SSA’s Dua and GCC’s Kluska Win First WPIAL Gold in 2014-2015

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, September 18, 2014 | 6:25 PM

A pair of juniors were crowned first time champions Thursday afternoon at Shady Side Academy in two totally different championship matches. Here are recaps from both the Class AAA and Class AA WPIAL Girls Singles Tennis Championships.

(Pictured is Shady Side Academy junior Ananya Dua after winning the 2014 WPIAL Girls Singles Tennis AAA title)
 

WPIAL Class AAA Championship: Ananya Dua d. Charlotte Madson 6-3, 7-5
Playing on her home court, Ananya Dua of Shady Side Academy captured Class AAA gold with a straight-sets victory over Charlotte Madson of Upper Saint Clair. Dua, a junior, trailed in the opening set 3-2, but then notched four straight games to take the advantage. Madson, a junior, battled back in the second set, and broke serve to deadlock the set at 5-5. Dua would not be denied, though, as she quickly captured the next two games to claim the title. With the victory, Dua becomes the first girls’ champion from Shady Side Academy since Lauren Greco in 2007. Both girls will advance for the PIAA playoffs, as will sophomore Anna Li of North Allegheny, who secured a spot by winning the consolation match against Fox Chapel’s Laurel Shymansky 6-3, 6-1. Li, who teamed with her twin sister Tina as part of the 2013 Class AAA state champion Tigers, redeemed her loss to Shymansky in the opening round of last year’s singles’ tournament.

WPIAL Class AA Championship: Alyvia Kluska d. Michaela Kluska 2-2 (default)
The battle of sisters never materialized, as the Kluskas of Greensburg Central Catholic agreed to forfeit their match. After warming up and initially preparing to do battle, Alyvia, a junior, and Michaela, a sophomore, decided to call off the contest. WPIAL officials instructed the sisters that they must play at least one point, however, or the sister who forfeited would lose her spot in the PIAA tournament. Thus, the Kluskas played four games, with older sister Alyvia ultimately prevailing by default. Last year, the sisters were slated to face each other in the consolation game, but Michaela won by forfeit on that occasion. Both qualify for the PIAA postseason, and if they both advance to the state finals, the sisters agreed they would determine the winner on the court. In the consolation game, Carlynton’s Hannah Phillips edged Lucy Bujdos of Indiana in straight sets, 6-3, 7-5. Subsequently, Phillips, a junior, also advanced to the PIAA playoffs.

Tags: Greensburg C.C.