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Tennis(M)/WOFFINGTON RETIRES AFTER 38 SEASONS AS NA COACH
Boys' tennis coach John Woffington announced his retirement on Thursday at the team banquet after 38 seasons as the NA head mentor.  During his tenure, NA had a 612-131 record with four WPIAL and two PIAA championships.  During the past season, the Tigers took both the WPIAL and PIAA titles.  Woffington was recently inducted into the Western Pennsylvania Hall of Fame
GOOD LUCK IN RETIREMENT, COACH WOFFINGTON!!!

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 File Photo Courtesy of Nancy Kosovec

TIGERS WIN GOLD AT PIAA
TEAM TOURNAMENT

The Tigers downed State College in the semis and Council Rock North in the championship match, both by 3-2 scores, to capture the PIAA Class AAA Team Championship at the Hershey Racquet Club on Saturday.  In both matches, the doubles teams were key as they were undefeated in the semifinal and final.  Against State College, senior Matt Kosovec won at #1 singles to secure the victory while freshman Jon Ho came through again in the final at the number three singles position.

In the championship match, Ho defeated the Indians' Joe Peters, 6-0, 6-3 to give NA the point it needed for the victory.  Council Rock North's David Kazakevich and Luv Sodha won the other singles matches.  In doubles play, the #1 team of junior Andrew Marczak and senior Sam Gill took a 6-3, 6-0 straight set victory.  At number two doubles, freshman Chris Lippiello and senior Nick Dulac came back after losing the first set, 6-3, to win the second, 7-5, and the third and deciding set, 6-2.

In the semifinals, Kosovec downed Alex Robinson, 6-2 and 6-3, to win the point.  For the Little Lions, Chris Boren and Blake Gregory won at #2 and #3 singles.  In doubles play, Marczak and Gill downed Anurag Kumar and Alex Gregory, 6-0 and 6-4 at the number one doubles.  At number two, Lippiello and Dulac again needed three sets but prevailed in the third and deciding set, 6-4.

The Tigers had to win three matches in a 24-hour stretch at the Hershey Racquet Club to win the title.  The championship marked the second PIAA title for Head Coach John Woffington and the Tigers and the end to a great season!  The Tigers finished undefeated winning all twenty-four of their matches this season in claiming the PIAA, WPIAL, and Section titles.  The wins set a record for the most in tem history. The victory was also the 611th win of Coach Woffington's 38 year career at the head mentor of the Tigers!

CONGRATULATIONS TO COACH WOFFINGTON AND THE TIGERS!!!!

MATCH SUMMARIES
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 3  COUNCIL ROCK NORTH - 2

NORTH ALLEGHENY - 3  STATE COLLEGE - 2

PIAA CLASS AAA TEAM TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

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TIGERS STUN LOWER MERION, 3-2,
IN PIAA QUARTERFINALS

The Tigers defeated a strong Lower Merion team, 3-2, in the quarterfinals of the PIAA Class AAA Team Tennis Championships at the Hershey Racquet Club on Friday night.  Freshman Jon Ho pulled out a three-set victory at #3 singles and both doubles teams won their matches in straight sets to secure the victory.

At #1 singles, Coby Kramer-Golinkoff downed NA  senior Matt Kosovec, 6-4,6-1 while at number two, the Aces Matt Savran topped Tiger senior Matt Smith to give Lower Merion the early lead.  Ho came back, however, after losing a tiebreaker in the first set to win the next two, 6-3 and 6-2, to give the Tigers a key singles point and the victory.

In doubles play, the number one team of junior Andrew Marczak and senior Sam Gill took a 6-2, 6-2 decision to get the Tigers on the board.  At number two doubles, freshman Chris Lippiello and senior Nick Dulac tied the match with a 6-2, 6-3 decision.

With the win, NA advances to the semifinals this afternoon against State College, a 3-2 winner of Abington.  The match is scheduled for a 1:30 pm start.  The winner will move on to the championship match scheduled to begin at 4:30 pm.  All matches will be played at the Hershey Racquet Club.

MATCH SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 3  LOWER MERION - 2

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TIGERS BLANK CLEARFIELD, 5-0, IN
FIRST ROUND OF PIAA PLAYOFFS

The Tigers had little trouble with District 10 Clearfield as they downed the Bison, 5-0, at the Lakevue Racquet Club on Tuesday afternoon in the first round of the PIAA Class AAA playoffs.  NA lost only five games in the entire match with seniors Matt Kosovec and Matt Smith, along with freshman Jon Ho, sweeping the singles matches to pace the Tigers.

