She's tenacious. On that matter, there is no debate. USF senior Grace Schumacher has marked her women's tennis career by offering more hustle, more pluck, more can-do and more determination to beat the odds.
As the Bulls' leader, Schumacher hopes her calling card rubs off on the entire team, a remade roster of newcomers and holdovers, as it hopes to make noise in the American Athletic Conference.
The Bulls begin against Florida Gulf Coast University in Saturday's home season opener at noon.
"I like fighting on the court and it's what I really love about the sport,'' said Schumacher, whose 35-19 career singles record has earned her three consecutive spots on the All-AAC team. "If you never give up, you always have a chance.''
From the beginning, Schumacher listened to USF coach Cristina Moros, who said it's always an advantage to keep your opponent on the court as long as possible. That became Schumacher's game plan and a reason why other players usually dread seeing her on the other side of the net.
Schumacher's signature moment came last season at home against Northwestern. Everyone else had finished and the team score was level at 3-all. Schumacher was still on the court against Northwestern's Justine Leong, a player who had defeated her earlier in the season.
"Just me and her to decide the whole thing,'' Schumacher said. "I loved being in that moment.''
By the time it was done, by the time Schumacher had fought off five match points to defeat Leong 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (8-6), her USF teammates were lost in their emotions, mobbing their triumphant leader and celebrating USF's 4-3 victory.
Five times in her career, Schumacher has held the deciding match on her racquet as everyone gathered around to watch. She has won four of them. The only one that didn't swing her way occurred in 2022, when she put VCU's Paola Exposito Diaz-Delgado through the wash-and-rinse cycle before falling 7-6 (7-3), 6-7 (4-7), 6-4 in a match that required nearly four hours.
After losing the first-set tiebreak, Schumacher was down 5-1 in the second set, two points away from being dismissed completely, a near-impossible situation.
Schumacher didn't quit and distinguished herself, even in defeat. Diaz-Delgado ultimately reached the semifinals of the NCAA individual tournament.
"Grace has been the backbone of our program for the past three years,'' Moros said. "She loves the battle. That's the best way I can say it. She finds this way to put herself in matches that she sometimes has no business being in. And it doesn't matter who's on the other side of the court.
"When you have someone that consistent with what they bring to the table every single time they play, it just lifts the whole team up.''
Schumacher likely will be joined by new faces at the top of USF's lineup after the transfer of all-conference player Sierra Berry, a native Texan who returned to her home state and joined Baylor. Moros said she expects major contributions from Nadja Bay Christians, primarily a doubles player last season, and UMass transfer Melisa Senli, the Atlantic 10 Conference Rookie of the Year and a first-team all-conference player last season.
But the essence of USF's team begins and ends with Schumacher, a native of Australia who represented her nation in last winter's World University Games.
"I've seen people come and go … and I'm still here,'' Schumacher said. "I'm grateful for all the friendships I've built. And I'm lucky to have a group of really cool teammates this season. Cristina (Moros) recruits really well not only for tennis, but for personality. It makes this whole experience very enjoyable. I think we have a gritty team and I'm looking forward to seeing how we're able to grow together.''
Schumacher remembers the advice of her father, also her primary coach, who implored her to always give maximum effort.
"My dad built that mindset into me,'' Schumacher said. "He always said not to worry about how you were playing, but to give everything you could to win. If you leave it all out there, that's the winning effort you need and the end result will take care of itself. That doesn't matter as much as your effort.''
Schumacher said she calls home to Australia almost every day to speak with her parents, Rod and Ali, who are dedicated viewers of the live-stream coverage of USF women's tennis.
"The time difference is crazy,'' Schumacher said. "Basically, when I'm playing, my parents don't get any sleep.
"I wouldn't be surprised if I eventually go back home, but being at USF has been the best experience of my life. I've experienced living in a different country and met girls from all over the world as well as getting my degree (in May, she graduates in psychology with a minor in nutrition).
"Our current team, I think it's the loudest we've had, very social, very together. We've already made a connection. I'm excited to see what everyone will bring even though you don't really know until you start playing the matches.''
A few things are certain, though.
Schumacher, who hopes to work in the health or nutrition field, will lead the way. And she'll be fighting to the end. One day, she hopes to complete an Ironman Triathlon. That seems fitting.
"I want everyone's USF experience to be amazing, like mine has been,'' Schumacher said. "As I look around, I think we're very together. I think we're going to have a team of fighters.''
