MAC title highlights promising girls tennis season for Quaker Valley

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, September 14, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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Winning the Midwestern Athletic Conference girls tennis championship could usher in bigger things for Quaker Valley in 2025.

Led by sophomore Avery Allan, QV repeated as the winner in the team competition at this year’s MAC tournament at Beaver.

Teams from both Class 2A and 3A were in the field, which included Ambridge, Hopewell, Mars, West Allegheny, Beaver, Moon, Montour, Neshannock, Beaver Falls, Blackhawk, Carlynton, Central Valley, Ellwood City, Riverside, Lincoln Park and QV.

“We were thrilled with our first-place showing at the tournament, beating out teams like Beaver and Mars,” QV coach Christi Hays said. “The format is (similar to) high school matches. There is a draw for first, second, third singles and first and second doubles. You get a point for a win from the quarters on in each draw.”

The top three teams in this year’s event were QV, Beaver and Mars

“So far this season, we have demonstrated as a team that we have a high level of skill,” Hays said. “When I looked at our schedule, it was daunting because it was very front-loaded with matches against Hampton and Sewickley Academy in the first few weeks.

“We were excited to come away with close 3-2 victories over both of those teams, as well as victories over section foes Ambridge and Carlynton.”

Allan earned the gold medal in first singles at the MAC tournament. QV senior Jane Lenhard and sophomore Kate Miller secured a silver medal in first doubles, as did freshman Grace Jadlowiec in third singles.

“One of the biggest challenges I have is finding playing time for everybody,” Hays said, “and also finding the position that best suits each of them. Besides our seven returning players — Avery Allan, Livia Jobbins, Hannah Stein, Jane Lenhard, Kate Miller, Parker Barnes and Noor Ashfaq — we also picked up three very talented freshmen — Lucy John, Lilly McClain and Grace Jadlowiec. All three have already made solid contributions.”

Not only are there seven experienced players back from last year’s playoff squad, all seven had winning records in 2024: Allan (16-1), Lenhard (15-3), Jobbins (14-4), Barnes (13-3), Stein (11-5), Ashfaq (5-0) and Miller (9-2).

“We have shown we are focused on the task of winning our section first and then looking toward the WPIAL team tourney — one match at a time,” Hays said.

The three seniors — Jobbins, Barnes and Lenhard — are co-captains this season. Lenhard has been working out the kinks on the tennis courts following her noteworthy summer experience.

The QV upperclassman spent a month at a Russian language camp in Bemidji in northern Minnesota. It was 28 days of no phones or electronic devices, and no English was spoken.

“It was very immersive,” Hays said, “speaking nothing but Russian, studying and having no electronics for a whole month. That shows a tremendous amount of discipline.

“Jane did play some tennis over the summer and had a good preseason working her way into a starting doubles line. But she is also on the cheer team, so she spent time with that group during preseason. As one of our three senior captains, we will look to Jane to lead us deep into the postseason, hopefully.”

QV’s veteran coach looks for Lenhard to utilize her discipline and purposefulness on the courts this fall.

“Tennis at a high level is won with three things: skills, obviously, but also heart and head,” Hays said. “And I will take a smart tennis player anytime.”

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