Coming off banner year, Quaker Valley tennis has exciting options to fill lineup vacancies

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, August 10, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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Awards and accolades were dispatched freely throughout the 2024 season for the Quaker Valley girls tennis team.

And with good reason.

The Quakers finished with a 16-3 overall record and were 6-0 in section play — losing only two individual lines all year.

That meant back-to back-section titles for the Quakers for the first time since 2012.

“We had a very fluid lineup last year,” coach Christi Hays said, “meaning that players were asked to play some singles and some doubles. That gives us a lot of flexibility (this season) depending on the opponent.

“We will work heavily in preseason on our doubles game and partnerships. Doubles requires a different skill set and mindset than singles. Being a good singles player does not guarantee a player will also be good in doubles.”

Last year, Quaker Valley qualified for the WPIAL Class 2A team tournament, beating South Park, Indiana and Hampton before falling in the finals to North Catholic in a heartbreaking 3-2 decision.

The Quakers advanced to the PIAA playoffs where they defeated Elks County Catholic and Berks Catholic to make it to the final four in Hershey.

QV’s banner season came to an end against Scranton Prep.

“But it earned the ladies the No. 4 2A ranking in the state,” Hayes said, “and a trip Hershey Park and Chocolate World.”

Kirsten Close and Avery Allan won the section doubles championship and captured the WPIAL Class 2A title to qualify for the PIAA tournament. Close and Allan finished as silver medalists in the state playoffs.

Also last season, QV’s girls team won the annual MAC (Middle Atlantic Conference) tournament held at Beaver and Blackhawk, dominating the event against 16 other teams including several from Triple-A.

“So, by all accounts, 2024 was a remarkable season,” Hays said. “But going into the 2025 season, we will be without five seniors who graduated, most notably Kirsten Close and Jay Olawaiye — our co-captains and the heart of last year’s team. We will also miss seniors Emaan Ashfaq, Mae Kruawangmon and Keira Cowher.”

Close (Haverford) and Olawaiye (Brown) are continuing their athletic careers at the next level in 2025-26.

“Haverford University was lucky enough to recruit Kirsten,” Hays said, “where she will continue her tennis career. With recruits like Kirsten, Haverford was ranked the No. 18 recruiting class in the country.

“Jay will continue with her outstanding athletic career at Brown University, but she will replace her tennis shoes for her track shoes. She is a highly decorated track star and plans to pursue that sport at Brown.”

Close competed at No. 1 singles for the Quakers last year and finished with a 12-2 record. Olawaiye, at No. 3, finished 13-3.

“How can we possibly replace those two and have success?” Hays said. “One big reason for optimism is last year’s No. 2 player, sophomore Avery Allen, aka ‘Big Dog.’ At 5-feet tall, Avery has an all-court, attacking game that will translate really well to the No. 1 singles spot.

“And she has been working on her game and skill set this summer by playing tournaments and training at camps like Smith Stearns Academy in Hilton Head. She is doing all the right things to be ready to take on the top spot for the team.”

There are six other returning players on QV’s girls tennis team, affectionately nicknamed the “Dog Pound.” And, like Allan, they all had winning records in ‘24.

Back this season are seniors Jane Lenhard (15-3), Livia Jobbins (14-4) and Parker Barnes (13-3), juniors Hannah Stein (11-5) and Noor Ashfaq (5-0) and sophomore Kate Miller (9-2).

“They saw a great deal of playing time last year in different positions,” Hays said. “And they experienced what it was like to go far in states. That is priceless. Some of those ladies have played a bit over the summer, but we will be counting heavily on a robust preseason week to work off the rust.

“Hannah Stein had an interesting reason for not playing much tennis. For most of the summer, she was in Morocco on a language initiative. She is studying Arabic to become an advocate for women and girls. But she did play a bit before going there.”

Also joining the QV team will be three incoming freshmen: Lily McClain, Lucy John and Grace Jadlowiec, who have played a lot of tennis this summer.

“They are making preseason even more interesting and competitive,” Hays said. “If the returning players need some incentive to perform, those three will provide that incentive.”

QV’s veteran hall-of-fame coach is looking to develop a balanced lineup in 2025.

“Last year, we were a bit top heavy, many times counting on winning two points in the singles spots and just one in doubles,” Hays said. “My guess is this year we might need a more balanced lineup to compete with the best teams in 2A. As always, our primary goal is to win our section. And then we can go on from there.

“I am really excited to see how this group rounds into shape and where our leadership comes from. We have a great deal of potential. It should be fun to watch the ladies embrace the challenge.”

The 15-year-old Allan is hoping to pick up where her college-bound friend Close left off as QV’s top singles player.

“Competing hopefully as No. 1 singles comes with much responsibility and pressure,” Allan said, “but I’m looking forward to doing my job for the team throughout the season. My personal goals are to play in the WPIAL singles tournament and try to qualify for the state playoffs.

“I have been training at Pure Tennis Academy as well as in the Upper St. Clair tennis development program, working hard to develop new skills.”

It’s all music to her coach’s ears.

Tags: Quaker Valley