Duo wins WPIAL crown
WEXFORD — Youth and experience were both served Thursday in the WPIAL Class AA girls tennis doubles championship.
Knoch's Libby Conlon and Ally Bauer, a senior and freshman, respectively, teamed up to win the district crown at Oxford Athletic Club, defeating Greensburg Salem's sister act of Kasey and Paige Storkel in straight sets, 6-2 and 7-5.
“They definitely improved in that second set,” said Bauer of Greensburg's twosome. “We just agreed to remain patient and our volleys were really good. That helped us win.”
“They worked amazingly well together,” said Knoch coach Nance Conlon of her winning tandem. “They both served well, moved well and had great communication with each other.”
In Wednesday's action, Conlon and Bauer dispatched teams from Keystone Oaks (10-2), Neshannock (10-5) and Beaver (2-6, 6-3, 6-4) to reach Thursday's final. The top three teams advance to the state tournament.
“They had already qualified for states and for me, what they did today was icing on the cake,” added Coach Conlon, “but I think for them, winning was the goal.
“They both train at (Pennsylvania Tennis Academy in Wexford) and have played doubles together before. It was a natural progression for them to be our top doubles team.”
It was shortly after Thursday's match when Libby Conlon realized what she and Bauer had achieved.
“You always have doubts entering a tournament like this,” she said. “But getting that medal, it showed that all of our hard work, late nights and hot summers, it all paid off. I was really excited.”
Conlon and Bauer will compete in the state doubles tournament, which begins Nov. 1 in Hershey.
“We love challenging play and playing fast-paced tennis,” said Libby Conlon. “We're capable of a lot.”
But first, they will both aid Knoch in its attempt to qualify for the state team playoffs. The WPIAL team tournament begins next week.
Last month, two other Knoch players, Laura Greb and Brooke Bauer, finished 1-2 in the WPIAL singles bracket. What Knoch has accomplished this season — district champion in both singles and doubles play — has previously been done just twice in the history of WPIAL Class AA.
Greb is now a three-time WPIAL singles champion.
“We were thinking about what we've accomplished here the last few years,” Coach Conlon said. “What Laura and Brooke have done, it's opened up the door for other girls. They've raised the bar for the rest of the team.”
