UCF’s overall GSR was 89 percent, up four points from last year’s report. The Knights’ percentage was also seven points above the NCAA average of 82 percent.

The Knights rank No. 1 among public institutions in the State of Florida, second overall in the state and tied with Ohio State for 15th in the country among Football Bowl Subdivision institutions. UCF’s GSR also ranks highest among current American Athletic Conference institutions.

Eleven of UCF’s 14 programs (women’s cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field are combined) improved their GSR from the previous year’s report or maintained a 100 percent mark. Eleven of UCF’s programs also came in above the national average for their sport.

Three Knights squads – women’s tennis, women’s basketball and men’s golf – were at a perfect 100 percent. It was the eighth consecutive season for women’s tennis to record a 100-percent score. Women’s soccer recorded the biggest improvement among Knights programs, jumping nine percentage points. Eight UCF programs were at 90 percent or better.

“We have a group of high-achieving, hard-working student-athletes,” said Vice President and Director of Athletics Todd Stansbury. “Our coaches and academic staff promote a culture of academic performance on a daily basis. Our graduation success rate is indicative of the emphasis our student-athletes put on academics.”

The football program finished 12 points above the national average, with an 83-percent mark, compared to 71 percent nationally. It was the seventh consecutive year the football program improved its GSR. Football’s 83 percent was a program-best score. In football, UCF ranks No. 2 among American Athletic Conference schools.

“These numbers are proof that our student-athletes, coaches and academic advisors are doing a great job promoting the goal of graduation,” said Kimya Massey, Associate Athletic Director for Academic Services. “It’s very satisfying to work with a group that puts so much effort toward success in competition and in the classroom.”

The GSR data in this most recent report is for student-athletes who first enrolled in 2006.

UCF’s medal winners represent ten sports programs. The women’s rowing team led the way with six student-athletes, followed closely by the women’s soccer and softball teams with five each.

At least 32 Knights have earned medals during three of the last four years.

“Achieving a GPA of 3.75 or higher is a tremendous accomplishment for our student-athletes, who work hard in their classes while balancing the rigorous demands of their sports,” said Vice President and Director of Athletics Todd Stansbury. “The fact that so many of our student-athletes have earned academic recognitions from Conference USA is a testament to their determination and the support of our dedicated faculty members, coaches and academic advisors.”

C-USA announced its academic honor roll (3.0 GPA or better) Tuesday, and 221 Knights were on the list. That total ranked second among all C-USA schools and first among the league’s public institutions.

UCF’s student-athletes have collectively achieved a GPA of at least 3.0 for each of the last eight semesters.

In October, UCF posted a program-best 83 percent Graduation Success Rate, which tied with the şŁ˝ÇÖ±˛Ą of Florida for the top rating among Florida’s public universities.

UCF’s academic medal winners are listed below in alphabetical order by sport:

Football: Jacob Bundy (Business Economics) and  (Social Science Education master’s program)

Men’s Golf: Ěý(µţłÜ˛őľ±˛Ô±đ˛ő˛ő-±č±đ˛Ô»ĺľ±˛Ô˛µ)

Women’s Rowing: Jesse Baldwin (Communication Science and Disorders), (Finance), (Elementary Education with a Coaching minor), Kelsey McCreary (Cinema Studies), Beatriz Merino (Pre-Clinical Allied Health with a Spanish minor) and  (Sport and Exercise Science/Psychology)

Men’s Soccer: Augusto Braccialli (Civil Engineering), (Psychology), (Molecular and Microbiology) and Ěý(±Ę˛ő˛âł¦łó´Ç±ô´Ç˛µ˛â)

Women’s Soccer: (Biomedical Sciences), (Public Administration/Nonprofit Management), (Psychology), (Biology) and  (Communication Sciences and Disorders)

Softball: (Early Childhood Education), (Hospitality Management), (Elementary Education), (µţľ±´Ç±ô´Ç˛µ˛â)Ěý˛ą˛Ô»ĺ  (Mathematics Education)

Men’s Tennis: (Finance-pending) and  (Interdisciplinary Studies with a Math minor)

Women’s Tennis:  (Communication Sciences and Disorders)

Track and Field: (Undeclared), (Athletic Training), (Elementary Education) and Ěý(±Ęłóľ±±ô´Ç˛ő´Ç±čłó˛â)

Volleyball: (Marketing) and  (Molecular Biology and Microbology)

UCF’s football team ranked No. 1 among all of the state’s public universities – and the men’s golf and women’s tennis teams posted perfect scores — in new graduation data released Tuesday.

The football team’s Graduation Success Rate released by the NCAA was 79 percent, 12 points above the national average. Within Conference USA, only Rice posted a higher GSR for football.

Overall, UCF posted a program-best 83 percent Graduation Success Rate, tied with the şŁ˝ÇÖ±˛Ą of Florida for the top rating among the state’s public universities.

