QUICK HITS
- UCF has now appeared in the ITA Poll for 15 consecutive weeks, ranking No. 20 on Feb. 12, 2025, and most recently checking in at No. 24 on Jan. 21, 2026. The Knights are one of four Big 12 programs featured in the most recent rankings, joined by Oklahoma State (No. 10), Texas Tech (No. 20), and Baylor (No. 25).
- Northern Arizona transfer Daryna Shoshyna, who posted a 9-1 record on court one last season at NAU, has carried that dominance into the Sunshine State, cruising past her opponent 6-0, 6-1 in Sunday’s match against USF. Her win streak on court one now extends to nine straight.
- UCF returns four of five players from the nation’s second-ranked recruiting class last season: Jade Psonka, Hannah Rylatt, Olivia Bergler, and Aya El Aouni.
- Among the other key returners is Jantje Tilbuerger, who enters her senior season leading the Knights as captain for the second year in a row. After missing much of last season due to injury, Tilbuerger has bounced back strong, locking down court three against USF with a 6-2, 6-2 victory.
- Now in his 10th season at the helm, head coach Bryan Koniecko stands as the winningest in program with a total of 148 to his name at the end of the 2024-25 season.
THE OPPONENTS
No. 18 UCLA (First Round, Saturday 12 PM)
The first round match-up on Saturday will be the Knights’ first meeting with the Bruins, as UCLA enters the matchup ranked No. 18 and coming off a 5-2 win over San Diego State, highlighted by strong freshman debuts from Mayu Crossley and Kayla Chung. The Bruins also carry momentum from a productive fall that included Crossley qualifying for the NCAA singles championship.
The Bruins return one of the nation’s top cores, headlined by All‑Americans Olivia Center and No. 75 Kate Fakih, who reached last year’s NCAA doubles final, and top‑court anchor Anne‑Christine Lutkemeyer, who posted 13 ranked singles wins last season. The Bruins are led by 30th‑year head coach Stella Sampras Webster.
No. 5 LSU (Sunday, Consolation/Championship Time TBA)
The fifth‑ranked Tigers are off to a strong 2-0 start, opening the season with dominant sweeps over Northwestern State (7-0) and San Diego (4-0). LSU leans on a deep, veteran roster featuring seven returners, led by All‑American Cadence Brace and No. 81 Kinaa Graham.
Brace, the reigning SEC Freshman of the Year, finished last season ranked No. 8 nationally with 11 ranked singles wins and a seven‑match streak. One of college tennis’s premier talents, she also brings high‑level pro experience, including a U.S. Open appearance and multiple WTA semifinal runs. The Tigers’ depth is further strengthened by standout freshmen like No. 78 Addison Lanton, a top‑25 national recruit and two‑time Illinois State Singles Champion.
Marshall (Sunday, Consolation/Championship Time TBA)
Marshall, who’s 2-0 to start the season, brings back a solid core to Huntington, led by veterans Meredith Riley, Katy Limanen, Nour El Ouazzani, Alina Mokrynska and senior standout Johanna Strom. Strom enters the spring with strong momentum after qualifying for the ITA Sectionals singles field and reaching the quarterfinals of the ITA Atlantic Regional. The Herd also adds four newcomers: Paula Berzina, Sarah Copley, Polina Gumeniuk and Thalia Smith.
