Boys' Tennis Game Summaries

by: Boys Tennis Contributor

At Friday’s WPIAL Championships, Advaita Sircar secured his second straight piece of WPIAL hardware by taking home the silver medal. In a rematch of last year’s championship match that Sircar won, the two players faced brutal weather and court conditions as they battled it out for almost four epic hours. In the end, Gateway’s Adam Memije emerged victorious, forcing Sircar to settle for second place.

The first set saw Memije get an early jump on things by breaking Sircar the first two times he served while racing to a 3-0 lead. Sircar, the champion that he is, would not go quietly. He came roaring back to tie the match at three games apiece. After falling behind again, Sircar rallied to take the first set, 7-5.

Sircar kept pouring it on as he won nine of 11 total games to take a 2-0 lead in the second set. Memije got the break back and the two exchanged powerful groundstrokes the rest of the way. Gateway’s #1 singles player secured and late break and hold to take the second set, 7-5.

This set up a winner-take-all third and final set. This set featured a rare seven consecutive breaks of serve as both players return games were on fire. Memije finally held to go up 5-3, but Sircar wasn’t quite done as he responded with a hold of his own. However, Memije was able to serve it out to take the match.

For complete WPIAL singles results, click here.

Sircar will advance to the PIAA Singles Championships to be held in Hershey on May 23^rd and 24^th. North Allegheny as a team returns to the court on Monday to resume section action at Seneca Valley. The match will begin a 3:30 p.m.

by: Boys Tennis Contributor

At Wednesday’s WPIAL Championships, both senior standout Sri Thirumala and sophomore sensation Advaita Sircar competed extremely well.  While Thirumala fell to the #3 seed Ari Plutko of Upper St. Clair, Sircar, seeded #1 overall, advanced with a 10-1 victory over Franklin Regional’s Sanshiro Ogawa.

The quarterfinals proved to be more of the same for Sircar as he dismantled Upper St. Clair’s Shawn Khurana, 10-1.

The semifinal round featured a tension filled match between Sircar and Gateway’s #2 singles player, Zidaan Hassan. Sircar started off on fire winning the first set with ease, 6-0. Hassan broke quickly to start the second set and raced to a 4-1 lead. Sircar chipped away with a hold and break of his own to climb within a game. However, Hassan was able to break again and serve out the set, 6-3 setting up a winner take all third set.

After some needed nourishment, and with some superior coaching, Sircar was primed for the third set. He blasted his first few serves to open the scoring and quickly broke Hassan to go up 2-0. After yet another hold, Sircar found himself with a chance for the double break. An intense rally ensued, and Hassan approached the net with a drop volley. Sircar was ready for it this time and he drove a backhand passing shot past Hassan for a 4-0 lead. At this point, victory was all but secured as Sircar cruised, 6-1. The win guarantees him a spot in the WPIAL Final and in the PIAA Championships at Hershey. Congratulations, Advaita!

On Friday, Sircar will square off against Gateway’s #1 singles player, Adam Memije with the WPIAL title at stake. Match time is set for 10:30 AM at Bethel Park. Good Luck!

Tournament Summary

First Round
#1 Advaita Sircar (NA) def. Sanshiro Ogawa (FR) 10-1
#3 Ari Plutko def.  Sri Thirumala (NA) 10-0

Quarterfinals
#1 Advaita Sircar (NA) def. Shawn Khurana (USC) 10-1

Semifinals
#1 Advaita Sircar def. Zidaan Hassan (G) 6-0, 3-6, 6-1

by: Boys Tennis Contributor

The North Allegheny boys’ tennis team won their ninth straight match by blanking section foe Butler, 5-0 at the NASH tennis courts on Monday afternoon.

Junior Evan Kaufman made his second straight start at 2^nd singles after returning from injury to defeat Ryan Conaway in record time, 6-0, 6-0. The win put the Tigers on the board first and also secured Kaufman “Man of the Match” honors. Shortly thereafter, the 1^st doubles team of senior Nick Scheuring and junior Adhav Ramadas doubled the lead by silencing their opponents, 6-1, 6-0. As happens so often, the clinching point came off of the racquet of sophomore sensation, Advaita Sircar who blanked Andrew Bocci, 6-0, 6-0.

