SMU (9-4, 2-0 AAC) vs. No. 18 UCF (8-3, 1-0 AAC)
Saturday, March 7 | 12 p.m. CT
Dallas, Texas | SMU Tennis Complex
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SMU returns home to take on conference opponent No. 18 UCF at the SMU Tennis Complex on Saturday at 12 p.m. CT.

SERIES HISTORY
The Mustangs lead the series, 8-5, over the Knights and are 6-2 when taking on UCF at home. The two have played every year but one since 2010 and met twice before then – in 2000 and 2006. UCF won last year's matchup in a 6-1 final in Orlando.

SCOUTING THE STANGS

• SMU heads into this week's matchups with a 9-4 record overall. The Mustangs have shut out five of their 13 opponents.
• The freshman duo of Jackie Nylander and Isabella Tcherkes Zade entered the ITA Tennis rankings this week at No. 60. The two are taking charge playing line one with a 9-3 record in dual matches. They are 2-1 against ranked opponents.
• Overall, the Mustangs are 22-11 in doubles matchups and have only lost two doubles points so far this season.
• Nylander was the first Mustang to reach 10 singles wins this season after defeating her Kansas State opponent, 6-0, 6-0. Bartolome and Tcherkes Zade are both one behind with nine wins each.

ABOUT UCF
UCF enters the contest ranked No. 18 in the recent ITA Tennis rankings. They are 8-3 on the season and have won against two ranked teams, then-No. 18 Texas A&M and then-No. 29 Old Dominion. The only conference matchup for the Knights so far has been at Tulane, where UCF won, 7-0. In individual rankings, four Knights are ranked in singles (42, 66, 91, 108) and three doubles pairs are ranked (10, 47, 65).
 
LAST TIME OUT
SMU split its matchups in its trip to Kansas. The Mustangs shut out AAC foe Wichita State, 4-0, last Thursday. Nylander and Tcherkes Zade picked up a ranked win in doubles, defeating the No. 28 pair, 6-2. Nylander, Tcherkes Zade and Bartolome all won their singles matchups to clinch the SMU win. At No. 38 Kansas State, the Wildcats took the 4-1 win. SMU dropped its second doubles point of the season and wasn't able to bounce back in singles play. Nylander earned SMU's sole point with a dominate 6-0, 6-0 performance on line one.

AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE HONORS

• Jackie Nylander – Player of the Week (Feb. 11)

SMU vs RANKED OPPONENTS
Doubles (2-1)
Nylander/Tcherkes Zade         W         6-2                   No. 31              Colorado State
Nylander/Tcherkes Zade         L          6-4                   No. 55              Alabama
Nylander/Tcherkes Zade         W         6-2                   No. 28              Wichita State
 
Singles (0-5)
Bartolome                                L          6-3, 6-2            No. 118            LSU
Monarrez Yesaki                     L          6-0, 6-1            No. 57              LSU
Nylander                                  L          6-4, 6-4            No. 47              LSU
Nylander                                  L          2-6, 6-4, 6-4     No. 29              Wake Forest
Tcherkes Zade                        L          6-3, 4-6, 6-4     No. 79              Wake Forest

ORACLE PRO SERIES 25K
Jackie Nylander and Isabella Tcherkes Zade both earned wild cards to compete in the Oracle Pro Series 25K held at the SMU Tennis Complex in October. In singles, the two both won their first match in the qualifying draw, but fell short of securing a spot in the main draw. The two paired up in the doubles draw and advanced to the quarterfinals before falling to a duo from New Zealand and Canada.

UP NEXT
The Mustangs travel to California to take on Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles on Wednesday, March 11 at 3 p.m. CT.