Warlassies coach returns to lead 'very competitive' roster
Pegg Rozzell inherits mix of experience and athleticism in Homecoming with program she pioneered
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
August 26, 2026
Owen junior Madalynne Phillips competes as the No 1 seed, Aug. 24, against Asheville. Photo by Fred McCormick
Twenty-six years ago, Owen alumnus Pegg Rozzell approached her former school with an idea to establish a dedicated women’s tennis program, which she led for three years.
As the Warlassies enter the 2026 campaign, the new head coach is returning to a familiar role, joined by a new generation of experienced and athletic players.
A Swannanoa Valley native, Rozzell, who coached the Owen Middle School girls’ tennis team for the past three seasons, was intrigued by the opportunity to coach the Warlassies again. She applied to fill the vacant position last summer.
“I thought, ‘this is my chance to get back up there,’” said Rozzell, who was a member of the Warlassies basketball team that won 90 straight games from 1964 to 1969. “For me, it’s about giving these girls an opportunity to learn a sport they can love most of their lives. I want to share my love of tennis and all it has meant to me all of these years.”
The coach takes over an Owen tennis team that finished second in the Western Highlands Conference in 2025. This year’s roster includes 18 players, 17 of whom have experience in the sport.
“I coached seven of these girls in middle school,” Rozzell said. “This is a group of players who understand the game, and we have at least eight who came in with really strong skills.”
Junior Madalynne Phillips has competed as the top seed in four of Owen’s six matches this season, while senior Amaura Feste has filled the second position in five. The duo represents a strength for the Warlassies, according to the coach.
“They are very strong tennis players,” Rozzell said. “In a lot of ways, Madalynne is the heart and soul of this team. She’s not a vocal leader, but she’s going to go out there and compete at a high level every time.”
Owen freshman Maeve Sterley, who has emerged a top 3 player on the tennis roster, returns a volley, Aug. 24, against Asheville. Photo by Fred McCormick
Feste, one of five seniors on the roster, shares duties as the Owen captain with fellow senior Maddie Pomeroy.
“Early on, Maddie and Amaura emerged as strong leaders, and they share the captain duties,” Rozzell said. “They are definitely leaders. Maddie has been so helpful, just since I began, and both of them are really respected by the rest of the team.”
Junior Layla Core, who posted an 8-5 mark as the No. 4 seed a year ago, and senior Avery Blankenship, who has competed in the 3, 4, 5 and 6 positions this season, bring a combination of versatility and additional experience to the roster. Freshman Maeve Sterley, a beginner on the court, has established herself as a competitor for the Warlassies, according to the coach.
“Maeve is an incredible athlete and she has only been playing the sport for a few months,” Rozzell said. “She’s already my No. 3 player, so she seems like a natural. We just kind of threw her into the fire, but it’s amazing to see how much she has learned and the way her skills have developed just from watching and competing against these other players.”
Owen faced a challenging non-conference schedule to open the season, falling to 1-5 against larger programs like Pisgah, Reynolds, North Buncombe and Asheville.
“You can’t get better if you don’t play people who are better than you,” Rozzell said. “It is a tough way to start the season, but the improvement we’ve witnessed up to this point is outstanding.”
Owen senior and team co-captain Amaura Feste follows through on a swing, Aug. 24, as the Warlassies host Asheville. Photo by Fred McCormick
The goal, she added, is to compete for a conference title.
Owen will travel to Erwin, Wednesday, Aug. 26, to face the Warriors, before opening its WHC schedule with four straight matches on the road. The Warlassies will face Avery, reigning conference champion Hendersonville, Mountain Heritage and Polk within the first half of September.
“We know it won’t be easy, but this is a very competitive team with very capable players, so we have expectations,” Rozzell said. “I’m confident that when we get into conference play these girls will be ready for it. I believe we’ll excel in the conference, and that’s what these players expect of themselves.”
A successful return to the program she started would end with her team at or near the top spot in the WHC and a talented core of players eager to return next year.
“I want them to see this season as a worthwhile experience,” Rozzell said. “I also want them to really develop a deep love and passion for this game, so they keep improving on the court. Winning is just icing on the cake.”