In doubles play, the number one team of junior Andrew Marczak and senior Sam Gill and the number two squad of freshman Chris Lippiello and senior Nick Dulac took care of business with victories to wrap up the win.

With the win, the Tigers advance to the quarterfinals to face Lower Merion, one of the top teams in eastern Pennsylvania.  Match time at the Hershey Racquet Club on Friday is scheduled for 6:30 pm.

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TIGERS TOP FOX CHAPEL, 4-1, TO WIN WPIAL TITLE

The Tigers downed a tough Fox Chapel team, 4-1, to win the WPIAL Team Championship at Lakevue Racquet Club on Friday afternoon.  Senior Matt Smith avenged a loss in the WPIAL Singles Tournament as he defeated Rico Certo, 6-0, 6-3, at #2 singles to give NA a 1-0 lead.

The Foxes came back to tie the match at 1-1 as Section 3-AAA champion Shankar Rajaplet edged Matt Kosovec at the #1 singles position.  The Tigers came back to take the lead as the #2 doubles team of freshman Chris Lippiello and senior Nick Dulac won their match in straight sets.  in the number one doubles match, junior Andrew Marczak and senior Sam Gill bounced back from a first set tiebreaker loss to win the next two games, 6-3 and 6-0 to win the point and clinch the match.  Freshman Jon Ho, playing at #3 singles, regrouped after a first set defeat and a bloody nose to win consecutive 6-0 sets and give the Tigers their final point in the 4-1 victory.

The victory was number 607 for NA coach John Woffington who was recently inducted into the Western Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.  The title was the fourth for NA but the first since 2001.  With the win, the Tigers will host Clearfield Area on Tuesday at the Lakevue Racquet Club with match time set for 3:00 pm in the first round of the PIAA Class AAA tournament.

MATCH SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 4  FOX CHAPEL - 1

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WPIAL CLASS AAA
TEAM TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

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TIGERS DOWN UPPER ST. CLAIR, 4-1,
TO ADVANCE TO CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

The Tigers knocked off defending champion Upper St. Clair in the semifinals of the WPIAL Class AAA Team Championships at Sewickley Academy on Thursday afternoon.  In singles play, senior Matt Smith and freshman Jon Ho gave NA an early lead with 6-1, 6-0 victories.

The doubles teams both won hard fought three-set wins to secure the victory.  At #1 doubles, it was the team of junior Andrew Marczak and senior Sam Gill along with the number two team of freshman Chris Lippiello and senior Nick Dulac that came through to send the Tigers to the final.

The Tigers will meet powerful Fox Chapel in the championship match this afternoon at the Shady Side Academy courts, weather permitting.  Match time is tentatively set for 3:00 pm.

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TIGERS BLANK SHADY SIDE ACADEMY, 5-0,
 IN WPIAL QUARTERFINALS

Seniors Matt Kosovec and Matt Smith, along with freshman Jon Ho, led an NA sweep of the singles play to lead NA to a 5-0 victory over Shady Side Academy in the quarterfinals of the WPIAL Class AAA Team Championships at the Oxford Athletic Club on Wednesday afternoon.  In doubles play, the team of junior Andrew Marczak and senior Sam Gill was victorious along with the number two doubles team of freshman Chris Lippiello and senior Nick Dulac.

With the win, the Tigers advanced to the semifinals against perennial powerhouse Upper St. Clair.  The match is scheduled to be played at Sewickley Academy, weather permitting of course!  Match time is set for 3:00 pm.

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SMITH, KOSOVEC TAKE SILVER IN
WPIAL DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIPS

The senior duo of Matt Smith and Matt Kosovec was defeated in the WPIAL Class AAA Doubles Championships at the Lakevue Racquet Club on Friday afternoon.  Shankar Rajaput and Brad Portnoy from Fox Chapel downed the NA pair, 6-3, 6-3 in a match that was moved indoors because of the inclement weather.

In the consolation match for third place, the Tiger team of freshman Jon Ho and junior Andrew Marczak dropped a tough three-set match to Vivek Nimgaongar and Justin Hunt from Shady Side Academy.  The Tiger team won the first set, 6-2, but dropped the next two, 6-3 and 6-2.

