Tennis
This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 04/10/2016
April 10, 2016
Not only does the mercury rise as the week progresses, but the action on the diamonds, fields and courts do as well this week here on the MSA Sports Network. Our first spring high school sports championship takes place with the 2016 WPIAL Boys Singles Tennis Championships. We also have plenty of WPIAL section action from both baseball and softball along with WPIAL boys volleyball, WPIAL boys and girls lacrosse, plus the debut of Rappin' on Racin' along with another edition of WPIAL Diamond Notes ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, April 11th: TALK SHOW - Rappin' on Racin' at 6:00pm on MSAsports.netWPIAL Boys Tennis Individual Singles Sectionals
April 6, 2016
The field for the 2016 WPIAL Singles Tennis Championships were finalized Tuesday with the championship and consolation matches in each section. The top three players from each section qualify for the district singles playoffs which take place on Monday and Tuesday of next week. WPIAL CLASS AAA SECTION 1: Championship: Rochan Ramesh (Franklin Regional) over Turner Price (Penn-Trafford) 6-1, 6-2 Consolation: Kevin Lee (Penn-Trafford) over Alex Ferraccio (Kiski Area) 6-3, 6-1 WPIAL CLASS AAA SECTION 2: Championship: Jared Issacs (North Allegheny) over Ben Vinarski (Pine-Richland) 6-1, 6-4 Consolation: Logan D'Angelo (Moon) over Richard Hofmann (North Allegheny) 6-2, 6-3)WPIAL Girls Sports Realignment
February 16, 2016
We all knew it was coming. A major change to the WPIAL high school sports landscape based on the PIAA's decision to increase from four to six classifications in basketball and softball, plus the increase in other sports such as soccer, volleyball and lacrosse. The WPIAL Board of Control approved the various steering committee's re-alignment suggestions starting with the 2016-2017 school year. This alignment also will be for the 2017-2018 school year. For interactive listing, CLICK HERE. GIRLS BASKETBALL Class 6AWPIAL Boys Sports Realignment
We all knew it was coming. A major change to the WPIAL high school sports landscape based on the PIAA's decision to increase from four to six classifications in football, basketball and baseball, plus the increase in other sports such as soccer and lacrosse. The WPIAL Board of Control approved the various steering committee's re-alignment suggestions starting with the 2016-2017 school year. This alignment also will be for the 2017-2018 school year. *For an interactive listing, CLICK HERE FOOTBALL Class 6AMSA Sports Top 25 WPIAL Stories From 2015 Countdown: #25 – #11
December 31, 2015
It has become a tradition like no other...at least during the holiday season here at MSA Sports. Here is a look back at another great high school sports year with the top stories from around the WPIAL in 2015. We begin our countdown with #25 through #11. #25 - ODD STREAK CONTINUESPIAA Girls Tennis : Ananya Dua Repeats in Singles While Fox Chaple Duo Wins Doubles
November 7, 2015
The PIAA Class AAA Girls Tennis Singles and Doubles finals turned into a WPIAL love-fest as district players met each other in both title matches Saturday afternoon at the Hershey Racquet Club. Ananya Dua of Shady Side Academy made history by repeating as PIAA AAA Singles champion by beating Anna Li of North Allegheny 7-6 (7-5), 6-1. Dua is only the third WPIAL tennis player to win back-to-back state AAA singles crowns following Michaela Kissell of Latrobe (three consecutive from 2003-05) and Mount Lebanon’s Kelly Kolankiewicz (1982-83). Li beat Charlotte Madson of Upper St. Clair in the Semifinals as three district players made up the Final Four. Madson won the consolation match 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 over Payton Bradley on Downingtown West.Scholastic Notebook – 11/06/2015
November 6, 2015
