UNC Women’s Tennis 2025-2026

[3397char]

For the upcoming 2025-26 season if you combine last year's starts with current UTR, this seems like the most likely lineup on paper.

1. Brantmeier (20 of 20 matches at #1, UTR 11.16)
2. Rabman (15 of 20 matches at #2 or #1, UTR 10.77)
3. Ange Kajuru (1st year transfer, ITA tennis All-American playing #2 for a good Ok St team UTR 10.59)
4. Hamiltion (20 of 24 matches at #4 or higher with #4 her most common spot, UTR 10.23)
5. Evans (6 of 24 matches at #4 or higher with #5 her most common spot, UTR 10.59)
6. Hill (19 matches playing #6, UTR 10.2)
7. Anna Frey (1st year UTR as high as 10.4 in HS but currently around 9.9 I think?

The only one above that seems set is Brantmeier.

Doubles is a complete crap shoot, player partnes change seemingly every year. But with so many returning, this sems at least like a decent guess:

1. Brandmeier/Hamilton (22 matches at #1 last year)
2. Maltby/Kajuru (Maltby's partner last year was Tanguilig and they locked down #2. But Kajuru is an ace in doubles playing #1 position for OK St 2 years ago, only player on our team above 11 in doubles UTR)
3. Evans/Rabman (14 matches at #3 last year)

I could easily see the top 2 teams listed above swapping up doubles partners.

 

[Jriv23]

Again, thanks for the wonderful write up 3397Char.

 

[BoomerHeel]

Kajuru is an interesting addition. Kalbas normally doesn’t take transfers, Forbes being the most recent exception, and she was coming home to NC. Very pleasantly surprised that Reese is not turning pro. We should have a stacked lineup.

 

[Jriv23]

Way to go Kalbas and staff. Keep on bringing in the quality transfers and keep on recruiting at the highest level. I love who we have coming in for this season and for those that are coming back. I expect great things again this year. Go Heels!

 

[3397char]

Frey: $680K in endorsements??

 

[TAHeel]

Fiona Crawley playing US Open qualies in a few on ESPN+ court 17.

2026 recruit Alexis Nguyen is 2nd on court 15.

 

[TAHeel]

Crawley wins 6-2 6-3, Nguyen loses 6-2 7-5.

 

[Jriv23]

Congratulations to Crawley and for Nguyen there is nothing to be ashamed of. You are still in high school. Making it and being able to play at the US Open and still be in high school is insane. Go Heels!

 

[Nate1972]

Fiona playing the #4 seed in qualifying at 11 today on court 11. Should be on ESPN+

 

[Jriv23]

Okay and thanks for sharing.

 

[BenSherman]

National sponsorship deal for tennis commit: https://www.on3.com/nil/news/travis...ith-azzi-fudd-drew-allar-more-nil-tru-kolors/

 

[3397char]

Frey: $680K in endorsements??

I just realized that this number is just a regurgitation of her on3 NIL valuation which is just an estimate based on her sizeable (3 million) social media followers and other factors. So not a real number but she is earning 6 figures likely with her FILA, Head USA and many other endorsements, and now including American Eagle.

 

[Jriv23]

That is wonderful for all of them. I am so glad that they are able to make some money now.

 

[TAHeel]

Reese/Alanis playing tomorrow at 11 in US Open 1st round against 2 Americans actually younger than them!

 

[TAHeel]

Had a putaway volley to get to 3 match points that Alanis overhit...ended up losing 4 in a row to get broken. 5-4 in 3rd.

 

[Lucretius]

Had a putaway volley to get to 3 match points that Alanis overhit...ended up losing 4 in a row to get broken. 5-4 in 3rd.

Heels Win! 10-8 third set tiebreaker!

 

[Nate1972]

coming back from down 7-8 in the tiebreaker

 

[TAHeel]

Little bit of a choking contest but Alanis/Reese emerged victorious!

 

[3397char]

They will likely face the 4th seeded duo of Kudermetova and Mertens in the next round (2nd round = round of 32), who recently won the Wimbledon title.

 

[TAHeel]

Reese and Alanis had good moments in match 2 but clearly got very frustrated, tried overpowering their opponents and it didn't go well. 6-3, 6-1.

 

[UNCAlum83]

Women's Tennis Represented In ITA Preseason Doubles & Singles Rankings

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association released their national preseason singles, doubles, and newcomer rankings Tuesday afternoon. University of North Carolina women's tennis had several players towards the top of this year's rankings.

Reese Brantmeier and Alanis Hamilton headline the rankings as the no. 1 doubles pairing. The duo heads into the fall after a strong spring campaign where they won the inaugural USTA American Collegiate Playoff sending them to the 2025 US Open as a wild card. Brantmeier and Hamilton finished the 2024-2025 season with a 23-3 record ranking second in the nation.

Also making an appearance in the top 10 doubles rankings is Susanna Maltby and Ange Oby Kajuru. Ranking seventh, the duo is set to make their debut as partners this fall. Oby Kajuru joins the Tar Heels after competing with Oklahoma State and Iowa State.

