PROVIDENCE, R.I. –  UCF will face Alabama in the first round of the NCAA Women’s Tennis Championship as the Knights make their sixth appearance in the national tournament.

First-round play begins May 3 and 4 at 16 sites. UCF, which won The American’s automatic bid to the tournament, is in the national field of 64 for the second straight season as the Knights look for a second consecutive first-round win. 

UCF and No. 35 Alabama met during the regular season, when the Knights took a 6-1 win against the Crimson Tide. The Knights, who are ranked No. 24 in the Oracle/ITA ranking of April 23, would face either South Alabama or No. 10 Florida State with a first-round win.

The American has had at least one team reach the second round of the NCAA Championship three times in the league’s first five seasons. Three teams from the conference, including UCF, advanced to the round of 32 last season, while Tulsa advanced to the round of 16.

The NCAA also announced that UCF sophomore Valeriya Zeleva has been selected to participate for the indiviudal singles championship, while Zeleva and Ksenia Kuznetsova of UCF will join Tulsa's Martina Okalova and Vera Ploner in the doubles bracket. USF"s Ana Roman Dominguez was named as an alternate in singles.



NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN’S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP
American Athletic Conference Pairings
First Round May 3-4
    
at Tallahassee, Fla.    
UCF (22-3) vs. Alabama (18-11)    
South Alabama (22-4) vs. Florida State (20-6)


Singles Qualifiers
May 20-25 | Orlando, Fla.
Valeriya Zeleva, UCF
Ana Roman Dominguez, USF (alternate)

Doubles Qualifiers
May 20-25 | Orlando, Fla.
Martina Okalova/Vera Ploner, Tulsa
Valeriya Zeleva/Ksenia Kuznetsova, UCF