JEFFERSON TWP — When it comes to big matches, Laura Greb simply comes up big.

The Knoch senior recently made history as a result.

Greb defeated South Park sophomore Nicole Kempton 6-1, 6-3 in the WPIAL Class 2A girls tennis finals last week, becoming the first four-time tennis champion in District 7 history.

She never lost a set in any of her four WPIAL title matches, though she trailed 2-1 in the second set against Kempton.

“Laura knows how to adjust in the middle of a match,” Knoch coach Nance Conlon said. “She is so tough mentally that way.

“She has a knack for discovering what's working for her opponent — or something she's not doing herself — and turning things her way.”

Greb agreed that's a big part of her game.

“I can stay calm in big matches or when it's not going well,” she said. “That's probably my biggest strength.”

There was added pressure to this year's finals. Greb learned only 24 hours before her match that only district champions would gain berths in the state tournament.

“Everything was on the line for her and she did it,” Conlon said.

Six players have won three WPIAL girls tennis crowns. No player has even reached four WPIAL finals since Plum's Ronit Yurovsky did so in 2008.

Greb has lost only 10 matches in her high school career, seven of those coming in postseason play. She has one loss this season — a 6-3, 6-3 decision to Butler senior Teddi Isherwood.

“Teddi is a tremendous player and she was unbelievable that day,” Conlon said. “Even still, that was such a close match.”

Greb is 28-1 in section matches during her prep career, 19-2 in non-section matches.

Her run to four WPIAL championships included defeating Knoch teammate Brooke Bauer in the WPIAL finals last year and younger sister Emily Greb, a freshman, in the semifinal round this year.

“That was difficult,” Greb admitted. “Beating my best friend and little sister was hard to get through. It's hard playing against people that close to you.

“Brooke and I have known each other since second grade.”

One of the top players in the WPIAL in her own right, Bauer has been pushing Greb for four years now for supremacy in the Knoch lineup.

And Greb has been pushing back.

“They've clearly made each other better,” Conlon said. “When they play each other in practice, the matches are extremely intense.”

“Brooke has made me a better player. We force each other to be at the top of our games,” Greb said. “That benefits the entire team, too.”

Emily Greb placed third in the WPIAL as a freshman. Her twin sister, Lindsey, has missed the entire season to date while recovering from a knee injury.

Lindsey Greb has recently been cleared to return to action.

“She would definitely be in our top seven,” Conlon said of Lindsey. “That is quite a tennis family.”

Laura Greb has been playing tennis since age 6. Her parents introduced her to the game.

She's been playing USTA tournament tennis since age 10.

“My parents wanted me to learn a life-long sport,” Greb said. “I started taking tennis lessons and fell in love with it.”

She plans to play at a Division I or II school in college and is still weighing those options.

The PIAA quarterfinal round is Nov. 4 and will be played locally. The semifinals and finals take place Nov. 7 in Hershey.

Greb has placed second, fourth and among the top eight in her previous state tournaments.

“Of course, my goal is to win it this year,” she said. “But there are a lot of great players in the state. I recognize that.”