Quaker Valley decorated doubles team wraps up impressive postseason run

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, November 10, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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Kirsten Close and Avery Allan made an indelible mark in the Quaker Valley girls tennis program in 2024.

Close, a 5-foot-8 senior, and Allan, a 5-foot freshman, are two of the best high school tennis players in the state. They also now rank as the No. 1 girls doubles tandem in school history.

The QV duo finished as the PIAA Class 2A doubles runner-up, losing to defending champions Hannah and Rebecca Kideckel of Lower Moreland in the state tournament Nov. 2 at Hershey Racquet Club.

“The finals was an extremely high-level display of doubles between two very equally talented teams,” QV coach Christi Hays said. “There were many lead changes, and literally the match could have gone either way.

“I was so very proud of Kirsten and Avery. They came up just short but impressed everybody who witnessed the great finals.”

The Kideckels are seniors and twin sisters. They were the District 1 titlists.

The final score was 6-4, 6-4. To say it was a close call would be accurate.

“Kirsten and I played really well at states,” Allan said. “Our games complement each other very well, and throughout the tournament, we were able to keep raising our level of play. Our expectation was to just play every match that we could, and we achieved that. Playing in the final was a bonus.

“Kirsten is amazing at the net, and I’d like to say that I’m pretty consistent from the baseline. So when we play, it’s a really good dynamic where I will set Kirsten up and she will finish the point at the net.”

Close, who is left-handed, and the right-handed Allan began their planning process for the postseason well before that.

“Kristen and Avery have known each other and have trained together for a while,” Hays said. “Over that time, they had become great friends. Over the summer they started to hatch a plan: to win the PIAA AA doubles (title). And I supported them 100%.

“They studied the draw from last year, and also rosters from both WPIAL teams and other PIAA districts. They thought that they had a very good chance to not only compete in doubles but to win the whole thing. They knew they would likely have to go through the 2023 champs, the sister duo of Hannah and Rebecca Kideckel from Lower Moreland.”

The QV tandem competed in a few doubles tournament over the summer with positive results.

“Kirsten and Avery are both clearly excellent singles players,” Hays said. “Kirsten has an all-around attacking game from both sides, forehand and backhand. She hits the ball with great conviction and befuddles opponents because she doesn’t present them with any weaknesses. She also has a lefty serve that is very difficult to attack.

“And even though Avery is somewhat vertically challenged, she plays much bigger. Opponents are surprised at how much pace she can generate. She is also an excellent volleyer, which is essential in doubles. Avery and Kirsten had good success over the summer, even beating the Kideckels in an alternative format tournament.”

Close and Allan competed as QV’s No. 1 and No. 2 singles players during the regular season, then switched switched to doubles for the WPIAL and PIAA tournaments.

“We came up with the idea to play doubles before the season even started,” Allan said. “Kirsten came to me with the idea and I was immediately on board. We chose to play doubles because we knew that the singles draw would be very competitive this year and felt like we had a better chance to make a run at states in doubles.

“We also chose to play doubles because we both really enjoy it and wanted to have some fun in the postseason.”

Close, 17, and Allan, 15, easily captured the WPIAL Class 2A doubles title as the tournament’s No. 1 seed.

“Being a good singles player does not always translate to doubles,” Hays said. “Doubles requires a different mindset and skill set from singles.”

In the PIAA playoffs, QV’s dynamic duo blanked Kutztown senior Kaydence Bohning and junior Madelyn Maley, 6-0, 6-0, in the first round. Bohning and Maley had placed third in District 3.

The QV netters next raced past District 12 champions Rena Liu, a senior, and freshman Sophia Plastaras from Masterman by a 6-1, 6-0 score.

In the semifinals, Close and Allan had little difficulty defeating Cathedral Prep junior Finleigh Handzel and senior Sophea Glance, 6-1, 6-1. Handzel and Glance entered the tournament as the District 10 titlists.

“I’d like to say congrats to the Kideckel sisters that won state doubles not only this year but last year, as well,” Allan said. “They are an amazing duo that pushed us to the next level. They are such sweet girls on and off the court.”

Close plans to continue her tennis career at Haverford College. She will study pre-law and major in history.

“If there was a comeback award, it should be given to Kirsten for what she overcame during the season,” Hays said. “But it was always with her friend Avery and all the other QV teammates pulling for her.

“What a great way to conclude her impressive high school career. It was my good fortune to be part of it. Haverford is lucky to be getting a quality player and person next year.”

Tags: Quaker Valley