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NORTH ALLEGHENY VARSITY
GIRLS' TENNIS

* WPIAL SEMIFINALIST *
* SECTION CHAMPIONS *

Photos Courtesy of Coach Weniger

SMYERS, LARIMORE WIN IN SEMIS, FALL IN FINAL, TO TAKE SILVER MEDAL

The Lady Tiger doubles team of senior Sabrina Smyers and junior Jen Larimore made it to the finals of the PIAA Class AAA Doubles Tournament on Saturday but had to settle for the silver medal.  In the finals, the NA duo was defeated by the #1 seed, Julie Raezer and Kristen Roth of Lower Merion, 6-3 and 6-3.  In the semifinals, the NA team defeated Lori Schmidt and Megan Lawlor of Hatboro Horsham in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3, to advance to the championship.

Smyers was a part of four straight WPIAL championships in doubles competition.  The past three years, the NA senior teamed up with Christie D'Achille to finish third in 2004 and second in 2003 in the PIAA championships.

The Tiger team won two matches on Friday afternoon at the Hershey Racquet Club as play got under way in the PIAA Class AAA Doubles Championships.  In first round action, the Lady Tiger duo defeated Katie Westenberger and Melissa Plownan of Dallastown in two sets, 6-1, 6-2.  In the quarterfinals, Smyers and Larimore knocked off Ellen and Andrea Berlinghof of Upper Dublin in three sets, 6-4, 3-6, and 6-3

PIAA GIRLS' DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIPS
CLASS AAA - Hershey Racquet Club
November 4-5, 2005

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LADY TIGERS FALL TO LATROBE,
3-2, IN WPIAL SEMIFINALS

Both doubles teams were victorious for the Lady Tigers in the WPIAL semifinals at Franklin Regional on Wednesday afternoon, but Latrobe took the singles matches to edge NA , 3-2.  Latrobe sent the WPIAL individual champion and third-place winner into the singles competition, and they came through with victories.  WPIAL champion Michaela Kissell defeated senior Sabrina Smyers while third-place winner Mary Wilson was a winner over freshman Jen Larimore.

In doubles play, the #1 team of senior Anne Elise Wilson and Liz Lampe downed Andrea Sutyak and Valerie Garcia, 6-2, 6-2.  At #2 doubles, it was junior Molly Moynihan and senior Suzy Urish winning in two sets, but it was not enough.

The Lady Tigers finished an outstanding season with a final record of 15-3 on the year.  Senior Sabrina Smyers and junior Jen Larimore will be competing in the PIAA Doubles Championships on November 4th and 5th at the Hershey Racquet Club.

CONGRATULATIONS TO COACH WENIGER AND THE LADY TIGERS FOR AN OUTSTANDING SEASON!

MATCH SUMMARY
LATROBE - 3  NORTH ALLEGHENY - 2

WPIAL TEAM TOURNAMENT

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LADY TIGERS TAKE 5-0 WIN OVER PETERS TOWNSHIP TO ADVANCE TO SEMIFINALS

The Lady Tigers defeated Peters Township, 5-0, at Keystone Oaks on Tuesday afternoon to advance to the semifinals of the WPIAL Team Tournament.  Senior Sabrina Smyers and freshman Jen Larimore won straight set victories to pace NA.  Sophomore Stephanie Kaiser defeated Kaitlyn Soroyne, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the third singles match.

In doubles play, the top NA team of senior Anne Elise Wilson and junior Liz Lampe took a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Daniela Sheth and Haylee Gardner.  At #2 doubles, junior Molly Moynihan and senior Suzy Urish were victorious in three sets.

The victory moved NA to the semifinals against top seed Latrobe, a 4-1 winner of Pine-Richland yesterday.  The semifinal match will be played at Franklin Regional High School with the starting time set for 3:00 pm.

MATCH SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 5  PETERS TOWNSHIP - 0

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LADY TIGERS BLANK SENECA VALLEY AGAIN, 5-0, TO ADVANCE TO WPIAL QUARTERFINALS

The Section 2 Champion Lady Tigers shut out Seneca Valley, 5-0, at the Senior High courts on Monday afternoon to advance to the quarterfinals of the WPIAL Team Tournament.  The Lady Tigers lost only three games in a dominant performance against the Raiders.

In singles play, all three NA players recorded two-set shut out victories.  Senior Sabrina Smyers at #1, freshman Jen Larimore at #2 and sophomore Stephanie Kaiser at #3 all won 6-0, 6-0 victories.  In doubles play, the #1 team of senior Anne Elise Wilson and junior Liz Lampe took a 6-0, 6-1 victory while the #2 team of junior Molly Moynihan and senior Suzy Urish finished with a 6-2, 6-0 victory.

