MURFREESBORO, N.C. – The Chowan University men's and women's tennis teams open the 2026 season this weekend, traveling to face Virginia Wesleyan University on Saturday, February 28th, 2026. Head Coach Adam Moneypenny begins his seventh season leading the program as the Hawks take the court with youthful rosters with several new additions who joined at the start of the spring semester.
Building Toward the Spring Season
Chowan's preparation began during the fall with two tournaments that allowed both squads to shake off the rust and evaluate early progress. Since September, the focus has shifted to conditioning and development ahead of the spring slate.
"We have worked hard in the weight room, building up our bodies to increase performance and protect us from injuries," Moneypenny said when discussing the team's offseason training.
Beyond physical preparation, fostering chemistry has been another major emphasis for the program. With a roster made up of players from multiple countries and language backgrounds, team unity has been key.
"We've worked to build a family, coming together as individual athletes to compete for the Chowan family," Moneypenny added.
Veteran Leadership Anchors the Hawks
Despite the youth movement, both programs benefit from experienced upperclassmen leadership.
Senior Feidi Abreu Rodriguez (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) enters her fourth season with the Hawks after arriving in 2022. Known for her steady improvement and competitive mindset, she has emerged as one of the team's emotional and on-court leaders.
Sophomores Isabella Turner (Colerain, N.C.) and Aime Vera (Santa Fe, Argentina) also return after gaining valuable experience during their freshman campaigns.
The men's squad is anchored by seniors Tadeo Missan (Buenos Aires, Argentina) and Tadeo Sanchez (Tucumán, Argentina), along with junior Marcel Ungerboeck (Kirchschlag, Austria). Ungerboeck, a three-year member of the program, earned conference recognition last season and brings familiarity with league opponents into 2026.
Sophomores Maksim Kachuk and Thales Sette round out the returning core and are expected to take on larger roles this spring.
Youth Movement Adds Depth
Both rosters feature an influx of newcomers who add international flair and depth.
Marcia Aragon (Chihuahua, Mexico), Diva Datta (Ghaziabad, India), Felicitas Grillo (San Fernando, Argentina), Janna Lerma (Pereira, Colombia), and Victoria Videla (Junín, Buenos Aires, Argentina) headline a talented women's freshman class.
Sebastian Vargas (Cúcuta, Colombia), Terumasa Inoue (Johor, Malaysia), and David De Simon (Madrid, Spain) bring new energy and competition to the men's lineup.
Season Schedule and Key Dates
The Hawks begin the season Saturday, February 28th in Norfolk against Virginia Wesleyan at 2 p.m. Chowan quickly returns home for its opener Sunday, March 1st, hosting Hampton University at the Rose Family Tennis Complex at 11 a.m.
Early-season action continues with a Tuesday, March 3rd road trip to face Elizabeth City State University and Virginia State University, followed by a home matchup against Davis & Elkins College on March 4th.
Chowan will then compete in a Spring Break tournament from March 5th–10th before opening conference play March 14th at Francis Marion University. The first conference home match is scheduled for March 20th against Shorter University at 2 p.m.
Day of Recognition and Postseason Outlook
The March 20th home match versus Shorter will also serve as a Day of Recognition honoring Larry Rose, whose family has played a significant role in supporting the Chowan tennis program.
"We would love to have as many people come out to the tennis matches on March 20th against Shorter," Moneypenny said. "We are going to be holding a Day of Recognition for Larry Rose, who recently passed away. He and his family have been major contributors to Chowan University and the tennis program."
The regular season concludes April 18th against Francis Marion at the Rose Family Tennis Complex. From there, the Hawks will look to secure a postseason berth in the 2026 Conference Carolinas Tennis Championship in Sumter, South Carolina.
