The smack of racquets, scuff of sneakers and echo of smashing serves reverberate across the Waranch Tennis Complex as North Texas tennis prepares for its Sept. 12 season opener.
This past season, the Mean Green reached the semifinals of the Universal Tennis Rating Women’s National Invitation Tournament, marking their first postseason appearance since 2014.
Additionally, the team went 11-10 and had its first winning record in its spring dual match season since the 2018-19 season. Building on two years of growth, head coach Amanda Stone said her third season is about executing that groundwork into results that last through the postseason.
“It’s good to have a group that’s feisty and fights hard,” Stone said. “Now that we’ve established who we are on the court, it’s time to really prove the next step.”
To start their path to reaching those goals, Stone said the team began with the best first practice she has seen in her time at the university.
“It was the best first practice in my time at North Texas, maybe the best in my career,” Stone said. “Everyone was prepared and intense. Our freshmen didn’t look lost. They looked confident in what they were trying to do, and we’ve carried that on since.”
A large portion of their established foundation has been the team’s experienced upperclassmen. This year’s roster features five returning players, including seniors Stadfany Nformi and Marina Adati, along with juniors Carolina Laydner, Lilly Schultz and Lou Chalard.
To Stone, the continuity of the roster has given North Texas its identity and leadership heading into the fall.
“We have the same core group that’s been here with me since day one, and they’ve always been the heartbeat of the team,” Stone said. “Now, stepping further into leadership roles, I think that creates the best environment for our freshmen.”
One of the team’s chosen leaders is Laydner, as Stone selected her as the team’s captain during the offseason. Laydner, who competed in the main draw singles of the 2023 Australian Junior Open, returns from three months of training in her native country of Brazil and looks to set the tone for the program.
“Any leadership position is earned from the respect of those around you,” Laydner said. “I’m excited to lead by example at practice and in matches, battle hard this year and work closely with the coaches to bring a player’s perspective.”
Along with the team veterans, the Mean Green added freshmen Pia Petelinsek and Giulianna Drpic to the rotation. They are additions to the team’s “attitude, effort and energy” mantra that Stone said will also focus on finishing strong.
“That’s our standard every day,” Stone said. “We’re getting in the habit of saying ‘last one, best one’ at each practice. At the end of a match, we want to be the best on the court.”
Before the home opener, the experience of a senior player has already translated to results. Nformi opened her fall campaign by claiming the championship at the UTR Pro Tennis Tour event in Champaign, Illinois, Sept. 2–7.
Nformi went unbeaten in group play before advancing through the semifinals, setting up a thrilling final against junior-level competitor Ellery Mendell. Trailing 6-3 in a decisive final set tiebreak, Nformi mounted a dramatic comeback, winning the final five points of the match to take the tiebreak 8-6 and capture the title.
Nformi’s early season success follows up the team’s spring last season, when North Texas closed with a 6-3 record that included a home win over nationally ranked Tulane University. The Green Wave ultimately eliminated the Mean Green 4-2 in the first round of the American Conference Tournament.
Yet, the late season surge, coupled with postseason experience, has given the program a boost of momentum heading into this fall.
“The way we competed last year put us on people’s radar,” Stone said. “This year, the goal is to finish and turn close matches into wins.”
With Laydner leading as captain and a trio of experienced players steadying the lineup, North Texas enters the season with elevated expectations.
The Mean Green will open the season Sept. 12-14 by hosting the Driving Eagle Invite at Waranch Tennis Complex. This past season, the team went 8-1 on its home court and will aim to continue the recent trend of winning at home in their fall singles season.
“College tennis is about staying tough in difficult moments,” Schultz said. “Matches can be decided by just a few points. In doubles, I play relaxed and try to bring that same energy into singles.”