The victory sent the Lady Tigers to the quarterfinals against Peters Township at Keystone Oaks High School.

MATCH SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 5  SENECA VALLEY - 0

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LADY TIGERS DROP SECOND MATCH TO
SHADY SIDE ACADEMY, 5-0

The Shady Side Academy Indians defeated the Lady Tigers, 5-0, for the second time this season.  In singles competition, Shady Side won in straight sets.  In doubles play, juniors Liz Lampe and Molly Moynihan took Joanne Hilton and Megan Miers to three sets before dropping a 7-5 decision in the third game.

The losses to Shady Side are the only losses by the Lady Tigers this season.  Their final regular season record finished at 13-2 as they get ready for the playoffs.

MATCH SUMMARY
SHADY SIDE ACADEMY - 5  NORTH ALLEGHENY - 0

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LADY TIGERS STOP
SENECA VALLEY, 5-0

Losing only three games, the Lady Tigers blanked Seneca Valley, 5-0, at the Senior High courts on Wednesday afternoon.  In the three singles matches, NA won 36 games while losing only 1.  Senior Sabrina Smyers, freshman Jen Larimore and sophomore Stephanie Kaiser all won in straight sets.

In doubles play, it was the team of senior Anne Elise Wilson and junior Liz Lampe continuing the domination with a straight set win at #1 doubles.  At #2, senior Suzy Urish and junior Molly Moynihan took care of Rachel Glour and Ashley Reed, 6-0, 6-2.

With the win, the NA overall record improved to 13-1 on the season.  On Friday, the Lady Tigers will travel to Shady Side Academy for a 3:30 pm non-section match against the only team to defeat NA this year.  The WPIAL Team Playoffs are scheduled to get underway next week.

MATCH SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 5  SENECA VALLEY - 0

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SMYERS, LARIMORE CAPTURE WPIAL DOUBLES TITLE

Senior Sabrina Smyers and freshman Jen Larimore overcame a slow start to win the championship of the WPIAL Class AAA Doubles Tournament at Shady Side Academy on Tuesday afternoon.  After losing the first game, 6-4, the Tiger duo came on to win the next two, 6-2, and 6-0.  It was the 2nd title in three years for Smyers who was second last year.

The Lady Tigers team will host Seneca Valley this afternoon at the Senior High courts.  Match time is scheduled for 3:30 pm.

WPIAL DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIPS
CLASS AAA
Shady Side Academy
October 6 and 11, 2005

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LADY TIGERS SWEEP NORTH HILLS, 5-0, TO WIN SECTION TITLE

The Lady Tigers defeated rival North Hills, 5-0, on the Senior High courts on Monday afternoon for their tenth straight section win without a loss.  The victory gave NA the section title as finished section play undefeated.  The NA squad won all five matches in straight sets.

In singles play, senior Sabrina Smyers defeated Carrie Lippert, 6-1, 6-0, at #1 singles to set the stage for the victory.  Freshman Jen Larimore did not lose a game at #2 while sophomore Stephanie Kaiser was a 6-1, 6-3 winner over Helen Lam at #3.  In doubles play, the #1 team of senior Anne Elise Wilson and junior Liz Lampe won in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1.  In the #2 doubles match, junior Molly Moynihan and Suzy Urish finished off the five-set sweep with a two-set victory.

The win completed section play for NA as they finished with a 10-0 mark.  The overall season record stands at 12-1.  The doubles team of Sabrina Smyers and Jen Larimore will go for the WPIAL title this afternoon at Shady Side Academy.  Match time is set for 2:30 pm as the NA duo will meet Vanessa Steiner and Sara Longo of Hampton for the championships.

MATCH SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 5  NORTH HILLS  - 0

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SMYERS, LARIMORE ADVANCE TO WPIAL DOUBLES FINAL

Senior Sabrina Smyers and freshman Jen Larimore won three matches on Thursday afternoon at Shady Side Academy to advance to the final of the WPIAL Class AAA Doubles Tournament.  The Lady Tiger duo defeated Julie Pigozzi and Danielle Pack from Thomas Jefferson, 10-3, in the first round.

In the quarterfinals, Smyers and Larimore downed Kathleen Donahue and Meredith Lackey from Shady Side Academy, 10-5.  In the semis, it took three sets by the NA team was victorious over Lauren Subosits and Emily Palko of Peters Township, 6-4, 4-6, 6-0.  In the final, the Tiger team will face section foe Hampton with the team of Vanessa Steiner and Sara Longo.

The final will be held at Shady Side next Tuesday beginning at 2:30 pm.