“We once again did very well across the board and continued to increase the academic achievement of our athletics program,” said Keith Tribble, director of Athletics. “I am very proud of our student-athletes, our coaches and dedicated academic support staff for their efforts year-round. No question the continued commitment from our university in graduating our student-athletes is evident in our annual increases.”

Women’s tennis posted a GSR of 100 for the sixth consecutive year. Men’s golf recorded a perfect score for the third time. Four other UCF teams – women’s basketball, rowing, volleyball and softball — recorded scores of 90 and above.

The NCAA releases updated graduation data every year. The data released Tuesday are for students who first enrolled in 2004.

“These results are testament to the hard work by our student-athletes, coaches and academic advisors in promoting academic success and achievement,” said Kimya Massey, director of Academic Services for Student-Athletes (ASSA).  “This shows that the şŁ˝ÇÖ±˛Ą is not just maintaining athletics success on the field, but in the classroom as well.”

For more information, see the full story from UCF Athletics.

“In the finals, after losing the first set, I realized that I needed to keep her deeper and work the point more. I was determined not to let the chance of winning an ITA slip away. I can’t even describe the excitement I felt as I won the last point of the match to win the tournament. I was so excited, not only for me winning, but to represent UCF in my win. I truly had fun competing and had a support system of relatives and friends in Tallahassee that gave me great energy. I also loved playing doubles with my sister Jillian, and besides winning the tournament, that was a highlight for me.”

After receiving a bye into the round of 16, Doerfler rolled into the semifinals with a pair of straight-victories, highlighted by a 6-4, 6-4 triumph over Furman’s Margaret Ann Boyette in the quarters. Doerfler then topped five-star recruit Erin Stephens (Ole Miss), 7-5, 5-3 def., to reach the championship match. That was when another Mississippi signee fell to Doerfler as well, as the UCF junior edged blue chip recruit Julia Jones, 2-6, 6-4, 1-0(10-7), to secure the first-place crown.

It also was a family affair in the doubles draw, where Doerfler teamed up with sister Jillian, who will be attending Florida Southern in the fall, to reach the semifinals.

As a sophomore, Doerfler collected nine singles victories including six during the 2011 dual-match season. She also racked up seven wins on the doubles court. In two years with the Black and Gold, Doerfler has 23 singles victories and 18 doubles triumphs.

In the last home match of the dual-match season, the UCF women’s tennis team walked away with a 4-3 victory over Memphis Sunday. The victory allowed the Knights to improve their record to 8-7 on the season.

Senior Jenny Frisell played her final matches at the UCF Tennis Complex Sunday. Frisell and junior Alexis Rodriguez collected the only doubles victory for the Knights as they defeated Kathleen Hawkins and Mariya Slupska, 8-4.

It was a long battle in singles as three matches went the distance as Josephine Haraldson was the lone Knight to wrap up her victory in straight sets. At the No. 6 spot sophomore Allison Hodges lost the first set, 6-4, but had little problems in the second and third sets as she only dropped two games, 6-1, 6-1. Fellow sophomore Jenna Doerfler battled with Stefanie Mikesz at the No. 3 position. Doerfler collected the first set, 6-3, but dropped the second, 6-4. In the third, Doerfler was down 3-1, but came back to win the match, 6-4.

It was Frisell at the No. 1 spot who earned the decisive point for the Knights. The senior won the first set 7-5, but fell in the second to Courtney Collins in a tiebreaker, 7-6 (7-4). However, Collins was forced to retire due to an injury in the third set, giving Frisell the victory.

The Black and Gold will now travel to North Florida Thursday and Stetson Saturday this week.

UCF will be hosting the C-USA Women’s Tennis Championship April 21-24 at the Lake Cane Tennis Center in Orlando, and admission will be free for all fans.

Junior Jenny Frisell returned to action this week when she paired up with senior Katie Orletsky at the No. 1 doubles spot. The duo defeated Ashley Murdock and Marjorie Ondeck, 8-4, moving them to 4-1 on the season. Sophomore Alexis Rodriguez and freshman Jenna Doerfler captured a win over Amy Brown and Andrea Argus-Garcia, 8-5, at the No. 2 position.

Memphis native Allison Hodges took on her hometown college defeating Argus-Garcia 6-3, 7-5 at No. 5 singles. Rodriguez battled Ondeck to a third-set super tiebreaker where she came out on top, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 1-0 (10-6). Meanwhile, Frisell, Doerfler and Orletsky each gave up five games or less in their respective singles victories.

UCF will be home once again this Wednesday to face No. 33 USF. Admission to all matches at the UCF Tennis Complex is free.

“We are very excited about this year’s recruiting class,” said Nickitas, who just completed her second season with the Knights. “Jenna, Allison and Genevieve are very talented young athletes who can make an immediate contribution to our team’s success. All three possess a high level of dedication and commitment to both their tennis and academics. We welcome them to the Knight family.”

Pepperdine topped the list at No. 1, followed by Long Beach State and Akron. Members of C-USA that made the top 25 include Tulane (No. 7), Marshall (No. 11) and Memphis (No. 16).