North Allegheny girls tennis doubles down on winning season

By: John Grupp
Saturday, October 25, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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There were no troubles at doubles this season for the North Allegheny girls tennis team.

The Tigers’ doubles teams went a combined 42-2 while leading North Allegheny to its fifth consecutive Section 2-3A title and a spot in the PIAA Class 3A playoffs.

The No. 1 doubles team of senior Audrey Zheng and freshman Rouxi Bai posted a 17-1 mark, while the No. 2 pair of senior Ella Mangene and junior Remi Hayward went a perfect 21-0, losing only one set all season.

“Doubles was the backbone of this team,” Mangene said. “It’s the anchor. We get the job done.”

North Allegheny (17-5), which saw its season end with a 3-2 loss to District 6 champion Hollidaysburg in the PIAA Class 3A first round Oct. 21 in Altoona, could almost always count on doubles for two team points. The Tigers lost at No. 1 doubles in the opener against Bethel Park and against Shady Side Academy in late September. Every other match, it was a clean sweep.

“I thought it was a fantastic year,” coach Michelle Weniger said. “The girls played their hearts out.”

Mangene and Hayward played only one match together last season, but the long-time friends clicked on the court this fall. They led the Tigers to an early-season 13-match winning streak. With a PIAA team tournament berth on the line, the duo defeated Mt. Lebanon’s No. 2 doubles team, 6-3, 7-5, overcoming a 4-0 second-set deficit, in a 3-2 victory over the Blue Devils in the WPIAL Class 3A third-place match Oct. 15.

“I knew Remi very well going into the season, and I’ve had a very good connection with her for many years,” Mangene said. “We’ve always wanted to be able to play doubles together, and it worked out this year really well.”

With a youthful trio of sophomores Mia Kaufman and Alexa Richey and freshman Samantha Leeman at singles, the Tigers relied on the consistency of their doubles teams. They helped the Tigers extend their section-winning streak to 38. They went undefeated in the postseason, paving the way to a 3-2 victory over Peters Township in the WPIAL Class 3A first-round and a 4-1 win over Fox Chapel in the quarterfinals.

“I am very proud of this team,” Mangene said after the WPIAL third-place match. “It’s been a great season. Being a senior, I had high expectations going in, and we met them.”

An undefeated doubles season capped a special senior year for Mangene. In June, she earned a Most Positive Athlete award from a national organization committed to recognizing high-character student-athletes. Mangene was one of 14 award winners — seven boys, seven girls — from hundreds of nominees in the Northeast Region, which spans nine states.

“I was very honored,” Mangene said. “I didn’t believe it.”

Joining Mangene and Zheng in the senior class was Cynthia Li, who stepped into the No. 3 singles spot for the final two matches. Li was replacing Richey, who went 13-1 at singles in the regular season but lost her spot in the PIAA match, per state rules, after missing the WPIAL third-place match.

“Cynthia Li played her heart out,” Weniger said. “She did what she could, and that’s all we can ask from her. She did an awesome job.”

Tags: North Allegheny