PROVO, Utah — The No. 9 seed and No. 37-ranked BYU women’s tennis team will face No. 1 seed and No. 20 UCF in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Women’s Tennis Championship on Thursday, April 16, at 4 p.m. MDT (6 p.m. ET) at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Florida.
The Cougars enter the matchup riding momentum after a thrilling 4-2 victory over No. 8 seed Utah in the opening round. With confidence building and a semifinal berth on the line, BYU looks to carry its strong form into a highly anticipated rematch against the conference’s top seed.
BYU holds a 19-7 overall record and an 8-6 mark in Big 12 play, compiling an 8-2 home record, an 8-4 mark on the road and a 3-1 record at neutral sites. The Cougars have showcased depth throughout the season, with key contributions from Sue Yan Tan, Sage Bergeson, YuYun Chen, Kendall Kovick and Bella Lewis.
The lineup is anchored by junior Gracie Levelston, who is ranked No. 109 nationally in the ITA singles rankings. Levelston holds an impressive 20-7 overall singles record this season while competing primarily at the No. 1 position for the Cougars. She has been a consistent force at the top of the lineup and a key contributor to BYU’s success throughout the 2025–26 campaign.
Top-seeded UCF enters the quarterfinal with an 18-3 overall record and an 11-2 mark in conference play. Ranked No. 20 nationally, the Knights have established themselves as one of the Big 12’s premier programs. UCF has been dominant across all venues, posting a perfect 9-0 home record, an 8-2 mark on the road and a 1-1 record at neutral sites.
The Knights are led by ITA No. 115-ranked Jantje Tilbuerger, who has compiled a 15-1 dual-match record. Tilbuerger closed the regular season on a 12-match winning streak, including a perfect 10-0 mark on court two, and has clinched five matches for UCF.
The two teams met earlier this season in Orlando on Feb. 26, when then-No. 29 BYU fell to then-No. 39 UCF, 4-1. Thursday’s contest presents an opportunity for redemption on the same courts at the USTA National Campus.
A pivotal matchup is expected at the top of the lineup as Levelston faces Tilbuerger in a battle between nationally ranked standouts. With momentum on its side and the stakes at their highest, BYU will look to secure its second upset of the tournament and continue its run at the Big 12 Championship.