CLARKSVILLE – With a young roster developing under head coach Ross Brown heading into 2016, Austin Peay State University women's tennis team has added German-born Helena Kuppig on a scholarship award beginning in the spring of 2016.

Kuppig, of Saarbruecken, Saarland, Germany, will have an opportunity to make an immediate impact on the court, as evidenced by fellow freshmen Claudia and Lidia Yanes Garcia who have already done so beginning in the fall slate.

A 2015 graduate from Gymnasium am Rotenbuehl, Kuppig carries a strong background with her to Austin Peay. In her native land, she claimed six city championships and reached the quarterfinals of the German championships in 2013 and 2014. A three-sport athlete in high school, she also participated in track and field and soccer.

Kuppig will be the first member of her family to attend college in the United States, and plans to major in business.

"Helena has a lot of experience playing in both Europe and the United States," head coach Ross Brown said. "She is a very powerful young lady and very mobile. She also has the ability to be solid in doubles, and we're very excited to have her join the team."