Two Knights Earn ITA Southeast Region Nods, Di Lorenzo Tabbed Southeast Region Assistant Coach of the Year

ORLANDO – Following another Big 12 title-winning campaign for the 2025-26 women’s tennis team, three members of the Black and Gold collected ITA Southeast Region honors, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association announced Tuesday afternoon.

Headlining the group, assistant coach Francesca Di Lorenzo was named ITA Southeast Region Assistant Coach of the Year, while Marina Gatell earned Rookie of the Year recognition and Jantje Tilbuerger was selected as the region’s Most Improved Player.

The trio of honors marked the most by any program in the Southeast Region, which encompasses schools across Florida and Georgia. The recognition adds to a landmark season for the Knights, whose success on the court continued to draw attention both within the region and on the national stage.

Di Lorenzo, a key member of the Knights' staff since 2023, has played an instrumental role in UCF's rise to the top of the Big 12. Since joining the program, she has helped guide the Knights to back-to-back Big 12 regular-season championships and a combined 55-21 record.

Tasked with helping sustain the momentum from one of the most successful seasons in program history, Di Lorenzo and head coach Bryan Koniecko elevated the standard even further in 2025-26. The duo led UCF to its second consecutive Big 12 regular-season title and the program's 11th NCAA Tournament appearance.

Di Lorenzo also helped orchestrate a dominant regular season that saw the Knights post a 7-1 nonconference record, including a perfect 6-0 mark against in-state opponents—the best such performance during the Koniecko era. UCF additionally completed its second straight undefeated regular season at the USTA National Campus, extending its home winning streak to 20 matches, currently the longest active streak in the Big 12.

Gatell arrived in Orlando as an unranked newcomer joining an already talented Knights roster, but the freshman quickly established herself as one of UCF's most impactful players.

The Mallorca, Spain, native made an immediate impact in both singles and doubles play, opening the spring with a 5-0 singles record and a 5-2 doubles mark. Her strong start included a perfect 4-0 record on court three during nonconference action, highlighted by a career-first ranked victory over No. 96 Laura Putz. Gatell's 7-6 (7-3), 6-1 triumph clinched UCF's 4-1 win over Florida State on Jan. 30.

By season's end, Gatell had developed into one of the conference's premier freshmen. She compiled a 16-3 dual-match singles record, the most wins by any freshman in the Big 12 and the best mark by a Knight rookie since Rebeka Stolmar's 21-2 campaign in 2018.

Beyond her record, Gatell consistently delivered when the stakes were highest, producing six match-clinching victories throughout the season. Her breakout campaign earned her a place on the Big 12 All-Tournament Team at No. 1 doubles, as well as All-Big 12 First Team Doubles and All-Big 12 Freshman Team honors.

Tilbuerger entered her fourth season with the Black and Gold as one of the program's most established veterans. The Ganderkesee, Germany, native had been a fixture in UCF's lineup since the 2022-23 campaign, but a healthy 2025-26 season allowed her to become one of the top players in the region this season.

By the midway point of Big 12 play, she had delivered the match-clinching point in each of UCF's first five conference victories while posting an unblemished 8-0 record on court two.

Her impact only deepened following a move to the top spot in the lineup. Tilbuerger earned the first individual national ranking of the season for both herself and the program, debuting at No. 115 after closing the regular season on a 12-match winning streak.

One of her signature moments came in the Big 12 Championship semifinals against Arizona. With a berth in the conference title match hanging in the balance, Tilbuerger outlasted her opponent in three sets, securing the clinching point with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 victory to send UCF to its second consecutive championship match.

By season's end, Tilbuerger had compiled a 17-2 dual-match singles record, including a perfect 10-0 mark on court two. She matched Gatell for the team lead with six match-clinching victories and earned recognition on the Big 12 All-Tournament Team in doubles, along with All-Big 12 First Team honors in both singles and doubles. With one year of eligibility remaining and a No. 122 national ranking to close the season, Tilbuerger enters 2026-27 poised to remain one of the conference's top players.

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.