BOONE, N.C. – Highlighted by 10 matches in North Carolina, four matches against Sun Belt foes and three against ACC opponents, Appalachian State University women's tennis announced the 2016-17 schedule on Wednesday.
Appalachian is looking to bounce back from a 7-14 mark and a first-round defeat in a tight 4-3 setback in the first round of the Sun Belt Tournament to UL Monroe.
The Mountaineers return three of the top four wins leaders in singles action in Melissa Machado and Gabrielle Wreder , who had seven victories while freshman Heidi Swope finished with six wins.
For doubles action, the tandem of Taylor Bygrave and Megan Mullen led the team with five wins, while Bygrave also notched three more with former App State student-athlete Mackenzie LaSure to give Bygrave eight total triumphs.
App State is in the midst of its current fall schedule, where it will wrap up the slate at the ITA Regionals in Chapel Hill, N.C., held on UNC's campus Oct. 19-23.
In head coach Blake Mosley's first season, the Mountaineers scheduled a tough slate that will help the Apps prepare for the Sun Belt Tournament at the end of the season.
“This schedule will challenge us and prepare us for the Sun Belt Tournament,” stated Mosley. “We'll look to finish strong in the final fall tournament next week and then start looking towards the spring. I think with the improvements we've made thus far, we'll be ready to go when matches count for team results.”
Appalachian will begin the spring schedule with a match against ACC foe NC State and Campbell (2 p.m. ) on Jan. 20 in Raleigh. Nine days later, the Apps will make the trek to Asheville to play the Bulldogs at 3 p.m. followed by a Feb. 2 matchup against Western Carolina at the Yonahlossee Saddle Club in the Apps' home opener.
In Greenville, N.C. on Feb. 4, the Black and Gold will play East Carolina to start a string of six-straight road matches. Appalachian will travel to Norfolk, Va., for a 10 a.m. affair against Old Dominion before hitting the road to Spartanburg, S.C. to play USC Upstate (2/16) and then Wake Forest two days later on Feb. 18.
The Mountaineers will close out the road swing against their third ACC opponent of the season at North Carolina (Feb. 21) and Davidson four days later. Appalachian returns for a pair of home matches against Grand Canyon (3/10) and Gardner-Webb (3/11).
Two contests in Charleston, S.C. will ensue during spring break against College of Charleston (3/13) and Charleston Southern (3/16). Appalachian will travel to Mercer for a match on Mar. 18 before squaring off against four straight Sun Belt opponents, starting with inaugural member Coastal Carolina (3/25) and then playing South Alabama (3/26) the following day. Both matches will take place in Mobile, Ala.
App State will play its next two league opponents in Statesboro, Ga. against Georgia State (4/8) and archrival Georgia Southern (4/9). Appalachian will end the regular season against Elon on the road.
The Sun Belt Tournament will take place April 20-23 in New Orleans.
