University of North Carolina Athletics
My Carolina Experience: Sanaz Marand
April 30, 2015 | Women's Tennis
My Carolina Experience: Sanaz Marand
By Zoya Johnson, GoHeels.com
Sanaz Marand fell in love with tennis at a very young age thanks to her parents. Although neither of them had much experience with the sport they instilled their love for the game in her and it manifested in her skills.
Remembering how she got her start Marand says, “My dad knew how to play a little so he started teaching me until I got my hand/eye coordination down. Once that was there, my parents took me to a coach and put me in group clinics. On the weekends I would drag my dad out to our neighborhood courts at 7 a.m. because I wanted to play as much as possible.”
By the time she was in high school, Marand knew that she wanted to play professionally. With a highly successful high school career that included leading her team to a state championship as a freshman and an ITA Federation Tulsa doubles title, Marand could have had her pick of colleges.
“I was mainly looking for a good coach who could help me develop and take my game to another level. Because I knew I wanted to play professionally after I finished school I was looking at Georgia tech and Carolina based on the coaches,” says Marand. “I thought UNC was a better fit and really loved it on my visit. A month later I called Coach (Brian) Kalbas back and committed.”
Marand was a standout player for UNC women's tennis from 2006-2011. By her senior year she was ranked as high as No. 6 in the nation and No. 1 in the region in doubles with her partner Sophie Grabinski. In singles, Marand was also ranked No. 25 in nation and No. 3 in the region. Her talent and drive no doubt were a big part of lifting the North Carolina women's tennis program to new heights.
“My goal was to come in and try to do my best to help make UNC one of the best tennis schools in the country. Every year we got better. My senior year we broke a lot of records and were ranked No. 1. Getting to the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament was a great way to finish knowing where we'd come from.
“The team and I had a great run throughout my time at Carolina. It was heartbreaking knowing we were so close to winning a national title and conference championship but it was easy to stay positive because I ended my career with the best teammates I could ask for. We all got along and were on the same page and wanted the same things. We supported each other no matter what.
“That year we did a lot of team bonding that added to our competitiveness and still allowed us to support one another. It felt amazing to be a part of that, and even though we weren't necessarily the best team on paper our camaraderie took us far.”
Additionally, Marand feels the Baddour Carolina Leadership Academy played an important part in the team's success her senior year. She says through her last year as a Veteran Leader she learned how to lead the team and how to deal with teammates based on who they were. Learning how to support and guide them based on those things was essential.
“Being a part of the Carolina family and being a part of the leadership program helped me in being confident as both a player and a leader for my team. My Carolina experience outside of tennis was so special because I also made lifelong friends that played other sports. It was amazing to see all the support we naturally had for one another and I loved going to watch the other sports play and compete. You can always learn from other people competing, even if it is not your sport.
“Another thing, even outside of sports, that I took away from Carolina was the sense of community. I always felt it, especially when people would gather together on campus anything that affected the university as a whole.”
As Marand continues to pursue her professional tennis dreams, she knows she will always have a support system and fan base at Carolina. While she continues to climb the world ranks, Marand thanks her UNC experience for her maturity and growth as a tennis player.
“I think Carolina and Brian Kalbas helped me become the confident player I am now. Learning from coach and the team, and knowing that the support is there regardless of distance has also been a big part of that. The biggest thing I took away from my Carolina experience was a love for the university and the Carolina Way. That will always be in my heart.”