One things for sure as the Orange women’s tennis team starts its season today (Monday).
They aren’t as road weary now as they have been the last two years.
“That’s probably the biggest difference about this year,” said Orange coach Justin Webb.
Orange Tennis Courts underwent renovations in 2024, a lengthy process that dragged into the start of the season. Shortly after it was completed, cracks started forming on the playing surface, which led to the cycle starting again for next year.
For most of 2025, the closest Orange had to a home game was facing Cedar Ridge in Mebane. Coach Justin Webb worked his iPhone to arrange practices at places like the Duke School in Durham, Fairview and various courts in Chapel Hill. Unlike Orange, most of those facilities didn’t have eight courts, which meant some of Webb’s reserves didn’t get a chance to workout while the matches went on.
Their first true home match came against Durham School of the Arts–during the final week of the regular season.
The 2025 Lady Panthers traveled the most of any tennis team in Orange history. They also won the most in the postseason.
Last year, Orange went 15-6 and reached the third round of the 5A State Playoffs after beating Southern Nash and Wilson Hunt. It was the first time Orange had ever won two state playoff matches in the same season. The 2022 team, which claimed a share of the Central Conference championship with Walter Williams, is the only team in school history with more victories (19).
Along the way, Webb won his 200th match as Orange head coach in the second week of the season.
“I feel like last year was very stressful,” Webb said. “It was very chaotic having to go back-to-back seasons where we had to barnstorm. This year, the fact that we’re getting to use all eight courts is helpful.
Orange lost nine seniors from last year’s team, including Adelyn Alvis (who went on to win a 5A indoor track & field state championship in the 300 meters), Kyla Mehl, Molly Kruse, Oakley Gaddy, Casey Robinson, Evelyn Cover, Abilene Loter, Bailey Macomsen and Lindsay Woodell.
They return their top two singles players. Junior Kalynn Mason won 15 overall matches last year, including a win in the state playoff match over Southern Nash’s Taryn Reams. Senior Ellie Wilson has played on the varsity for the past four years. Last season, she had 14 singles wins.
There will be four singles starting spots to replace. The good news is Orange’s consistency has led to increased turnout. 28 players have shown up for workouts in the dog days of summer.
“Of those 28, I would say 16 are new players,” Webb said. “Tennis is one of those sports where I think every year is different. You can lose two or three players and it changes your whole lineup. I think with other sports you have other kids coming in and they can refill the spots. But we don’t have tennis at the middle schools and this is the one sport where kids are learning it fresh in the 9th grade. This year, we have about ten 9th graders. All of them are new to the sport. It’s a very different team.”
Orange also has a rich junior class of Ella Garrett, Lucero Hernandez, Cadence Sayed, Davia Cole, Coraline Sayed, Cady Jones, Madison DeLeon and Samantha Gover.
In the end, it’s good to be home.
“I don’t think we could have had 28 players practicing at other places,” Webb said. “The fact we can be here playing on eight courts makes everything easier.”
Orange will kick off the season with a road trip to Chatham Charter today. On Tuesday, they will host Triangle Math & Science Academy for its home opener in Hillsborough.
