Mt. Lebanon, Quaker Valley tandems capture WPIAL girls tennis doubles gold

By: Ted Sarneso
Thursday, October 3, 2024 | 4:25 PM

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In the first set of the Class 3A girls tennis doubles match Thursday between top-seeded Mt. Lebanon and second- seeded Shady Side Academy, the Blue Devils needed to rally in the first set and used momentum to sweep the Bulldogs in the second.

The Mt. Lebanon junior duo of Jackie Tang and Michelle Yang bested freshmen Brooke Henderson and Alexandra Merkel, 6-4, 6-0, to claim the doubles title at Bethel Park High School.

Tang and Yang jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first set, but allowed Henderson and Merkel to climb back into it before the Blue Devils finally got the lead back to 3-2 in the set.

“In the beginning we had a game plan, but we were a little nervous to start,” Yang said. “When we got up to that early lead, we got a little tight and let the match get close. We figured out to play to our strengths and not let them dictate play.”

Throughout the match, the Blue Devils duo was the most vocal on the court, letting out positive exclamations after every point and every game won.

“It really gets our energy going,” Yang said. “So, the yelling just keeps us active and focused.”

Tang Added: “When I play singles, I’m pretty quiet and passive, but in order to play at the higher level, you need to have positive energy and push yourself through it.”

The emanations certainly helped. After allowing Shady Side to crawl back, Yang and Tang rallied to win six straight games.

They closed out the first set on a four-game winning streak, then swept the Bulldogs in the second set to claim the title.

With the victory, Mt. Lebanon has won the Class 3A title twice in the last three years. Sylvie Eriksen and Sophia Cunningham took home gold back in 2022.

“We’ve played a lot of matches these last few days, so it hasn’t set in yet,” Yang said.

Tang added: “It’s underwhelming and overwhelming at the same time. You come in and it’s only three matches in sectionals and three here at WPIALs. It goes by too fast and too slow at the same time.”

Next the pair will try and add to their success at the PIAA doubles championships.

“We won our section, so we should be seeded very high. Hopefully, we get a good first round match and can pull through,” Tang said. “We’re going to focus on the first round for now, because states is filled with tough competition.”

In the consolation match, the fourth-seeded freshman duo of Cassandra Lapina and Sonaya Arora of Pine-Richland beat the No. 14-seeded pairing of senior Kaitlyn Kuczinski and freshman Carly Weber out of Chartiers Valley, 6-2, 6-2, to qualify for the PIAA championships.

Quaker Valley shakes off rust

It was a tough season for Quaker Valley senior Kirsten Close who missed the majority of her team’s matches this season because of an illness.

“I just got diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, and I’ve been in and out of the hospital a lot,” Close said. “I just started medicine, and I’m feeling a lot better now. I’m grateful for the opportunity to still be able to play and happy to be back on the court.”

Close was even more elated as her and freshman teammate Avery Allan defeated North Catholic’s duo of sophomore Brea Kelley and senior Katie Hardy, 6-2, 6-2, to claim gold in the WPIAL Class 2A doubles championship.

“It’s awesome to see what Kirsten’s been able to do,” Allan said. “She’s had a few rough months, but just being out here is amazing for her. At the level she’s playing at, I couldn’t ask for a better partner.”

Close added: “There’s no better way to come back, then by winning a WPIAL championship.”

It wasn’t easy for Close and Allan. They got up 1-0 in both sets, but fell behind 2-1 to Hardy and Kelley in each instance.

“We definitely had some jitters at the beginning of the sets,” Allan said. “But once we knew we could make shots and get through it, we got on a roll.”

With precise serves from Allan and strong clean up work at the net by Close, the Quakers were able to settle in and storm back to win five consecutive games in each set.

“I was a little rusty to start the match,” Close said. “We had nerves, but we were able to work them out. Avery played so well. I’m very grateful for her, and I owe it all to her for being the best doubles partner ever.”

“Kirsten’s really good at the net,” Allan said. “When I get my serve in to set her up, she can put it away most of time.”

For the duo, it’s nice to bring home hardware of their own after watching siblings do it before them.

“It’s something I’ve wanted for a while,” Close said. “My sister won WPIALs, so now I finally have something to say, ‘Hey, I got that too’.”

“I have an older brother who’s won a couple of WPIAL championships, and I remember being in the stands and saying I wanted to do that as well,” Allan said. “It’s a rewarding feeling and feels amazing.”

Looking ahead to states, both recognize that there are still kinks that need to be worked out, but are confident they can fix them and make a strong showing.

“We need to get the rust off a little bit, need to work on communication,” Allan said. “We’re really looking forward to states, but we do need to put in some work.”

“We’re pretty comfortable,” Close added. “Avery and I play in doubles tournaments together and we beat the state champions in a tiebreaker. All the teams at states are so good, but we’re hoping to do well and our goal is to win.”

In the 2A consolation match, Oakland Catholic junior Luciana Easly and sophomore Mollie Sclichter bested Greensburg Central Catholic senior Sasha Hoffman and sophomore Emilia Longhi, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2.

The top three teams in each class qualified for the PIAA doubles championships Nov. 1-2 at Hershey Racquet Club.

Tags: Mt. lebanon, North Catholic, Quaker Valley, Shady Side Academy