Trailing 3-0 in the decisive third set, the Mars doubles tandem of Amelia Haley and Emily Ivory had to regroup.

And fast.

The duo did, overcoming that deficit and another at 5-4 later in the set to topple Addison Kemerer and Jenna Bell of Latrobe 6-3, 6-7, 7-5 in the semifinals of the WPIAL Class AAA Girls Doubles Tennis Championships at North Allegheny Wednesday afternoon.

Haley and Ivory will play for the WPIAL championship against the Shady Side Academy team of Ella Santora and Aya Youssef at 1:30 p.m. Thursday. Santora, a former No. 1 singles player at Knoch, and Ivory were longtime teammates in the Butler Country Club youth program.

“It was so exciting. Everyone was so nervous,” said Mars girls tennis coach Mark Varlotta. “It was fun. It was a great, competitive match. It could have gone either way.”

To get to the semifinals, the Planets' tandem routed Rhiannon Kelly and Maura Harbaugh of Hempfield, 10-1, and Bella Goldman and Anna Rush of Upper St. Clair, 10-2.

It's the first time a Mars girls doubles team has advanced to the WPIAL final.

Haley and Ivory will also become the first Planets' duo to play in the state tournament regardless of what happens in the championship match Thursday.

“They don't even get the big picture, I think,” Varlotta said of Haley and Ivory, chuckling. “We're the No. 2 seed and (Santora and Youssef) are the No. 4 seed, so it should be another great match.”

In the Class AA tournament at Shady Side Academy, Knoch's Alex Jaksec and Emma West advanced from the quarterfinals with a 10-5 win over Southmoreland's Amelia Echard and Aly Derr.

The Knights' duo was then defeated in the semifinals, 10-2, by Beaver's Devyn Campbell and Anna Blum.

Campbell and Blum had scored a quarterfinal victory against North Catholic's Olivia Solverson and Kaelyn Thimons.

Boys Golf

Cory Voltz carded a 79 for Knoch as the Knights defeated Slippery Rock, 339-358, in an 18-hole match at Oakview Golf Club.

Knoch plays Butler Thursday at Butler Country Club.

Knoch (339): Cory Voltz 79, Mike Kohl 86, Beau Rusnak 87, Luke Bartek 87

Slippery Rock (358): Jack Hadley 87, Logan Wolak 88, Walker Allison 91, Chad Green 92

Girls Soccer

Olivia Rumbaugh and Brooke Stahlman scored two goals apiece as Karns City shut out Grove City, 5-0.

Alyson Fennell added a goal and assist for the Gremlins (9-1), who play Forest Area Thursday.

Knoch 8, Armstrong 1 — Lindsie Galbreath's five-goal effort gives her 111 points in her varsity career, tying Amanda Sharbaugh's program record.

Three players tallied a goal and an assist in the win — Sarah Vasas, Gabby Oskin and Krista Tabacchi.

Jewel Robertson made two saves for the Knights (2-10-1, 2-7-1).

Butler 4, North Hills 0 — The Golden Tornado (6-4-1, 5-3) received two goals from both Gabby Boden and Aidyn Trettel.

Girls Volleyball

Alyssa Stitt had 22 assists and 12 digs for Karns City in a 3-0 win over Union. Scores of the match were 25-21, 25-22, 25-16.

Rayna Miller added seven kills and two aces, Emma Clark six kills, two aces and two blocks, Emily Wolfe five kills, 18 digs and three blocks, Mackenzie Dunn 20 digs and three kills, Emily Huff four kills and three aces, Cassidy Nolan three kills and Kayley Byerly seven digs.

Boys Soccer

Ryan Hinchberger's goal was assisted by Ian Balquist as host Slippery Rock sent Warren home with a 1-0 loss.

Duncan McCoy had five saves in net for Slippery Rock (9-2-1, 6-0-1).

Cross Country

Aden Dressler finished second overall for Butler, but the Golden Tornado boys (5-2) dropped an 18-35 decision to North Allegheny. Butler's boys defeated Shaler, 18-44.

The Butler girls (2-5)lost 18-45 to NA, but edged Shaler 26-29.

Boys Top 5

1-Dan McGoey (NA) 17:35, 2-Aden Dressler (B) 17:39, 3-Stephen Nalepa (NA) 17:41, 4-Dalton Kalbaugh (S) 17:45, 5-Skyler Vavro (B) 17:50

Girls Top 5

1-Hannah Lindgren (NA) 21:04, 2-Keeley Misutka (NA) 21:35, 3-Sam Hennen (S) 21:47, 4-Chelsey Kabel (B) 21:54, 5-Ally Christy (NA) 21:55