The section winning Tiger team will begin the WPIAL Class AAA Team Playoffs on Wednesday.  NA is the number one seed and will host the winner of the Penn-Trafford-Shady Side Academy first round match.

WPIAL CLASS AAA
DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIPS
April 30-May 1, 2009

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SMITH, KOSOVEC ADVANCE TO WPIAL FINAL

Both NA doubles teams played well in the opening rounds of the WPIAL Class AAA Doubles Championships that were forced indoors at the Club 4 Life in Monroeville.  The top NA duo of seniors Matt Smith and Matt Kosovec defeated John Hahalyak and Sal Certo of Fox Chapel, 10-1, in the quarterfinals after receiving a bye in the first round.  In the semifinals, the Tiger team knocked off Vivek Nimgaongar and Justin Hunt of Shady Side Academy, 6-2 and 6-1, to advance to the final.

The number two NA team of freshman Jon Ho and junior Andrew Marczak downed Matt Hudak and John Colley of Penn-Trafford, 10-0, in the first round.  In the quarterfinals, the Tiger duo upset Julian Pearlman and Ritchie Phan of Mt. Lebanon, 10-8, to advance to the semis.  In the semifinal match, Ho and Marczak forced Shankar Rajaput and Brad Portnoy of Fox Chapel to three sets before losing. 

In the final, Smith and Kosovec will take on Rajaput and Portnoy of Fox Chapel for the title.  In the consolation match for third place, Ho and Marczak will face Nimgaongar and Hunt from Shady Side Academy.  Action is scheduled to get under way at 2:30 pm at the NA Senior High courts, weather permitting.

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TIGERS COMPLETE PERFECT REGULAR SEASON WITH 5-0 WIN OVER NORTH HILLS

The Tigers captured at 5-0 victory at rival North Hills on Monday afternoon to finish the regular season undefeated.  In singles play, seniors Matt Kosovec and Matt Smith, along with freshman Jon Ho, swept the Indians to pace NA to the victory.

In doubles play, the #1 team of junior Andrew Marczak and senior Sam Gill and the number two team of freshman Chris Lippiello and senior Nick Dulac had more competition but still emerged victorious in straight sets.

With the win, NA completed section play with a 12-0 record and a 17-0 overall mark.  The Tigers now await the seedings and schedule for the upcoming WPIAL Class AAA Team Championships.

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SMITH, KOSOVEC WIN SECTION TITLE
IN AN ALL-NA FINAL

The senior duo of Matt Smith and Matt Kosovec won the Section 2-AAA doubles championship on Thursday afternoon at the Senior High courts.  In the final, Smith and Kosovec defeated the #2 NA team of freshman Jon Ho and junior Andrew Marczak, 6-1 and 6-2.

In the first round, both Tiger teams had byes as the #1 and #2 seeds in the tournament.  In the quarterfinals, Smith and Kosovec defeated Will Nesbitt and Zac McCafferty of Butler, 10-5.  Ho and Marczak downed Ji-Ho Park and John Yoo of Pine-Richland, 10-2.  In the semis, Smith and Kosovec knocked off Bas Van Lent and Mike Matthews of Pine-Richland, 6-4 and 6-3.  Ho and Marczak took care of Evan Kowalski and Stefan Kemp of Butler, 7-6 (5) and 6-1.

Both NA doubles teams have qualified for the WPIAL Class AAA doubles tournament next week.  The section champion Tiger team will travel to North Hills on Monday to face the Indians in the section finale.  The team championships are scheduled to begin on Monday, May 4.

WPIAL SECTION 2-AAA
DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP
at NASH Courts

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TIGERS CAPTURE SECTION TITLE WITH 5-0
WIN OVER SENECA VALLEY

The Tigers clinched the section championship with a 5-0 win over Seneca Valley at the Oxford Athletic Club on Wednesday afternoon.  Leading the way was the singles play of freshman Chris Lippiello and Steve Klein, along with senior Chen Zhao who did not lose a  game in a straight set victory.

In doubles play, the teams of freshman Jon Ho and junior Andrew Marczak and seniors Sam Gill and Nick Dulac pounded their opponents into submission.  With the win, NA improved to 11-0 in section, 16-0 overall.

This afternoon, the doubles teams of seniors Matt Kosovec and Matt Smith and Ho and Marczak will represent NA in the Section Doubles Tournament on the Senior High courts.  Matches are scheduled to get under way at 1:00 pm.

