Trio of Knights Bring Home All-Big 12 HonorsTrio of Knights Bring Home All-Big 12 Honors
Jon Rose / UCF Athletics

Trio of Knights Bring Home All-Big 12 Honors

by Ainsley Keaveny

ORLANDO- Three members of UCF women's tennis earned Big 12 conference awards, representing the Black and Gold among the conference's best.

Each honoree helped power the Knights to a regular-season championship title and a spot in the Big 12 Championship final. Now, the squad carries these achievements into the NCAA tournament in Raleigh, North Carolina. 

Below is a breakdown of each athlete and their honor(s): 

Jantje Tilbuerger | Sr.

  • All-Big 12 First Team Singles
  • All-Big 12 First Team Doubles

Senior captain Jantje Tilbuerger capped her final regular season with a standout performance, earning first-team honors in both singles and doubles. Known for her fast play and leadership, Tilbuerger posted a 16-2 overall singles record, including a perfect 10-0 record on court two. She earned her first ITA singles ranking of the season, checking in at No. 115.

In doubles play, she compiled a 10-7 record, including a perfect 2-0 mark in tournament play alongside freshman Marina Gatell. Tilbuerger becomes the fourth Knight to earn first-team singles honor and the third to receive first-team doubles recognition. The German native closes her UCF career with her first All-Big 12 selection.

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Olivia Bergler | So.

  • All-Big 12 Second Team Singles

Sophomore Olivia Bergler continued her upward trajectory, earning All-Big 12 Second Team Singles honors after being named to the All-Big 12 Freshman Team last season. Bergler posted a 5-1 record on court two and delivered one of the season's most critical moments in the Big 12 Championships quarterfinals against BYU. With the match on the line, she clinched the decisive point to send UCF to the semifinals. 

The Polish native becomes the second Knight to earn second-team singles recognition. She found success in doubles this season as well, earning an ITA ranking alongside Lauren Seye earlier in the season, peaking at No. 54.

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Marina Gatell | Fr.

  • All-Big 12 First Team Doubles
  • All-Big 12 Freshman Team

Freshman Marina Gatell made an immediate impact in her debut season, earning both first-team honors and a spot on the All-Big 12 Freshman Team. Paired with Tilbuerger, the duo posted a 10-4 record and highlighted their season by clinching the doubles point in the Big 12 Championship final. Gatell finished with a 12-5 overall doubles record. Her success continued in her singles play as she carried a 13-3 record on court three. She becomes the fourth Knight to earn All-Big 12 Freshman Team recognition, continuing the program's strong tradition of first-year success. 

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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.