Fisher’s Files: Quaker Valley duo sets sights on state title

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, October 20, 2024 | 11:01 AM

The PIAA Class 2A girls tennis doubles playoffs will be held Nov. 1-2 at Hershey Racquet Club.

Quaker Valley senior Kirsten Close and freshman Avery Allan are hoping to make a sweet showing in the Chocolate Town tournament.

Close, a left-handed hitter, and Allan, who is right-handed, are the reigning WPIAL Class 2A doubles champions.

“Obviously, our expectations are pretty high for the girls,” QV coach Christi Hays said. “As long as Kirsten’s health continues to improve — and they now have time to get on the courts before the tourney — no other team will be happy to see them in their part of the draw.”

Close, who will be making her second PIAA appearance, was a silver medalist as a singles competitor in 2021.

Close, Allan and senior Jay Olawaiye competed as the Quakers’ top three singles players during the regular season — albeit Close on a limited basis. She was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease as well as a condition called gastroparesis.

But entering doubles play was on Close and Allan’s minds before the season even started.

“I think sibling rivalry is always a great motivator,” Hays said, “and I think it had something to do with the girls’ decision to do the doubles.

“Kirsten’s sister Ashley has a WPIAL and PIAA medal, and so does Avery’s brother Nick. The girls are eager to get their own, and they thought doubles was their best chance.”

Close and Allan dropped a total of seven games throughout the WPIAL tournament and won the title with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over North Catholic sophomore Brea Kelley and senior Katie Hardy.

The QV tandem was the top seed in the tournament and received a bye to begin the championships. Close and Allan then topped North Catholic’s Samantha Falcon and Evelyn Marche, 10-3, and Oakland Catholic’s Mollie Sclichter and Luciana Easly, 6-0, 6-0, to advance to the final.

Kelley and Hardy, the No. 2 seed, lost just one game prior to the championship match.

Close and Allan are good friends and excellent doubles partners.

Allan finished the WPIAL season with a perfect 15-0 record. Close went 12-1, including a 6-0 mark in the postseason.

“You can see by the number of matches Kirsten played that she has been hampered all season by serious health issues,” Hays said. “For weeks, she was in and out of the hospital. The doctors were having difficulty pinpointing what was wrong.

“Just recently, it (was) diagnosed that she has Crohn’s disease and also a condition called gastroparesis, which is what was causing her vomiting. Both were likely triggered by some type of virus May or June. She’s doing better but the challenge is balancing the meds to manage both conditions, and for her to get her strength back.”

It appears Close’s fortitude is second to none.

Tags: Quaker Valley, Sewickley Academy