MEMPHIS, Tenn. — After years without a permanent home, the women's tennis team at Memphis now enjoys a state-of-the-art facility, clearing the way for more matches in the Bluff City.
This enhancement is yielding tangible results on the court, signaling a new era of success for the team.
"For years, we didn’t really have a home," head coach of Memphis Women's Tennis Hayden Perez said. "We considered ourselves nomads. Really, it’s about consistency. We used to have the tennis balls; we’d take them everywhere we went; they were in the trunks of our car. Now they are two minutes from campus, and it's easy to relax and focus on what they need to do."
The facilities boast state-of-the-art indoor and outdoor courts, benefiting both the men’s and women’s teams with top-notch training and competition spaces. Newly added amenities include dedicated locker rooms and a stylish players’ lounge.
With these resources, the 46th ranked Tigers are currently on a remarkable five-game win streak, holding a 10-1 record at Leftwich and a 14-6 overall record.
Freshman Leonie Moeller from Nordhorn, Germany, has been instrumental in the team’s success, boasting the second-best singles record on the team and aiding in securing a recent conference win against Wichita State. Moeller attributes part of her success to having home court advantage for the first time in decades, citing the supportive fans and the team's comfort in the new facility.
“It is a reason as well why we can win points," Moeller said. "We have the fans here. We as a team feel comfortable here, and I really like the facility.”
Head coach Hayden Perez, who has been at the helm for a decade, previously led the Tigers to the program’s first conference title in 2022. He sees similarities between this team and the championship-winning squad two years ago, particularly in their resilience on court during singles matches.
“The kids, their resilience on court with singles has been fantastic, and that reminds me a little bit of that championship run,” Perez stated.
Senior Camila Soares, a member of the 2022 championship squad, is confident that this team will bring another championship back to the Bluff City in 2024.
"I think this has been one of my favorite years; all of them have been my favorite," Soares expressed. "But this year we have a really good team, and I feel like we can do it."
The Tigers are scheduled to face MTSU this Sunday at Leftwich Tennis Center. The first match starts at 10 a.m.