DENTON, Texas (1/23/08) With just one senior and five freshmen, the Mean Green enter the season with this weekends opener at Stephen F. Austin, after having the finest fall season in school history.
Narine Kazarova is the crowned jewel of the best recruiting class in North Texas history to date. The Frisco, Texas native picked up over a dozen wins in the fall season, and earned the national spotlight with an impressive showing at the ITA Regional Tournament. Just a year removed from the high school state tournament finals, the freshman posted four wins at the ITA Regionals.
Another stellar freshman, Madura Ranganathan, has been scorching the court for the Mean Green. Originally from Coimbatore, India, Ranganathan reeled off four straight wins at the Baylor Invitational, and reached the round of 32 at the ITA Regionals.
Arkansas transfer Rachel Wilhelm has been an asset to the Mean Green this fall, as has her doubles partner Catalina Cruz. The pair has posted a handful of wins so far, and will be a potent combo heading into the regular season.
The lone senior on the squad, Idalina Franca is the lone returning letterwinner from last year’s squad. She picked up 10 wins in the fall and led last year’s team with 12 individual victories.
North Texas will face a challenging schedule this spring, competing head-to-head with five nationally ranked teams, including tilts with Sunbelt foes Florida International University and the University of Denver; both rank in the top 50. The Mean Green will square off against four players ranked in the top 100 individually, and there top 50 doubles teams during the spring season.
North Texas will host eight matches during the spring season in their 12-court complex that includes a clubhouse with lounge, office space, and a team meeting room. The Waranch Tennis Complex is the state-of-the art home to the Mean Green tennis.