With the match decided, it was up to 2^nd doubles to keep the shutout alive. The all-sophomore tandem of Shivum Telang and Ronit Ginde left no doubt by downing their Butler counterparts, 6-0, 6-0. With the home team up 4-0, all that was left to be decided was 3^rd singles. Junior Anish Ramachandruni made sure to complete the sweep by cruising past Ryan Curry, 6-1, 6-1.

North Allegheny improves to 10-1 overall and 6-0 in the section. Butler falls to 1-6 overall and 0-5 in section play.

Next up, Sircar and Sri Thirumala will participate in the WPIAL Singles Championships that begin on Wednesday at the NASH  tennis courts. It is Thirumala’s first trip to the singles tournament while Sircar is looking to defend his 2024 title. Matches begin at 11:00 AM.

Girls Lacrosse Summary, vs. Allderdice, 4-9-25

by: Boys Tennis Contributor

The North Allegheny boys’ tennis team traveled to a hostile environment to face the 25-time AA WPIAL Champions and came away with a decisive 5-0 victory. In a rare contest featuring both defending WPIAL Team Champions, it was the Tigers of North Allegheny who knocked the Panthers of Sewickley Academy from the ranks of the unbeaten. The Panthers, provided little resistance for the AAA title-holding Tigers, who finally had their full complement of players in the starting lineup.

Getting NA on the board first was junior Evan Kaufman who made his first start in almost a year after returning  from injury. Kaufman, a welcome addition to an already potent Tiger lineup, made quick work of the Panthers’ Will Bojalad at 2^nd singles, 6-0, 6-0. Senior standout Sri Thirumala quickly doubled the lead for the visiting team. The WPIAL Singles Qualifier left little doubt in his match as he dismantled his 3^rd singles opponent, 6-2, 6-1. The clinching point came off the racquets of a pair of sophomores, as Shivum Telang and Ronit Ginde cruised to a 6-1, 6-3 victory at 2^nd doubles.

With the match already decided, it was just a question of whether a sweep was in order. Man of the Match honors goes to sophomore sensation, Advaita Sircar who shellacked the current WPIAL AA Singles Champion for the second time in as many days at #1, 6-1, 6-2. At this point, it was up to 1^st doubles to complete the shutout. After a shaky first set, the team of senior Nick Scheuring and junior Adhav Ramadas rebounded with a vengeance to take the match and complete the shutout, 5-7, 6-2, 6-1.

North Allegheny improves to 9-1 overall and 5-0 in the section. Sewickley Academy falls to 4-1 overall, 3-1 in section play. The win was the Tigers eighth in a row and fourth consecutive 5-0 victory. Next up, the Tigers host section foe Butler on Monday. Match time is set for 3:30 p.m.

Boys Tennis Summary at Sewickely Academy, 4-4-25

In a section final contest that featured the two defending WPIAL Singles Champions, Sewickley Academy’s Severin Harmon was no match for NA’s sophomore sensation, Advaita Sircar. Sircar, the reigning WPIAL AAA Champion had Harmon, last year’s WPIAL AA Champion, on the run the entire match.

Using a brutal combination of high-powered serves, punishing groundstrokes, and pinpoint accuracy, the Tigers’ #1 singles player raced to a 6-0 first set. Harmon tried to use the coaching timeout to regroup, but to no avail. The second set was more of the same as the now two-time section champ breezed to an identical 6-0 score. It was a clinical exhibition over two days as Sircar completed a near perfect tournament with the rare feat of not dropping a single game during his championship run.

In the consolation match for third place, NA’s senior star Sri Thirumala started off quickly to take the first set, 6-4. However, Pine-Richland’s talented singles player, Ryan Moore, responded to take the second set, 6-3. The pair traded breaks and holds in the third set as Moore prevailed 6-4.

For complete section singles brackets, click here.

Overall, it was a great day for NA Boys Tennis as both Sircar and Thirumala qualified for the WPIAL Singles Championship to be held next week.

Tomorrow, the Tigers travel to section newcomer, but perennial powerhouse, Sewickley Academy for a match that will go a long way to deciding the section title. Match time is set for 3:45 PM.

Tournament Summary

Section 2 Championship
#1 Advaita Sircar (NA) def. Severin Harmon (SA) 6-0, 6-0

Section 2 Consolation Match
Ryan Moore (PR) def #3 Sri Thirumala (NA) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4