Mountaineers Rally for 4-2 Victory Over #52 Marshall, Claim Historic Road Win

HUNTINGTON, W. Va. — The App State tennis team earned its second consecutive victory, defeating No. 52 Marshall 4-2 on the road Saturday.

It marked the Mountaineers' first-ever ranked road win and just the second ranked win in program history. Marshall had been undefeated at home this season, boasting a 7-0 record until the Mountaineers handed them their first loss, snapping an 18-match win streak in Huntington dating back to last season.
 
What Happened
The Mountaineers (9-5, 3-2 SBC) started off slowly, losing the doubles point. Although Savannah Dada-Mascoll and Taya Powell won a tiebreaker at the No. 2 spot, losses at No. 1 and No. 3 positions gave Marshall (13-4, 2-3 SBC) a 1-0 lead heading into singles play.
 
Despite an early loss from Ruby Broadbent at the No. 6 spot, App State responded with four straight singles victories to secure the win. Three of those singles victories were hard-fought, three-set battles, while the other was decided by a 7-6, 7-5 score.
 
Powell, competing at No. 3, got things going for the Mountaineers, battling back from a 6-3 loss in the first set to claim the next two sets by identical 6-3 scores.
 
Shortly afterward, Dada-Mascoll triumphed in three sets. After dropping the first 7-5, she won the next two sets 6-1 and 6-2 to improve her record to 10-2 this season, all from the No. 1 spot.
 
Manyube followed up with a straight-set victory at No. 2, winning 7-6 (7-5), 7-5. This marked her 10th win of the season and extended her winning streak to eight matches. She remains undefeated (4-0) at the No. 2 singles spot, with her only loss coming at No. 4.
 
Olwyn Ryan-Bovey sealed the victory for App State in a thrilling three-set match, prevailing 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. The Cork, Ireland native is now 4-5 in singles this season, alongside a 9-4 doubles record.
 
Up Next
The Mountaineers return to the High Country for a match against East Carolina on Sunday. The match is scheduled for noon, with a dedication ceremony for the new scoreboard and courts one and two set to take place at 11:40 a.m.
 
The 2024-2025 season is presented by Hound Ears Club.
 
App State 4, Marshall 2
 
Results:
(Doubles)
Alina Mokrynskaya/Emma Vanderheyden (MAR) def. Naledi Manyube/Olwyn Ryan-Bovey (APP) | 7-5
Savannah Dada-Mascoll/Taya Powell (APP) def. Sophia Hurrion/Aisling McGrane (MAR) | 7⁷-6⁴
Johanna Strom/Nel Van Hout (MAR) def. Ruby Broadbent/Alexi Cleveland (APP) | 6-1
 
(Singles)
Savannah Dada-Mascoll (APP) def. Johanna Strom (MAR) | 5-7, 6-1, 6-2
Naledi Manyube (APP) def. Emma Vanderheyden (MAR) | 7⁷-6⁵, 7-5
Taya Powell (APP) def. Alina Mokrynskaya (MAR) | 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
Olwyn Ryan-Bovey (APP) def. Sophia Hurrion (MAR)| 6-4, 1-6, 6-4
Alexi Cleveland (APP) vs. Aisling McGrane (MAR) | 6⁷-7⁹, 7¹⁰-6⁸, 1-3 unfinished
Nour El Ouazzani (MAR) def. Ruby Broadbent (APP) | 6-0, 6-4