Upper St. Clair, Sewickley Academy Win WPIAL Girls’ Tennis Team Titles

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

Washington, Pa. – The Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) crowned its girls’ tennis champions in the 2A and 3A classifications on Wednesday at Washington and Jefferson College. The top three finishing teams in both classifications qualify for the PIAA Team Championships, held from Oct. 26-30 with the final three rounds hosted by Hershey Racquet Club.

Both lower seeds captured the title, with Upper St. Clair coming out of the 3A bracket and Sewickley Academy winning in 2A.

3A RECAP [Completed Bracket]

Third-seeded Upper St. Clair collected its first WPIAL 3A title since 2003 after defeating top-seeded Greater Latrobe, 4-1. The meeting was a rematch of the 2020 championship match, where Greater Latrobe triumphed by the same 4-1 scoreline.

USC picked up a pair of victories in first and third-flight singles. Maggie Stief collected a 6-4, 6-0 win over the Wildcats’ Jenna Bell, and Claire Loomis defeated Avery Massaro in straight sets (6-3, 7-5). Greater Latrobe pulled a win back after Carolina Walters topped Evie Ellenberger by a 6-2, 6-2 decision.

The Panthers used a sweep in doubles to capture the WPIAL crown. Leah Lund and Hope Krawczyk played an tight two-set match against Greater Latrobe’s Maya Jain and Emily Pierce, ultimately winning the top-flight bout with a 7-5, 7-6(1) scoreline. In the second flight, Izzy Yoos and Victoria Semeov were victorious in two sets (6-4, 6-0) over Josie Marts and Bridget McHugh.

Second-seeded Peters Township clinched the last PIAA 3A Championship berth with a 4-1 triumph over fifth-seeded Fox Chapel at Sewickley Academy. This will be the Indians’ third PIAA appearance in four seasons, previously qualifying as the 2019 champion and 2018 third-place finisher.

2A RECAP [Completed Bracket]

Second-seeded Sewickley Academy captured its fourth WPIAL 2A title in five seasons with a 4-1 triumph over reigning champion and top-seeded Knoch. The two schools have been the class of 2A since 2017, with each of the last five championship matches featuring them.

The Panthers tallied wins in first and third-flight singles competition. WPIAL 2A Singles champion Ashley Close defeated Ally Bauer by a 6-4, 6-0 scoreline, with sister Kirsten Close picking up a 6-0, 6-3 victory over Lindsey Greb in the third flight. Knoch picked up its lone win in second-flight singles, as Emily Greb topped Milla Ivanova in two sets (6-1, 6-0).

Sewickley Academy secured the title with a sweep in doubles. In the top flight, Anjali Shah and Rayna Thakkar were victorious over Ava Santora and Jade Nether, 7-6(3), 6-3. Maria Silvaggio and Roshni Thakkar netted a win in the second flight with a 6-3, 6-0 decision against Knoch’s Kenzie Gumto and Lara Ejzak.

Sewickley Academy didn’t drop a set on its trek to the 2A Final, dispatching of Ringgold, Quaker Valley, and Beaver by 5-0 scores. Knoch received a bye as the top seed, then defeated Central Valley (5-0) and Knoch (4-1) to set up its chance to repeat.

Third-seeded Beaver secured the final PIAA 2A Champion bid with a 4-1 victory over fourth-seeded South Park at Mt. Lebanon High School. The Bobcats will be making their third PIAA appearance in four seasons, previously qualifying as the third-place finisher in 2018 and 2019.

3A Championship Results
#1 Singles: Maggie Stief (Upper St. Clair) def. Jenna Bell (Greater Latrobe), 6-4, 6-0.
#2 Singles: Carolina Walters (Greater Latrobe) def. Evie Ellenberger (Upper St. Clair), 6-2, 6-2.
#3 Singles: Claire Loomis (Upper St. Clair) def. Avery Massaro (Greater Latrobe), 6-3, 7-5.
#1 Doubles: Leah Lund/Hope Krawczyk (Upper St. Clair) def. Maya Jain/Emily Pierce (Greater Latrobe), 7-5, 7-6(1).
#2 Doubles: Izzy Yoos/Victoria Semenov (Upper St. Clair) def. Josie Marts/Bridget McHugh (Greater Latrobe), 6-4, 6-0.

2A Championship Results
#1 Singles: Ashley Close (Sewickley Academy) def. Ally Bauer (Knoch), 6-4, 6-0.
#2 Singles: Emily Greb (Knoch) def. Milla Ivanova (Sewickley Academy), 6-1, 6-0.
#3 Singles: Kirsten Close (Sewickley Academy) def. Lindsey Greb (Knoch), 6-0, 6-3.
#1 Doubles: Anjali Shah/Rayna Thakkar (Sewickley Academy) def. Ava Santora/Jade Nether (Knoch), 7-6(3), 6-3.
#2 Doubles: Maria Silvaggio/Roshni Thakkar (Sewickley Academy) def. Kenzie Gumto/Lara Ejzak (Knoch), 6-3, 6-0.

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