Click here to read JoAnne Klimovich Harrop's story in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review!

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LADY TIGERS BLANK SHALER, 5-0, FOR NINTH STRAIGHT SECTION WIN

The Lady Tigers defeated Shaler, 5-0, at Shaler on Monday afternoon for their ninth consecutive section win against no losses.  NA lost only five total games in sweeping the Titans in straight sets. 

In singles play, Shaler won only one game as senior Sabrina Smyers, freshman Jen Larimore, and sophomore Stephanie Kaiser won easily in straight sets.  In doubles competition, the #1 team of senior Anne Elise Wilson and junior Liz Lampe defeated Carolyn Shields and Christina Shupa, 6-1, 6-0.  The #2 team of senior Suzy Urish and sophomore Yilu Zhang won in two sets.

With the win, the NA section record improved to 9-0, the overall mark to 11-1.   The doubles team of senior Sabrina Smyers and freshman Jen Larimore will compete in the WPIAL Doubles beginning on Thursday at Shady Side Academy.

MATCH SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 5  SHALER - 0

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LADY TIGERS DROP BUTLER, 4-1, TO REMAIN UNDEFEATED IN SECTION

The Lady Tigers defeated Butler, 4-1, on Friday afternoon to increase their winning streak in section to eight without a loss.  All three singles matches went to NA in straight sets.  At #1, senior Sabrina Smyers downed Courtney Kerr, 6-1, 6-0, while freshman Jen Larimore and sophomore Stephanie Kaiser were winners at #2 and #3 singles.

In doubles play, the team of senior Anne Elise Wilson and junior Liz Lampe took care of Angie Brynes and Catherine Sylvion, 6-3 and 6-3.

The win improved the NA section record to 8-0, the overall mark to 10-1.  The Lady Tigers will be in action again this afternoon when they travel to Shaler for a 3:30 pm section match.

MATCH SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 4  BUTLER - 1

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SHADY SIDE ACADEMY HANDS LADY TIGERS FIRST LOSS, 4-1

Shady Side Academy defeated the Lady Tigers, 4-1, at the Senior High courts on Thursday afternoon.  Senior Sabrina Smyers was the only winner as she defeated WPIAL runnerup Lauren Greco in two sets, 6-4 and 7-6.

The loss was the first for the Lady Tigers this season and drops their overall record to 9-1.  NA will travel to Butler this afternoon for a section match.  The starting time is scheduled for 3:30 pm.

MATCH SUMMARY
SHADY SIDE ACADEMY - 4  NORTH ALLEGHENY - 1

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LADY TIGERS DEFEAT
HAMPTON, 4-1

The Lady Tigers were victorious over Hampton, 4-1, at the Senior High courts on Wednesday afternoon.  Leading the way were freshman Jen Larimore and sophomore Stephanie Kaiser, both two-set winners in the singles competition.

In doubles play, senior Anne Wlise Wilson and junior Liz Lampe needed three sets but came away victorious.  At #2 doubles, the team of senior Suzy Urish and junior Molly Moynihan won in two sets, 7-5, 6-1.

The win kept undefeated in section play as they won their seventh straight section match, the ninth overall.  The Lady Tigers will host Shady Side Academy this afternoon at the Senior High courts with the starting time set for 3:30 pm.  NA will travel to Butler tomorrow afternoon to make up last week's match that was rained out. 

MATCH SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 4  HAMPTON - 1

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SMYERS, LARIMORE WIN SECTION DOUBLES TITLE

Senior Sabrina Smyers and freshman Jen Larimore teamed up to win the Section 2 Doubles Championship on Tuesday afternoon.  The Tiger duo defeated Vanessa Steiner and Sara Longo of Hampton, 6-0, 6-4.  In the third place match, senior Anne Elise Wilson and junior Liz Lampe fell to Sarah Lynch and Kelly Robinson of Pine-Richland.

In the quarterfinals, Smyers and Larimore knocked off Erica Lombardo and Kristine Sherred of Hampton before defeating Lynch and Robinson, 6-2, 6-1.  Wilson and Lampe defeated Kristin Cypher and Maggie McGinnis of Butler in the quarters before dropping a two-set match to Stiner and Longo in the semifinals.

The Lady Tigers will host Hampton this afternoon at the Senior High courts.  The starting time for the section match is set for 3:30 pm.

WPIAL CLASS AAA
DOUBLES SECTIONALS
Section 2

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LADY TIGERS STOP SENECA VALLEY, 5-0

Seneca Valley was no match for the Lady Tigers on Thursday afternoon as NA shut out the Raiders 5-0 at Seneca.  NA lost only four games in the match.  In singles competition, freshman Jen Larimore won at #1 singes, 6-0, 6-0, while freshman Cody McCoy and sophomore Stephanie Kaiser picked up two-set victories.

