KEITH BARNES

Tri-State Sports & News Service

OCT 3, 2024

5:49 PM

Kirsten Close has had a frustrating year.

She had to sit out the 2023 WPIAL Class 2A individual and team tennis tournaments after transferring into Quaker Valley from Sewickley Academy, then just a few days ago was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, which had been affecting her for several months.

“It’s definitely been a chaotic season for me because I’ve been in the hospital most of the season,” Close said. “I actually haven’t played that much tennis, but luckily, I have this amazing doubles partner in Avery [Allan], and she’s really been able to step through. And I’m really grateful to be her friend, her teammate and doubles partner.”

There’s another thing the two can now share: a WPIAL title.

Close, a senior and Allan, a freshman, made for an unbeatable team, as the top-seeded pair rolled past the No. 2 North Catholic tandem of senior Katie Hardy and sophomore Brea Kelley 6-2, 6-2 to win the WPIAL Class 2A doubles title Thursday.

Close, a Haverford recruit, was a member of the 2021 WPIAL Class 2A champion Sewickley Academy team that beat Knoch in the finals. It was also that year when her older sister, Ashley, won the singles title.

“I’ve always wanted to win a WPIAL championship individually,” Close said. “With my sister winning it, I felt that it was my time to shine in a way.”

But everything she went through leading up to the doubles finals made this win more special.

"It definitely means a lot to me," Close said. “It’s always been a dream of mine, and I’m grateful that I have such an amazing partner to help me along the way.”

Quaker Valley had not had a doubles champion since 2015 when Zoe Bojalad and Emily Kraus won as a No. 6 seed. But this time, the top two seeds made it into the finals and the Quakers brought home the gold.

“Kirsten, she’s the best partner that I could ask for. She’s had a rough few months, and it’s amazing that she’s even able to play tennis at the level she’s playing,” Allan said. “WPIALs is just a nice addition.”