WPIAL girls tennis: North Catholic’s Katie Hardy, Brea Kelley claim silver, make PIAA tournament
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North Catholic Katie Hardy, left, Brea Kelley celebrate their silver medal after losing to Quaker Valley in the WPIAL Class 2A Girls Tennis Doubles Championships finals on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, at Bethel Park High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic head coach Eric Solverson talks with his players Brea Kelley and Katie Hardy against Quaker Valley in the WPIAL Class 2A Girls Tennis Doubles Championships finals on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, at Bethel Park High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic Brea Kelley serves the ball against Quaker Valley in the WPIAL Class 2A Girls Tennis Doubles Championships finals on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, at Bethel Park High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic Katie Hardy celebrates a point against Quaker Valley in the WPIAL Class 2A Girls Tennis Doubles Championships finals on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, at Bethel Park High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic Brea Kelley hits the ball against Quaker Valley in the WPIAL Class 2A Girls Tennis Doubles Championships finals on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, at Bethel Park High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic Brea Kelley, left, high fives partner Katie Hardy against Quaker Valley in the WPIAL Class 2A Girls Tennis Doubles Championships finals on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, at Bethel Park High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic Katie Hardy serves the ball against Quaker Valley in the WPIAL Class 2A Girls Tennis Doubles Championships finals on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, at Bethel Park High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic Katie Hardy hits the ball against Quaker Valley in the WPIAL Class 2A Girls Tennis Doubles Championships finals on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, at Bethel Park High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic Brea Kelley, left, high fives partner Katie Hardy against Quaker Valley in the WPIAL Class 2A Girls Tennis Doubles Championships finals on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, at Bethel Park High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic Katie Hardy hits the ball against Quaker Valley in the WPIAL Class 2A Girls Tennis Doubles Championships finals on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, at Bethel Park High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
Katie Hardy and Brea Kelley had already clinched a second berth into the PIAA Class 2A girls tennis doubles tournament. The tandem from North Catholic was hoping to compete there as a WPIAL championship duo, but a very strong Quaker Valley team got in their way.
The Quakers’ Kirsten Close and Avery Allan claimed district gold with a win over Hardy and Kelley in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, in the final Thursday at Bethel Park High School.
“Katie and Brea played well today, but this Quaker Valley team is incredibly good,” North coach Eric Solverson said. “The senior (Close) is tall, great at the net and hits with power. (Allan) doesn’t have the size, but she hits the heck out of the ball and is accurate.”
The PIAA doubles tournament will be held Nov. 1-2 at Hershey Racquet Club.
Hardy and Kelley placed third in the WPIAL last year before making a run to the PIAA final and finishing runner-up in the state. The WPIAL’s top three teams earn a berth in the state tournament.
Hardy and Kelley won the Section 3 title last week and reached the WPIAL final with a dominating performance Wednesday. They advanced with back-to-back 10-0 victories in the first two rounds and 6-1, 6-0 in the semifinals against “a very good Greensburg Central Catholic team,” Solverson said.
“Our girls were crisp at the net and quick,” he said. “They were hitting accurate shots at a fast pace and that caused a lot of weak returns from their opponents.
“Brea played at No. 1 singles during the season, but she and Katie made the state doubles final last year (placing second) and we wanted to give them another shot at it this season. They’ve worked extremely hard and have such good chemistry. They know each other’s strengths and when to pick each other up emotionally.”
North Catholic is the top seed in the upcoming WPIAL team tournament. Tuesday at Cranberry Township Park, the Trojanettes will face the winner of Monday’s match between Aquinas Academy and Ellwood City.
