JEFFERSON TWP — To say Knoch's girls tennis program has been on a roll would be silly.

The Knights have been a steamroller, smashing pretty much anything or anybody in their path.

Knoch has won six consecutive section championships.

In back-to-back matches, the Knights won all 60 games played.

The team has won three consecutive WPIAL Class 2A championships.

Laura Greb graduated last spring having won four consecutive WPIAL singles crowns. Her younger sisters, Emily and Lindsey Greb, claimed the WPIAL doubles title this season.

Knoch is the defending PIAA state champion and is No. 1 seed in this year's WPIAL team tournament, which begins Wednesday with a 3 p.m. match against No. 8 seed Central Valley at the Seneca Valley courts.

“Having big tennis families has really helped,” ninth-year Knoch coach Nance Conlon said. “The younger sisters of Laura Greb and Brooke Bauer are on the team and have been experiencing similar success.”

While the aforementioned Greb sisters — only sophomores — won the WPIAL doubles this year, junior Ally Bauer finished runner-up in WPIAL singles.

Knoch does not have a senior in its starting lineup.

Five former Knights are currently playing in college: Libby Conlon (Washington & Jefferson), Brooke Bauer (RPI, N.Y.), Laura Greb (Dayton), Alex Jaksec (La Roche) and Elle Santora (Furman, club team).

Santora's sister, Ava, starts in doubles for Knoch.

“We have a combination of club players, experienced players and girls who never picked up a racquet before joining our team,” Coach Conlon said. “Everybody blends together and plays together.”

Knoch has an 18-player roster, yet only three courts at its home venue. Because the WPIAL prefers playoff matches to be held at five-court venues — where all five matches can take place simultaneously — Knoch will not host a playoff match.

“It's much better from a competitive standpoint,” Ava Santora said of playing matches on the road. “Everyone's playing at the same time that way.”

Conlon admitted that, while Knoch does play its home regular season matches on its own courts, there is a disadvantage in doing so.

“There are times when the match is decided before the doubles teams go on the court,” the coach said. “That may affect the opposition's approach to those (doubles) matches and downplays the importance of those matches.”

Knoch's courts have been patched up through years of wear and tear as well.

“We are planning some upgrades in the school district and our athletic facilities are on that list,” Knoch athletic director Kurt Reiser said. “Expanding our tennis courts is a possibility, but those plans haven't been finalized yet.

“Nance deserves a lot of credit for the consistency of that program. She juggles those courts well and gets all of those girls playing time.”

Conlon wishes she could get them more.

“When we play at home, we usually don't have exhibition matches because other teams know our limited situation, so they don't bring extra players,” she said.

“Everybody wants to play. You keep kids interested by getting them on the court. Three courts and 18 girls ... that's a challenge.”

Six of Knoch's seven starters are sophomores.

“All of us have grown up together,” Santora said. “This team has known each other forever.”

Jade Nether, her doubles partner, believes the best is yet to come for the team.

“We know we can get better,” she said. “We're always working hard to get better.

“Your place in the lineup is secured in preseason. That doesn't change. But you can always improve your game.”

High school girls tennis doesn't have much of a preseason.

“We're together a week or two and we're starting regular season matches right after that,” Conlon said.

Two juniors, Marilyn Fink and Faith Goldscheitter, are among the newcomers to the team and the sport. Katie Barlow, a freshman, attended a middle school camp Conlon conducts annually and joined the team as a result.

Fink's brother, Jeremy, was a senior on the Knights' boys tennis team last year.

“I know the team is good and I'm not going to be in the lineup,” Fink said of the girls team. “But just coming out here and hitting balls around is fun.

“And it's fun being part of a team.”

Goldscheitter said the experienced players on the team have been helpful in her and other new players learning the game.

“They acknowledge our presence,” she said, laughing. “They give us advice when we need it. They practice a lot and they love the sport.

“It's encouraging being around them.”

Conlon enjoys being around the entire team.

“Whether they know the game or are learning the game, they all want to play,” she said. “They're good athletes, good students and good people ... and there's very little drama. That helps, too.”