App State Tennis: Hosts Austin Peay, Faces Wake Forest This Weekend

The App State women’s tennis team is set to continue its 2026 season with a pair of matches this weekend. The Mountaineers will first host Austin Peay on Saturday at the Deer Valley Athletic Club, followed by a road contest against Wake Forest on Sunday.

Recent Performance

App State enters the weekend with a 3-3 record, having recently split a two-match road trip in Georgia. They secured a 5-2 victory over Kennesaw State but narrowly fell to Mercer 4-3, with the deciding point coming down to a third-set tiebreaker on Court 2.

A Standout Season for Dada-Mascoll

The 2026 season follows a remarkable fall campaign for senior Savannah Dada-Mascoll. Currently ranked No. 9 nationally, Dada-Mascoll achieved a series of impressive wins, including a victory over then-No. 1 DJ Bennett. Her performance earned her NCAA singles quarterfinalist status, All-American honours, and a recent Sun Belt Women’s Tennis Player of the Week award following a win against Virginia Tech All-American Özlem Uslu.

Did You Know? Savannah Dada-Mascoll defeated nine ranked opponents during her historic fall campaign.

Team Dynamics and Coaching

App State boasts an undefeated record in matches played in the High Country this season. Freshman Allegra Hodson currently leads the team with a 5-1 singles record, while Dada-Mascoll and Naledi Manyube also maintain winning records. Head coach Hannah Fetters has a roster comprised of six returning players – Dada-Mascoll, Ruby Broadbent, Alexi Cleveland, Manyube, Taya Powell, and Isabela Romanichen – alongside newcomers Sreenidhi Balaji and Hodson.

Looking Ahead: Opponent Analysis

Austin Peay

Austin Peay (4-2) comes to Boone after finishing the 2025 season with an 8-14 record. The Governors recently suffered a 6-0 loss to Vanderbilt. This will be the first-ever meeting between App State and Austin Peay.

Wake Forest

Wake Forest (5-3) concluded the 2025 season with a 15-14 record. The Demon Deacons, led by 16-year head coach Jeff Wyshner, the program’s winningest coach, return seven players from last year’s roster. The two programmes have not faced each other since 2017, when Wake Forest secured a 6-1 victory.

Expert Insight: The Mountaineers’ schedule presents a mix of opportunities and challenges, with a relatively untested opponent in Austin Peay followed by a historically strong program in Wake Forest. Successfully navigating this weekend could provide valuable momentum as the season progresses.

Following this weekend’s matches, the Mountaineers will embark on a two-match road trip to Texas, facing Tarleton State and UT Arlington on February 27th and 28th, respectively.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is App State’s current record?

The App State women’s tennis team is currently 3-3.

Who is App State’s highest-ranked player?

Savannah Dada-Mascoll is currently ranked No. 9 nationally.

Has App State played Austin Peay or Wake Forest before?

Saturday’s match against Austin Peay will be the first meeting between the two programmes. App State last played Wake Forest in 2017, with Wake Forest winning 6-1.

How might the outcome of these matches influence the Mountaineers’ confidence and strategy as they head into their Texas road trip?