerger, a four-year member of the Black and Gold, delivered an equally dramatic clinch against Arizona the following day. The Wildcats were one of only two teams to defeat the Knights during the regular season, but UCF flipped the result this time with a 4-2 victory. Now holding a 16-2 dual match record, the senior captain battled back, earning a 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 win to send her team to the championship for the second straight season.

KNIGHTS TO THE ‘SHIP 😌 pic.twitter.com/4nvSx8dHmO

— UCF Women's Tennis (@UCF_WTennis) April 18, 2026

QUICK HITS

• Jantje Tilbuerger, Marina Gatell, and Olivia Bergler closed out conference actions strong, each earning All-Big 12 Tournament honors: Gatell and Tilbuerger went 2-0 in doubles to make the Court One All-Tournament Team, while Bergler claimed the Knights’ lone singles honor on court two, dropping just 18 games in three days and dominating her quarterfinal and semifinal matches before her unfinished final. 
• The Knights moved back up to No. 20 in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association Rankings, making them just one of three Big 12 teams in the top 25 heading into NCAA action. This is now the Knights' 10th consecutive week among the nation’s best, climbing as high as 18 in the April 7 poll.
• Jantje Tilbuerger has been the cornerstone of the Knights' successful season, compiling an impressive 16-2 record in dual match play. She’s clinched five matches for the Black and Gold, including a dramatic 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 victory over Arizona to earn the Knights a spot in the Big 12 Championship

THE OPPONENTS

Navy (Third Seed)
After winning the 2026 Patriot League Championship, Navy is making just its second NCAA Tournament appearance, 17 years after elevating to varsity status. The title marks the Midshipmen’s second in the three years.

Led by head coach Keith Puryear, the Navy coaching staff was recently named the Patriot League’s 2026 Coaching Staff of the Year. Puryear, now 338-118 in 17 seasons at Navy, delivered the program’s 11th 20-win season since its inception in 2009, ending the year with a 23-5 record. 

Additionally, Nicole Fu was named the Patriot League Rookie of the Year after leading the Midshipmen with a 28-7 singles record. Her standout season included a 15-5 mark in dual matches and a 4-1 record in league play. Fu’s 28 singles victories rank fifth on Navy’s all-time single-season list. 

This match will be the first-ever meeting between Navy and UCF in women’s tennis.

Morgan State (Fourth Seed)
Morgan State enters the Regional Round with momentum after capturing the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title, finishing the year at 15-7. The Lady Bears secured their third championship in program history, and first since 2018,  with a dramatic 4-3 win over Norfolk State.

Amira Bargaoui has been a key force in the lineup, leading the team with 14 singles victories while riding a 10-match winning streak, competing primarily at No. 3 singles. The junior earned first-team All-MEAC honors and was named the MEAC Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.

The Knights have only faced Morgan State once in program history, defeating the Bears 7-0 in 2005 under head coach Patricia Allison.

NC State (First Seed)
Ranked eighth nationally, NC State enters the NCAA Tournament riding the momentum of an ACC Championship and a 22-7 overall record, including a 10-2 mark in ACC play and nine top-25 wins. The Wolfpack’s title run included victories over No. 21 California, No. 6 North Carolina, and No. 7 Virginia, securing the doubles point in each match while dropping just two singles contests.

The impressive title run earned Simon Earnshaw the ACC Coach of the Year honor, while sophomore Mia Slama earned First Team All-ACC honors after a breakout season at No. 1 singles, posting a 14-8 dual record and 6-2 ACC mark. 

Meanwhile, in doubles, Anna Broadfoot and Anika Osuigwe lead the way for NC State, finishing 20-4 in dual play and 11-1 in ACC action at No. 1 doubles. The reigning NCAA Doubles Champions added three wins at the ACC Championship, helping secure the doubles point in each match, and earned All-ACC honors for their dominant season at the top of the lineup.

The Knights are 1-4 all-time against the Wolfpack, including last season’s second‑round NCAA matchup. In that meeting, NC State, again playing as the host, defeated UCF 4-1 to advance to the round of 16 for the sixth consecutive year.