Mt. Lebanon wins WPIAL team tennis title
After a 31-year-old drought, Mt. Lebanon revisited its dominance in high school girls tennis by winning its 14th overall WPIAL title, but head coach Chad Brown hesitated to label the Blue Devils as a dynasty in the making even though only one senior comprised the championship lineup.
“I definitely see the potential because it’s such a young team but the WPIAL is always competitive,” he said. “I hope this (title) renews the tennis tradition here but the competition is going to continue to get tougher and stronger. So we can’t rest on this because nothing is given, nothing is guaranteed.”
The Lebo ladies, however, assured themselves a celebration and induction into the school’s hallowed Hall of Champions when they easily dispatched North Allegheny, 4-1, on Oct. 20 at the Janet L. Swanson Tennis Center on the Washington & Jefferson College campus.
“This means a lot and feels good,” said Brown. “We are going to let them celebrate and then focus on the task ahead.”
With the triumph, Lebo qualified for the PIAA Class AAA tournament. The Blue Devils host their first state match Oct. 25. A victory would assure them a trip to Hershey to compete in the remainder of the tournament. The quarterfinals are set for Oct. 28 with the semifinal and championship matches scheduled for Oct. 29 at the Hershey Racquet Club.
Before gaining its PIAA berth, Lebo rolled through the regular season undefeated. It also produced a WPIAL doubles champion duo in Sophia Cunningham and Sylvie Eriksen.
The Blue Devils embarked on their team championship quest by sweeping Oakland Catholic and Fox Chapel, 5-0. Lebo then edged Bethel Park, 3-2, in a semifinal match played in much the same weather conditions as the finals.
“Windy and chilly,” Brown explained. “It got them prepared for the championship.
“For the most part, weather did not impact us too much. One thing I tell them is that the girl on the other side of the court is playing under the same conditions. You have to deal with it the same way she is.”
The Blue Devils dealt the Tigers a staggering blow when they swept the doubles and won at No. 3 singles.
A freshman, Jackie Tang easily dispatched Abbey Swirsding, 6-3, 6-0, at No. 3 singles.
Freshman Michelle Yang and senior Carly Grant combined to beat Reagn Dougherty and Eileen Hu, 6-1, 6-1, at No. 1 doubles.
A sophomore, Eriksen teamed with junior Ana Clara Oliveira for a 6-2, 6-0 win against Tia Soussou and Rebecca Murphy.
“Jackie did an absolutely fantastic job,” Brown remarked. “Our doubles line was the same. It’s the strength of our team. We felt really, really confident with our doubles and knew we had to come through in singles. Winning two of those was icing on the cake.”
Brown noted that from third singles on down, Lebo had not lost a match all season. That confidence enabled the Blue Devils to “end up on top.”
At No. 1 singles, Lebo came out on top when Cunningham outlasted Sara Fernandez. The junior won her match, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.
“Sophia’s match was unbelievable,” said Brown. “It was a culmination of her season, her career and where she has been.”
Cunningham started the fall campaign with an ankle injury but bounced back to not only secure the No. 1 spot on the team but to always claim a WPIAL doubles title. Additionally, it was the third time, she had faced Fernandez, having fallen to the sophomore in two previous encounters.
“All season, Sophia has been getting better and stronger. That progress has propelled her forward to carry us throughout the playoffs. It’s been a culmination of learning and improving for her to come out on top.”
Despite dropping a 6-3, 6-1 decision to Emily Wincko, Jessie Lang has progressed as a sophomore.
“Jessie has done a great job, too, for us,” Brown said. “She has had a lot of tough matches and I think she’s learned a lot this season. She fights really hard. She’s actually a smart player. We expect big things out of her the rest of her high school career.”
With the championship, the bar has been raised for the Blue Devils. Mt. Lebanon last won a WPIAL team title in 1991. The Blue Devils had an eight-title run from 1981-1988.
“Hopefully they remember what this feels like so they can keep it going for years to come,” Brown said. “I will remind them how good it feels to win and to not rest on (their laurels). We’ll let them know how valuable this team thing is and what can be accomplished so that years from now they will keep it together.”