After guiding UCF to three Atlantic Sun Championship finals and two conference titles, head coach Patricia Allison wrapped up her eighth season at the helm of the UCF program in 2007. Allison[apos]s team finished the season with an 11-8 record, which marked the 16th-straight season that UCF posted double-digit victories. She also notched career win No. 100 when the Knights defeated Stetson April 6, 5-2.
In 2007 alone, although it was an inexperienced team, sophomore Elvira Serrot had an 11-7 dual-match record and went on to earn Conference USA second-team honors. Serrot ended up winning 11 of her last 14 matches. Serrot and partner Anna Yakimchenkova also shined in doubles, posting a 16-11 record. As a team, the Knights cruised to the C-USA quarterfinals and against No. 1 seed and eventual champion Tulsa (ranked No. 44 at the time) the lineup was contested from top to bottom.
Allison embarked on yet another difficult quest in 2006: She took her Golden Knights into Conference USA. Although she had to adjust to not having a league schedule, Allison still shined at the helm en route to posting double-digit victories (12-9) and recording a 9-1 mark in home contests.
Under Allison, UCF has completed each season with at least 11 victories and made two trips to the NCAA Tournament. In addition, 20 of her players have earned all-conference recognition and one athlete was named both A-Sun Player and Freshman of the Year in 2002 (Emmanuelle Sauze).
Under Allison[apos]s guidance, the Golden Knights have not only excelled on the court, but also in the classroom. Her players were named to the Atlantic Sun All-Academic Team - with an average of 3.0 or better - 39 times, and had three student-athletes selected to the Conference USA Honor Roll in 2006. The squad has been honored as an Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-Academic Team six times.
By building a well-rounded team, it was no surprise Allison led UCF to a successful 12-9 record in its first ever season in Conference USA in 2006. The Golden Knights had a difficult road to start the schedule, facing five ranked teams in the first eight contests. But their home courts brought fantastic results as they went 9-1 in Orlando, which included a season-best five-match winning streak March 17-25. The year was capped off when the Black and Gold won its opening round C-USA postseason match by defeating UTEP, 4-0.
In the Golden Knights[apos] final appearance in Atlantic Sun, they posted an 11-8 overall record and a perfect 4-0 Atlantic Sun Conference mark in 2005. The team achieved a season-high ITA ranking of 66 as it advanced to the semifinals of the A-Sun Tournament. Both Kristina Lohmos and Pamela Fernandez earned first-team all-conference honors, while a pair of rookies Jennifer Carati and Anna Yakimchenkova received conference all-freshman team nods. All eight players on the roster were members of the A-Sun All-Academic squad.
In 2004, Allison led the Golden Knights to a 12-9 record as they advanced to the finals of the Atlantic Sun Championship before falling to Troy. Anna Westin garnered first-team all-conference honors, while Kristina Lohmos and Julie Pecastaing earned spots on the second team. Megan Hunter grabbed all-freshman team recognition.
The Golden Knights went 13-7 overall to rank third in the conference in 2003. At season[apos]s completion, they were ranked No. 63 nationally. Three players - Pecastaing, Marieke Gunawan and Pamela Fernandez - were named to all-conference teams.
Allison led UCF to the conference championship and an automatic berth in the NCAA Regional Tournament during the 2002 season. The Golden Knights faced nine nationally ranked opponents that year and posted a record of 11-12. Allison captured A-Sun Coach of the Year honors for her second time, while Sauze headlined the list of players earning postseason awards, receiving both Atlantic Sun Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year recognition. Sauze and Lohmos were also on the all-conference teams.
UCF ended the 2001 season with a 13-6 overall mark and advanced to the semifinals of the conference championship. AJ Svantesson represented the Black & Gold on the A-Sun All-Conference squad.
In her first year at the school, Allison was tapped as the A-Sun Coach of the Year after guiding the Golden Knights to a 19-6 record and winning the conference title. The team advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Gunawan, Svantesson and Gaelle Fouttefarde were all-conference honorees.
A native of Hollywood, Fla., Allison came to UCF after a three-year stint as assistant coach at the University of Oregon. She helped guide the Ducks to the NCAA West Regional Championships for the first time in school history. Meanwhile, the team earned its first national ranking during 1997 and also received two ITA Academic All-America awards.
Prior to her experience at Oregon, Allison spent 21 years coaching at the club level, working with players of various ages and experience.
A former director of tennis at three different facilities in Florida and California, Allison is a member of the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA). She has served in its testing program and on the Florida USPTA Women[apos]s Committee.
Allison earned her bachelor[apos]s degree in modern languages from Florida International in 1981.