PENN TWP — Ava Santora patiently awaited her turn.

It arrived Thursday for the 11-year-old at the 22nd annual West Penn Inter-Club Mixed Doubles Junior Tennis Tournament, hosted by Butler Country Club.

“I'm so excited to get the chance to play in this,” Ava said. “I watched my older sister play. I watched my older brother play.

“It looked like so much fun — and it was.”

Ava teamed with Dylan Murphy to form the 12-under doubles team for Butler Country Club. Her brother, Jake, 13, joined Emily Ivory in comprising BCC's 18-under duo.

Only four tennis clubs — BCC, Butler Junior Tennis, Mount Lebanon and Sewickley Area — participated in this year's event. Mount Lebanon won and Butler Country Club came in last.

And none of that mattered.

“We promote tennis as a family sport, a team sport, more so than individual,” BCC club pro Whitney Snyder said. “The family and team aspect make people more interested in it.

“Sometimes, sports can be too competitive. I saw a lot of sportsmanship out here today in a relaxed atmosphere.”

There was definitely a feeling of family.

Jake Santora and Emily Ivory weren't only teammates, but good friends. Jake's mother, Laura Santora, and Emily's mother, Jenny Ivory, were former tennis teammates at Butler Country Club and Washington & Jefferson College. And Laura Santora's mother, Sandi, and Ivory's mother, Judy Barkley, were teammates at BCC.

Three generations of family — and tennis teammates.

“We do need to appreciate that,” Laura Santora said. “Tennis really is a generational sport.”

“Grandparents breaking out a bucket of balls and start hitting them around ... That's how it all starts,” Barkley said. “My father played when he was young.

“Tennis in Butler has always been a family sport.”

The Santora family lives on Three Degree Road — minutes from Butler Country Club — and has its own tennis court on the property.

“I've been playing since I was 4,” Jake Santora said. “Everyone in my family has always played tennis. It's something we all do together.”

Younger brother Tripp, 6, also plays tennis. Their eldest sister, Elle, was WPIAL runner-up last fall as a member of the Butler High School team.

“Seeing what she's been able to do ... I want to do it, too,” Ava said. She practices three times a week at home, four times a week at BCC.

“I never get tired of playing. Too much fun,” she said.

Jenny Ivory was Snyder's first assistant coach at BCC, nearly 30 years ago.

“My parents, my uncle, aunt, brother, you name it, we all play,” she said. “I still play in a women's league. This is a life-long sport. That's the best thing about it.”

Emily Ivory played in the Inter-Club event in the 12-under division two years ago.

“You get to play with and meet different people here,” she said. “The older age group is more intense, a little more competitive. It's all fun.”

Savanna Turner is an incoming senior on the Butler High School team. Her 12-year-old sister, Mikayla, played for Butler Junior Tennis in Thursday's event. Mikayla has been playing tennis since age 4.

“You form bonds in tennis that you don't form in other sports,” Savannah said.

Courtney Gallagher, a former Butler Junior Tennis player and now an assistant coach with the program, agreed. She went on to play for Slippery Rock University.

“One of my former college teammates lives in Canada now, another is in France — we still keep in touch,” Gallagher said. “I know we always will.

“Once you become part of tennis, it doesn't let you go. You play for life. It's a great way to meet new people.”

Winning special awards Thursday were Butler Junior Tennis 18-under player Simon Sudano and Mount Lebanon 12-under player Carly Grant for extra effort, Emily Ivory and Sewickley Area 18-under player Potter Oliver for sportsmanship.