Two Tar Heels are in the top 15 for singles. Brantmeier came in at no. 3 while Theadora Rabman ranked no. 12.

Brantmeier is poised for a standout final season in Carolina blue after compiling an 18-2 record in singles last season. The Whitewater, Wis. native was also named 2025 ACC Player of the Year while earning All-America honors in both singles and doubles after the spring.

Rabman heads into her third season at UNC after earning All-America honors in singles last fall by reaching the round of 16 at the NCAA Singles Championship. Overall, the junior finished last season with a 23-7 singles record, tabbed second-team All-ACC in singles, and ranked no. 23 nationally by the ITA.

Singles Rankings
No. 3 - Reese Brantmeier
No. 12 - Theadora Rabman
No. 29 - Ange Oby Kajuru
No. 43 - Tatum Evans
No. 124 - Claire Hill

Doubles Rankings
No. 1 - Reese Brantmeier / Alanis Hamilton
No. 7 - Susanna Maltby / Ange Oby Kajuru
No. 33 – Tatum Evans / Theadora Rabman

 

[Jriv23]

Thanks for sharing. Did Ana Frey get any votes for coming in as a freshman? Just curious.

 

[Jriv23]

I just read and saw that Ana Frey will not be coming until January 2026. I think she is taking a semester off. I could see her working on her tennis game for these months and then when she arrives she will be more ready to play.

 

[TAHeel]

Hayley Carter out (No word on why/where) Scotty back in.

Women’s Tennis Welcomes Elizabeth Scotty As Assistant Coach - University of North Carolina Athletics

University of North Carolina women's tennis head coach Brian Kalbas announced Elizabeth Scotty as assistant coach Wednesday afternoon. Scotty, former Tar Hee...

goheels.com

 

[Jriv23]

I wonder what happened to Carter. I hope all is good. Welcome back Scotty. Go Heels!

 

[3397char]

Well, Scotty's stint as assistant coach at Tenn did not last long, lol.

Welcome back Scotty! UNC's only 7-time national champion?

1. 2023 NCAA Team Title
2. 2020 ITA Indoor Team Title
3. 2021 ITA Indoor Team Title
4. 2022 ITA Indoor Team Title
5. 2023 ITA Indoor Team Title
6. 2021 NCAA Doubles Champion
7. 2021 ITA Doubles Champion

UNC won the ITA title all 4 years of her eligibility

Also ACC Tourney MVP in 2024. 2-time NCAA All-American, plus a 3rd team nod. 4 Time ITA All-American. She played in 3 doubles title championship games with 3 different partners. She and Reece were arguably the best doubles team her 5th year, but she was not eligible for the Doubles tourney after her partner was injured.

4-time ITA Scholar-Athlete and ACC Scholar-Athlete

She finished her UNC Career tied for the most doubles wins in UNC history (136-28)

My favorite Tar Heel tennis player.

 

[Jriv23]

Welcome home, Scotty. Go Heels!

 

[TAHeel]

 

[UNCH]

Going 1-10 against Georgia/UVA players is terrible showing. Not the standard for UNC women's tennis player.

 

[Jriv23]

UVA just beat us just like they did last year.

 

[NYHeel92]

Going 1-10 against Georgia/UVA players is terrible showing. Not the standard for UNC women's tennis player.

We out here talkin about practice. Not a game. We talkin about practice, man. - Allen Iverson speaking about preseason college tennis

 

[3397char]

Yikes, tough week-end

 

[TAHeel]

Another Heel in the Assistant ranks.



I wouldn't sweat this weekend too much. Reese did not play singles or doubles against UVA. She didn't play singles against Georgia. Tatum retired during singles against UVA and didn't play against Georgia.

 

[Jriv23]

Yeah it was a tough week. I am not worried though. They will bounce back. Brian and Staff will have them ready to play for the next tournament. Go Heels!

 

[TAHeel]

First day of ITA Pre-Qualifying today.

Claire Hill beat a 9 UTR from Minnesota 5-1 (ret.)
Mary Grace Rennard beat a 9 UTR from East Tennessee State 7-5, 6-2

I believe Maltby withdrew with an injury.

 

[3397char]

We landed 2026 #56 Aya Manning! Appears to be great at doubles

 

[Jriv23]

Welcome to the family Aya Manning. We have a good class coming in for the 2026 class. I think Aya is either the fourth and fifth recruit for us for the 2026 class. Go Heels!

 

[TAHeel]

2nd day of pre-qualifying

Claire Hill beat a 10 UTR from Miss State 6-1, 6-2
Unfortunately she lost to a 9 UTR from Wisconsin 5-7, 7-5, 6-2 to get eliminated

Rennard played a 10UTR from Georgia who beat Hamilton last weekend and lost 6-3, 6-2

 

[Jriv23]

Here are the other 2026 recruits to sign with us for you information.

https://www.tennisrecruiting.net/team.asp?id=819

 

[TAHeel]

Alanis will play qualifying tomorrow against a 10 UTR from Oklahoma State that played #3 in the 2023 and 2024 season. Sat out 2025 with injury.