You’d be hard-pressed to find a more tight-knit, sibling-like group of players than the NC State men’s tennis team.

For the past two seasons, the red-and-white’s core group of players has been through it all together. What started in 2022 as an inexperienced yet talented group of underclassmen has developed into a veteran squad ahead of its highly anticipated 2024 season start.

“When we put that class together, this is what we were envisioning — an experienced group, a group that is cohesive, that has lived and trained and played together for two and a half years now,” said head coach Kyle Spencer. “The cohesion in the sense that they want to work toward a common goal, I think is extremely important for this season.”

Now-juniors Braden Shick, Fons Van Sambeek, Damien Salvestre and Joseph Wayand all arrived in Raleigh as one of Spencer’s largest freshmen classes in his tenure. With now-seniors Luca Staeheli and Robin Catry joining that cohort, the Wolfpack had a bright future ahead of it.

Now, two years later, that same group is reaping the rewards of playing, practicing and traveling together for months on end.

“I think it’s super beneficial to come in with that many guys, and guys that were all high-level recruits,” Shick said. “Yeah, the whole team is very close, but I guess we kind of have that freshman bond a little bit.”

That freshmen bond has gotten NC State through thick and thin — namely, a special run to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA tournament in 2021 and an admirable yet injury-riddled 2022 campaign that saw the Wolfpack often suit up just enough of its thinly-stretched team on match days and still find success.

“The chemistry is off the charts because we know each other so well, especially when we’ve just had a semester with seven guys,” Catry said. “So you know everyone so well, with so little effort because everyone’s very open.”

That chemistry is paramount for NC State in 2024, especially after its disappointing end to its last season — two one-and-done losses in the ACC and NCAA Tournaments.

“The season did not end the way we wanted it to,” Staeheli said. “The ranking was not quite there, and then we had a tough loss in the first round of the NCAAs. Personally, and as a team, I think we can do better than that. Yeah, that makes us even more motivated to do better this season.”

Staeheli emerged as one of NC State’s best players in 2023. Like the rest of the team, the Switzerland native has grown into an entirely different player over his two-year stay in Raleigh.

“At different times, different players grow in different amounts, and obviously Luca, from the competitive side, grew a lot last year,” Spencer said. “I think Luca last year was super solid and competed at a high level for a long time, and I know that he’ll be looking to do that again this year.”

Like Staeheli, Wayand’s game has evolved, albeit quietly, in his two years at NC State. Despite little playing time in 2022, Wayand emerged as a doubles star in 2023 to earn All-American status. Now in the fall, he’s worked on his singles game and has climbed his way to No. 52 in the rankings, the highest ranking on NC State’s heading into the season.

“Maybe he came in — to the outsiders looking in — a little bit under the radar,” Spencer said. “And what Joe does that’s so fantastic is that he’s consistent. So every day he comes to practice with a work ethic, with a mentality to improve.”

Those traits are not isolated to Wayand, however. Spencer’s instilled and encouraged a disciplined mentality that focuses on hard work and constant improvement.

“Whoever we put out on the court for every match, we want a full effort,” Spencer said. “You know, we want every guy to continue to improve, and if we continue to do that, this team will be there when it counts to challenge for those titles.”

With more than two years of that same mindset, the Wolfpack has put itself in a position to make its deepest postseason push yet. Ranked No. 21 in ITA’s preseason rankings, it’s time for NC State to capitalize on what it’s been building.

However, the road to the postseason won’t come without its fair share of tests throughout the season. A handful of ranked non-conference opponents come before facing a gauntlet of always-talented ACC teams. Highlighted by back-to-back matches against in-state rivals UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke at home to end the season, the Wolfpack’s schedule is what it needs to prepare itself for a playoff run.

But for NC State, it all comes back to its chemistry and cohesiveness built on the foundation of years of hard work and perseverance.

The Pack’s season begins on Monday, Jan. 15, against Northwestern at 10 a.m. when NC State’s best, most experienced team yet will take the courts in the only way it can — together.

“What we’re really looking for is to continue to improve and play every match to the fullest,” Spencer said. “Enjoy the experience, be together. And with that, I think we can achieve great things.”