The WPIAL football playoffs start Friday night. Does that mean the Tri-County South Conference turns into the Tri-County Sour bunch once again? The Tri-County South in Class A hasn’t won a playoff game since the 2010 season. Since then, Tri-County South teams are 0-16 in the postseason. But maybe there is hope to end the postseason drought this year. Frazier finished the regular season with a 9-0 record and the Commodores were given the No. 4 seed. Frazier led the entire WPIAL in fewest points allowed this season and it plays host to South Side in a first-round game.North Allegheny Wins Third Straight PIAA Girls AAA Team Tennis Title
October 31, 2015
It was like a WPIAL block party at the 2015 PIAA Girls Team Tennis Championships at the Hershey Racquet Club as five District 7 teams reached the Semifinals and three of them played in the state finals on Saturday. While Shady Side Academy in AAA and Beaver in AA lost in the championship match and brought home silver from Chocolatetown, North Allegheny claimed gold. As they did in the WPIAL AAA title match, the Tigers beat the SSA Indians to win a third straight girls tennis state crown. Here are all of the results from the 2015 PIAA Girls Team Tennis Championships. 2015 PIAA CLASS AAA GIRLS TEAM TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: NORTH ALLEGHENY TIGERS 4 - SHADY SIDE ACADEMY INDIANS 1Scholastic Notebook – 10/30/2015
October 30, 2015
If you want to see variety, check out Paris this fall. But we’re not talking the city of Paris. We’re talking the junior do-it-all player for the Seton-LaSalle football team named Paris Ford. He is a Ford that is souped up with versatility. He is undoubtedly one of the most versatile – and best – players in the WPIAL. Ford is listed as a receiver and defensive back. He is a stud at both positions. But he also runs the football and returns kicks and punts. How versatile is he? Well, Seton-LaSalle has moved the 6-foot-1, 170-pound Ford to linebacker because that’s where they could use him the most.North Allegheny & Beaver Win WPIAL Girls Team Tennis Titles
October 21, 2015
North Allegheny knocked off top-seed Shady Side Academy Wednesday to win the WPIAL Class AAA title. The championship is the third straight crown for the Tigers and denied the Indians their fifth girls team tennis title. For the first time since 2002 and the sixth time in program history, Beaver captured the WPIAL Class AA Girls Team Championship Wednesday afternoon at North Allegheny High School, defeating Sewickley Academy 3-2. Even though the Bobcats were swept in doubles play, a sweep in three singles matches was enough to win the championship. Beaver was led by juniors Anne Taylor and Moriah Bridges, who won a first and second singles, respectively. Freshman Devyn Campbell sealed the team victory with a win at third singles in straight sets.Fox Chapel and Quaker Valley Duo’s Win WPIAL Girls Doubles Tennis Titles
October 7, 2015
Senior Laurel Shymansky is certainly not shy about winning district doubles titles. Shymansky and Fox Chapel partner Amanda Nord won in straight sets Wednesday afternoon at North Allegheny to repeat as WPIAL Class AA Girls Doubles Tennis champions. This marks the third straight year Shymansky captured gold, winning two years ago along with Foxes teammate Lacey Cohen. In the Class AA Finals, the Quaker Valley duo of Zoe Bojalad & Emily Kraus were straight set winners over Ania Luckiewicz & Angelica Arshoun of Vincentian Academy, who had to finish their suspended Semifinals match prior to the Finals. This marks Bojalad's second straight WPIAL doubles crown after winning last year with her sister Farrah.
WPIAL Alum Q&A – Callie Frey
September 28, 2015
This week’s edition of WPIAL Alum Q&A highlights Callie Frey, a former championship tennis player for Mount Lebanon High School who is now excelling at the University of Pittsburgh. While at Mount Lebanon, Frey captured four section titles in singles play, and during both her junior and senior seasons, she won the Class AAA WPIAL Championship. In the process, she became the first tennis play from Mount Lebanon in nearly 30 years to accomplish the feat.
Ananya Dua of SSA & Anne Taylor of Beaver Win WPIAL Singles Tennis Gold
September 22, 2015
On the last day of summer, the WPIAL crowned their first fall champions. it was a repeat champion in Class AAA and a new champ in Class AA.