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TIGERS CLINCH TIE FOR SECTION TITLE WITH
5-0 WIN OVER CENTRAL

With a 5-0 victory over Central Catholic at the Oxford Athletic Club on Tuesday afternoon, the Tigers clinched at least a tie for the section championship.  Led by straight set victories in singles play by seniors Sam Gill and Nick Dulac and sophomore Bennett Salvatori, the Tigers lost only three games the entire match in downing the Vikings.

In doubles play, the number one team of seniors Matt Kosovec and Matt Smith continued to prepare for the upcoming doubles championships with an easy victory.  At number two doubles, it was freshman Jon Ho and junior Andrew Marczak cruising to victory.

With the win, the Tigers section record improved to 10-0, the overall mark to 15-0 on the season.  The Tigers will try to wrap up the section crown with a win this afternoon against Seneca Valley.  Match time is set for 3:30 pm at the Senior High courts.

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FRANKLIN REGIONAL FALLS TO TIGERS, 5-0

The Tigers moved indoors on Monday afternoon to avoid the rain and defeated Franklin Regional, 5-0, at the Oxford Athletic Club.  With both coaches working on the upcoming doubles tournaments later in the week, the Tiger team of seniors Matt Smith and Matt Kosovec, along with the team of freshman Jon Ho and junior Andrew Marczak, lost only three games in sweeping their matches against the Panthers.

In singles play, freshman Chris Lippiello, sophomore Bennett Salvatora, and freshman Steve Klein outdid their doubles teammates by sweeping the singles matches and losing only one game!

With the win, NA improved their overall record to 14-0 on the season.  The Tigers will meet Central Catholic this afternoon as section play continues.  The match is scheduled for 3:30 pm at the Schenley Oval courts.  If is rains, the match will be moved indoors to Oxford with the starting time set for 2:30 pm.

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KOSOVEC TAKES THIRD PLACE AT
WPIAL SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIPS

Senior Matt Kosovec defeated Rico Certo of Fox Chapel, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) to take third place in the WPIAL Class AAA Singles Championships at the Senior High courts on Friday afternoon.  Upper St. Clair's Jay Jones won the title as he defeated Matt Slamecka of Butler.  With the third place finish, Kosovec will be the alternate in the PIAA Singles Championships later in May.

The Tiger team will be back in action on Monday when they travel to Central Catholic for a 3:30 pm section match.

WPIAL CLASS AAA
Keystone Oaks High School/North Allegheny High School
April 16-17, 2009

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WPIAL TENNIS - 2009

The Tigers will compete again in the WPIAL in Class AAA along with 34 other teams.  The WPIAL will advance two singles players, two sets of doubles teams, and two teams will advance to the PIAA tournament.

The top three teams in each section will enter the WPIAL Tournament.  All playoff entries will be determined by section record only and will be determined by the best section won/lost record.  Teams that tie for first place will not have the tie broken and ALL of the tied teams will be declared section champions, will receive a section winner's plaque, and will be entered into the WPIAL tournament.  If three or more teams tie for first place, only those teams will qualify for the playoffs.

In the event of a multiple team tie (two or more teams) for a playoff position, head-to-head competition will be the first determinant.  If head-to-head does not break the tie, the following tie breaking system will be used.  If three or more teams are tied for second place and the tie breaking system identifies one team as the second place team, the remaining teams will be then tied for third place and the process begins all over with head-to-head competition being the first determinant for establishing the third place team.  If a tie cannot be broken all tied teams will enter the playoffs.

TIE-BREAKING SYSTEM

a.  Section won-lost records of the tied teams will be compiled.
b.  The team with the best numerical head-to-head section record among the tied teams will enter post-season play.
c.  If the tie cannot clearly be broken, all tied teams will enter post-season play.

In all section matches and WPIAL competition, the seven-man 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 that they have at least six players ready to play.  In one team has six players and the opponent 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 singles position, second best at number two, and third best at number three.  The same format must also be used in placing doubles teams in the lineup.  If injury or illness should occur before a match, a 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 THE WRITTEN LINEUP has been presented the same players must play at these positions.  Inability of a competitor to play will result in a forfeit.

When possible, postponed matches must me played in order of postponement and scheduled on the first common open date.  Make up WPIAL section matches must have preference over exhibition matches, JV, and junior high matches.  When possible, all matches postponed during the first half of the season must be rescheduled and played prior to the beginning of the second half (April 1st).

CLASS AAA - 35 TEAMS

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