2026-2027 Game Summaries
Tigers Tennis Wins 10 In A Row with Pine-Richland Shutout
By: Dom Gliozzi
The Tigers wandered through the woods and found themselves in Gibsonia, where they faced off against neighboring Pine-Richland for Wexford bragging rights. Perhaps spurred on by Friday’s All-Sports Pep Rally at NASH, the Tigers blanked the Rams 5-0 to extend both win streaks, overall and in Section 2 play. Facing a Rams team that placed their top two singles players at the first doubles position, the Tigers took the challenge and swept the contest in straight sets in all scoring flights.
Leading the way, all three singles starters, freshman Winni Hayward, sophomore Sammy Leeman and junior Mia Kaufman put together another all-star performance in their three-pronged straight-set victories, losing only one game along the way. Second doubles saw senior Remi Hayward and junior Medha Thirumala brushed away their opponents with relative ease. In the longest and most exciting play of the day, the first doubles team of sophomore Ruoxi Bai and freshman Sophia Yu faced the biggest task of the day by tangling with P-R’s best players, Sonaya Arora and Eve Pellathy. In a challenging first set, the Tigers pulled away to take the 6-4 win. The second set ended with a 6-2 decision and the fifth team point for the Tigers.
The Tigers improve to 12-1 overall on the season (7-0 in section play) and continue Section 2 play Monday afternoon when they host the North Hills Indians in the final section contest of the season. Match time on the NASH courts is scheduled for 3:30 PM.
GIRLS TENNIS SUMMARY VS. PINE RICHLAND, 9-25-26
| MATCH SUMMARY | NORTH ALLEGHENY - 5 PINE-RICHLAND - 0 | |
|---|---|---|
| Singles | ||
| #1 | Winni Hayward (NA) def. Lucy Hynds (P-R) | 6-0, 6-0 |
| #2 | Sammy Leeman (NA) def. Story Wozniak (P-R) | 6-0, 6-0 |
| #3 | Mia Kaufman (NA) def. Avery Ozer (P-R) | 6-1, 6-0 |
| Doubles | ||
| #1 | Ruoxi Bai/Sophia Yu (NA) def. Sonaya Arora/Eve Pellathy (P-R)) | 6-4, 6-2 |
| #2 | #2 Remi Hayward/Medha Thirumala (NA) def. Dheeptha Ravichabdran/Isabella Destein (P-R) | 6-1, 6-0 |
Hayward takes home bronze at WPIAL Singles
by: Dom Gliozzi
The second day of 3A WPIAL Singles Championship play turned out to be the charm for Tigers’ freshman, Winni Hayward. With Bethel Park High School as the backdrop on Thursday, the third-place contest between #4 Hayward and Fox Chapel’s Clara Drahnak (the #3 seed) took a different turn in the rematch.
After falling to the Foxes’ top singles player in the team competition earlier this month, Hayward flipped the script in straight sets, winning 6-2, 6-3. This strong performance earned Hayward the 3rd and final PIAA qualifying spot from the WPIAL for the 2026 season. She will begin play as District 7’s third entrant in Hershey, PA, starting on Friday, November 6. Congratulations to Winni!
Tigers compete at WPIAL Singles; Hayward reaches semifinals
by: Dom Gliozzi
The first day of the WPIAL Class 3A Girls’ Tennis Singles Championships took place on the NASH courts Wednesday, and the two Tigers contestants acquitted themselves very well. Freshman Winni Hayward, the Section 2 champion and #4 seed in the WPIAL tourney opened play against Mt. Lebanon’s Katya Rowley, the #13 seed. In a re-match from the team competition two weeks ago, the two freshman battled evenly for a while until Hayward’s power game took over for a 10-5 decision. Sophomore Sammy Leeman, the Section 2 runner-up and #7 overall seed opened against Elizabeth Butera of Shady Side Academy. Leeman used her strong skill set to cruise to a 10-1 win over the Shady Side senior.
Next up for Hayward was Bethel Park’s #2 singles player and the fifth seed, McKenzie Smock. Playing toe to toe, both ladies exchanged exceptional shots, and in a war of attrition Hayward again battled her way through for a 10-6 victory over the Bethel Park senior. The second round wasn’t as kind to Leeman. Facing the #2 seed, senior Cami Fisher from Bethel Park, Leeman was defeated by a 10-0 margin.
Hayward’s second round win earned her an in-season re-match with three-time defending WPIAL champion, Meriwether McCargo in one of the semi-final contests. Successfully using every shot in her arsenal, Hayward was only down 3-4 before McCargo pulled away with a break and a hold to take the set at 6-3. The Shady Side senior wrapped up the match with a 6-1 second set win.
The finals and third-place consolation match will take place at 1 PM at Bethel Park High School on Thursday. McCargo and Fisher will battle for the championship in a re-match of last year’s WPIAL final. The third- place contest between #4 Winni Hayward and Fox Chapel’s Clara Drahnak (the #3 seed) will be a re-match of their team competition contest from earlier in the season. More urgently, this contest will determine the third and final PIAA qualifier from the WPIAL for the 2026 season.