2015 WPIAL Girls Singles Tennis Championships Results
September 21, 2015
The first scholastic championship of the 2015-2016 school year was earned Tuesday afternoon in the 2015 WPIAL Girls Tennis Singles Championships at North Allegheny High School. Ananya Dua of Shady Side Academy repeats as the district AAA champ after beating Anna Li of North Allegheny while a new champion was crowned in Class AA where junior Anne Taylor of Beaver knocked off top-seed Hannah Phillips of Carlynton in straight sets. Also Natalia Perry of Franklin Regional and Farrah Bojolad of Quaekr Valley earned spots in the PIAA state singles tennis playoffs with consolation match victories. Here are all of the results from the 2015 WPIAL Girls Singles Tennis Playoffs. The championship and consolation finals can be heard archived here on the MSA Sports Network.This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 09/21/2015
Believe it or not, we have out first district championship coming up as we creep closer to the mid-way point of the fall high school sports regular season this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We move on to Week Four of the high school football season with 30 WPIAL weekend contests starting Friday night with the MSA Sports Pregame Show and concluding later that night with the WPIAL Football Scoreboard Show.
2015 Positive Athlete Awards
May 19, 2015
2015 Positive Athlete Awards On Wednesday, May 13th, 27 Western PA High School students were recognized at the John Heinz History Center by Hines Ward as “Positive Athletes” . These athletes were nominated by coaches, teachers, administrators, parents, and friends for their ability to meet the following criteria in their day-to day lives as athletes, students and members of their communities.USC Settles for Silver in 2015 PIAA Boys Team Tennis State Playoffs
May 15, 2015
After a golden run through the district playoffs, Upper St. Clair will have to settle for silver in their state playoff journey. After beating South Hills rival Mount Lebanon Saturday morning in the state Semifinals, the Panthers could not add PIAA gold to their WPIAL championship as they lost to Lower Merion 3-2 in the finals Saturday afternoon at the Hershey Racquet Club. Meanwhile, WPIAL Class AA champion Sewickley Academy saw its state title dreams end with a loss in the Semifinals to eventual champion Moravian Academy. Here are ALL the results from the 2015 PIAA Boys Team Tennis Playoffs. 2015 PIAA BOYS TEAM TENNIS CLASS AAA CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: Lower Merion Aces 3 - UPPER ST. CLAIR PANTHERS 2Scholastic Notebook – 05/08/2015
May 8, 2015
You know the saying. April showers bring May flowers and Seneca Valley blooms. OK, so the last few words aren’t part of the saying. But in WPIAL baseball lately, it fits. If Reggie Jackson used to be Mr. October, then Seneca Valley coach Eric Semega is Mr. May. Seneca Valley has made it to the WPIAL Class AAAA title game four years in a row. The Raiders are believed to be the first team in almost 100 years to make the championship four consecutive seasons. Allegheny High School won six consecutive titles from 1917-22. The WPIAL baseball playoffs start next week, and a natural question is will be a drive for five for Seneca Valley?USC & Sewickley Academy Are 2015 WPIAL Boys Team Tennis Champs
May 7, 2015
it's an even dozen when describing the on-going dominance of the Sewickley Academy boys tennis team. The Panthers swept past Winchester Thurston Thursday afternoon to capture a 12th straight WPIAL Class AA championship. The title is the 19th boys team tennis crown in 21 years for Sewickley Academy.Scholastic Notebook – 05/01/2015
May 1, 2015
Apparently, Bo knows softball. Bo Teets is in his sixth year as the girls softball coach at Monessen High School and is conducting one of the biggest turnaround stories in the WPIAL in any sport. Earlier this week, Monessen qualified for the WPIAL Class A playoffs. It is a monumental feat for the Greyhounds when you consider this will be the first time they will be in the postseason. It’s also quite impressive when you consider how far the Greyhounds have come under Teets. Teets was hired as Monessen’s coach before the 2010 season. He took over a program that was, in a word, horrible. The Greyhounds were 9-88 in six years before Teets.
