Reigning section champ Storkel serves notice for Greensburg Salem tennis

By: Karen Kadilak
Sunday, August 18, 2019 | 9:39 PM

Greensburg Salem senior girls tennis player Kasey Storkel will have a shiny new serve when the Golden Lions open the season Monday, one she hopes will lift her to the top of the WPIAL.

“After I went to states, I practiced with my aunt (Seton Hill coach Kim Kissell),” Storkel, 17, said. “Every day, I try to hit around.”

Storkel and Abby Jo Stull lost in the preliminaries of the PIAA Class AA doubles tournament last season. They placed first in Section 1-AA and second in the WPIAL.

Earlier, Storkel earned the section singles title and lost in the WPIAL singles quarterfinals.

“Kasey has been working very hard over the summer,” Greensburg Salem coach Megan McIntyre said. “I have the goal for her to win the section singles title again and advance far in the WPIAL tournament.

“Kasey is an outstanding athlete (who) can accomplish anything she sets her mind to.”

Storkel said she would love to win the section title again as a team, but it might be difficult.

The Golden Lions went 8-0 in the section. They advanced to WPIAL semifinals, where they lost to eventual champion Sewickley Academy.

“(We have) a lot of new players,” Storkel said.

Departing was Stull, who plans to play for Saint Vincent.

New faces include Storkel’s sister, Paige, who McIntyre said is a candidate to replace Stull at second singles.

Kasey Storkel said she is excited to see how far her sister goes.

“It’s definitely new (having her around),” Kasey said.

McIntyre said Kasey Storkel is a natural leader who has played a large role as captain. She comes from a long line of tennis players.

Her cousin, Joelle Kissell, was PIAA Class AAA singles champion in 2009. Another cousin, Chad Kissell, was PIAA Class AAA boys champion in 2015. Both played for Latrobe.

Chad Kissell is in his first season as Latrobe coach.

Latrobe sophomore Jenna Bell, the defending Section 1-AAA singles champion and a WPIAL quarterfinalist, leads the Wildcats, who went 8-0 in the section last season under now-retired coach Michelle Stas.