Tigers take ninth straight, shutout Seneca Valley
by: Dom Gliozzi
Facing persistent rain that forced their match indoors, the Lady Tigers traveled to the Lakevue Athletic Club and produced their own meteorological event, storming past Seneca Valley for a 5-0, Section 2 shutout Tuesday afternoon. Leading the way again for the Tigers was the dynamic duo of freshman Winni Hayward at 1 singles and sophomore Sammy Leeman at 2 singles who both took the first two team points in dominant fashion against the Raiders.
The reunited second doubles pairing of senior Remi Hayward and junior Medha Thirumala clinched the contest with another straight set win, 6-0, 6-1. While there were a few deuce games that kept the contest somewhat competitive, the ladies picked each other up at the appropriate time to secure their victory. The fourth team point was courtesy of first doubles. Closing out the scoring for the Tigers, junior Mia Kaufman rediscovered her backhand as an offensive weapon and blended it with splendid consistency and patience in her overall play.
Bouncing off the rackets of sophomore Ruoxi Bai and freshman Sophia Hu, first doubles provided the Ladies of the Match honors. The young duo tangled with Monique Polas and Alivia Metz, who was celebrating her senior night. Bai and Yu prevailed by a 6-0, 6-1 score for the Tigers. Yu provided an excellent display of poaching skills while Bai’s voluminous volleys helped carry the team through the more competitive games.
The Tigers improve to 11-1 overall on the season (6-0 in section play) and return to Section 2 play Friday afternoon when they travel to Pine-Richland to take on the Rams at 3:30 PM. In the meantime, freshman Winni Hayward and sophomore Sammy Leeman will proudly represent the Tigers Wednesday at the WPIAL Singles tournament to be contested on the NASH courts. Play starts at 11 AM.
Girls Tennis Summary at Seneca Valley, 9-22-26
| MATCH SUMMARY | NORTH ALLEGHENY - 5 SENECA VALLEY - 0 | |
|---|---|---|
| SINGLES | ||
| #1 | Winni Hayward (NA) def. Ella Marley (SV) | 6-0, 6-0 |
| #2 | Sammy Leeman (NA) def. Alvera Chokshi (SV) | 6-0, 6-0 |
| #3 | Mia Kaufman (NA) def. Kayla McKenzie (SV) | 6-1, 6-0 |
| DOUBLES | ||
| #1 | Ruoxi Bai/Sophia Yu (NA) def. Monique Polas/Alivia Metz (SV) | 6-0, 6-1 |
| #2 | Remi Hayward/Medha Thirumala (NA) def. Evie Miske/Ella Jacisin (SV) | 6-1, 6-0 |
Tigers Win Eight in a Row, Shutout Talbots
By Dom Gliozzi
North Allegheny girls’ tennis ventured into bordering Hampton Township to tangle with the 2A Talbots in an exhibition contest at Hampton Community Park Friday afternoon. The Tigers walked through the park posting a 5-0 victory over their skilled neighbors, winning each match-up in straight sets.
Newly crowned Section 2 singles champion, freshman Winni Hayward, secured the initial team point at first singles for the 8th time in the season. Quickly following, sophomore Ruoxi Bai dazzled brilliantly at second singles in a 6-0, 6-0 win where she lost only four points in the entire match. It was Bai’s first foray into singles competition this season. For the 5th time in the 2026 campaign, sophomore Sammy Leeman clinched the match with a superb service game at second singles, also recording a 6-0, 6-0 score. Following second doubles 4th team point, first doubles closed out the scoring. Teaming up for the first time this year, freshman Sophia Yu and junior Alexa Richey worked together efficiently to capture another straight set win.
Second doubles provided the Lady of the Match honors. Freshman Claire Huang made her varsity debut in a points match at second doubles, where she paired with junior Medha Thirumala. Under Thirumala’s outstanding mentoring, Huang’s poised play combined excellent serving (only 1 double fault) with a high percentage of service returns. Adding Huang’s great volleys to the mix, she and Thirumala took their contest with a 6-2, 6-1 score.
The Tigers improve to 10-1 overall on the season (5-0 in section play) and return to Section 2 play Monday afternoon when they travel to Harmony, PA to play Seneca Valley. Play is scheduled for 3:30 PM at Seneca Valley High School.
GIRLS TENNIS SUMMARY VS. HAMPTON, 9-18-26
| MATCH SUMMARY | NORTH ALLEGHENY - 5 HAMPTON - 0 | |
|---|---|---|
| SINGLES | ||
| #1 | Winni Hayward (NA) def. Lola Pikato (H) | 6-0, 6-0 |
| #2 | Sammy Leeman (NA) def. Vivian Settler (H) | 6-0, 6-0 |
| #3 | Ruoxi Bai (NA) def. Juliana Turner (H) | 6-0, 6-0 |
| DOUBLES | ||
| #1 | Sophia Yu/Alexa Richey (NA) def. Kenzie Joyce/Daniela Khoury (H) | 6-2, 6-0 |
| #2 | Medha Thirumala/Claire Huang (NA) def. Dillon Perry/Jocelyn Robertson (H) | 6-0, 6-0 |