In doubles play, the#1 team of senior Anne Elise Wilson and Liz Lampe had little trouble in a 6-1, 6-0 victory.  At #2, junior Molly Monihan and senior Suzy Urish won by the same score.

The Lady Tigers will travel to Butler today for a section match.  The scheduled starting time is set for 3:30 pm.

MATCH SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 5  SENECA VALLEY - 0

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PINE-RICHLAND FALLS TO LADY TIGERS, 3-2

Playing at #1 singles, freshman Jen Larimore won a three-set victory to lead the Lady Tigers to a 3-2 victory over Pine-Richland at the Senior High courts on Wednesday afternoon.  Larimore was playing in place of senior Sabrina Smyers who was out with an injury.  Pine-Richland won the other two singles matches.

The NA doubles teams came through with wins to give the Lady Tigers an important victory.  At #1 doubles, senior Anne Elise Wilson and junior Liz Lampe needed three sets but pulled out a 6-1, 5-7, and 6-2 victory.  At #2 doubles, junior Molly Monihan and senior Suzy Urish won in two sets.

The win was the sixth straight in section play, seventh overall, for the Lady Tigers.  NA will travel to Seneca Valley this afternoon for a non-section match.  The scheduled starting time is set for 3:30 pm.  NA returns home tomorrow to meet Butler in a 3:30 pm section contest.

MATCH SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 3  PINE-RICHLAND - 2

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WPIAL GIRLS' TENNIS - 2005

The Lady Tigers will compete again in Class AAA, along with 35 other teams.  The WPIAL will advance three singles players in each classification and three sets of doubles teams in each classification to the PIAA tournament.  The PIAA will conduct a girls' team tennis tournament and the WPIAL champion and runnerup will play in the PIAA tournament.

WPIAL team championships will begin when section play is completed.  The section winner and runner-up will compete in the tournament round.  If two teams tie for first place, only those two teams will enter the tournament.  If two teams tie for second place, only the winner of the head-to-head competition will advance to the tournament round.  Three way ties will be broken in the following manner:

1-  The cumulative won-lost section records of all tied teams will be totaled.
2-  If one of the teams has a numerically superior record, that team will enter post-season play.
3-  If the tie cannot be clearly be broken, all will enter post-season play.

In all section matches and WPIAL competition, the seven-player team concept will be followed.  Each team will have three singles players and two teams of doubles players for each match.  No player can participate in both singles and doubles on  the same day.  A player can be changed from singles play on one day to doubles play for the next.  All teams must field a minimum of six players.  Failure to field six players will result in a forfeit victory for the opponent, provided they have at least six players ready to play.  If one team has six players and the opponent has seven, the third singles match is forfeited and all other matches play.  If both teams have only six players, play will be at first and second singles and both doubles.  If the team match ends in a tie, a USTA twelve point tie breaker will be played between the first singles players (for that day) to determine the team winner.  No substitutes will be permitted in the tiebreaker.

Coaches must play their best player of the three singles players designated for each match at the number one position, second best at number two and third best at number three.  The same format must be used in placing doubles teams in the lineup.  If injury or illness should occur before a match the player will be "moved up" to the next highest position in the lineup and the substitute player will take the lowest spot remaining.  Forfeits will be awarded only in case of injuries or illness after a match has started.  Once a lineup has been presented the same players must play at those positions.  Inability of a competitor to play will result in a forfeit.

Scoring will be traditional --- the best of three sets.  If the score reaches "six-all" in any set, a twelve-point tiebreaker shall determine a winner in that set.  The system must be followed in all section matches and WPIAL playoffs.

Section qualifiers will be held for singles and doubles.  Members of the Tennis Committee will manage these qualifiers.  Each school may enter two singles players and two doubles teams.  Sectional matches will be determined by pro sets until the semi-finals.  In the semi-finals, final and third place qualifying matches, the three set format will be used.  Three players/doubles teams will advance to the WPIAL championship round from each section qualifier.  The fourth place finisher will serve as the alternate and will play in the event of a withdrawal by any of the three first place winners.

If possible all WPIAL tournament play will be contested over a two-day period.  Matches will be determined by pro sets until the semi-finals.  In the semi-finals, final and third place qualifying matches, the three set format will be used.  Players will be seeded by the WPIAL based on all information available regarding relative strengths according to published rankings and previous competition.

2005 WPIAL TENNIS ALIGNMENT
CLASS AAA - 36 TEAMS

Any questions or comments should be directed to Athletic Director Bob Bozzuto at:  bbozzuto@northallegheny.org