The men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 tennis teams became the latest UCF squads to hear their names called during NCAA Tournament selection shows this year. Both teams found out Monday that they will compete May 3 in the first round.
UCF Athletics鈥� teams have produced one of the most well-rounded and successful years in school history during the 2018-19 season. In addition to tennis, UCF鈥檚 volleyball, men鈥檚 soccer, men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 basketball, and women鈥檚 golf teams all clinched NCAA Tournament berths while the football team appeared in its second straight New Year鈥檚 Six bowl game.
Women鈥檚 Matchup
After earning the program鈥檚 first conference championship title in 17 years, the No. 24 UCF women鈥檚 tennis automatically secured its postseason berth and learned it will travel to Tallahassee to face the Alabama Crimson Tide in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at 2 p.m. May 3.
UCF is the only team from the American Athletic Conference to earn a spot among the field of 64.
It marks UCF鈥檚 second consecutive NCAA Tournament bid and sixth all time. The Knights, who have already tied the school record for season victories this year, will look to build upon last year鈥檚 postseason performance when they won their first match ever in the NCAA Tournament against FIU in the first round.
“It’s great, we’re excited to be in. That’s the goal obviously, to be in the mix and to be with the best competition in the country,” says head coach Bryan Koniecko. “We’re excited to play Alabama again. I’m sure they’re going to be a different team, it will be a completely different match.”
The Knights beat Alabama, 6-1, in February when the Crimson Tide were unranked. The winner of the UCF/Alabama match will advance to the second round to square off against the either Florida State or South Alabama. That match will take place May 4 at 5 p.m.
Men鈥檚 Matchup
The No. 29 UCF men鈥檚 tennis team earned a spot in the tournament via an at-large berth and will face the No. 27 Florida State Seminoles in the first round at 3 p.m. May 3 in Gainesville.
UCF is just one of three teams from the American Athletic Conference to earn its spot among the field of 64.
The NCAA bid is the second the Knights have earned in the last three seasons under Director of Tennis John Roddick. They’re back in the tournament after just missing it last year as one of the first four teams left out of the bracket.
UCF last met the Seminoles in 2017 in Orlando, and the Knights came away with a 4-1 victory. The winner of Friday鈥檚 match will advance to the second round to meet either Florida or Florida Gulf Coast at 2 p.m. May 4.
