What to watch for in WPIAL sports on May 8, 2024: Team tennis titles to be decided

By: Don Rebel
Wednesday, May 8, 2024 | 12:04 AM

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Four district boys tennis teams will be playing Wednesday for the love of gold.

In Class 3A, the top two seeds collide in the championship match in a battle of black and gold as defending champion and No. 2 seed Gateway takes on top seed North Allegheny.

Both teams survived the semifinals with the Gators edging Upper St. Clair and the Tigers getting past Fox Chapel by scores of 3-2.

While Gateway looks to repeat, North Allegheny hopes to win its first district boys team tennis crown in 15 years. NA won its fourth and most recent WPIAL title in 2009.

In Class 2A, top seed and defending champion Sewickley Academy will be tested by the surprise team of the postseason, No. 6 Quaker Valley.

The Quakers have defeated No. 3 Winchester Thurston and No. 2 North Catholic to reach the finals.

The Panthers are in search of their record 25th WPIAL boys team tennis championship.

Both title matches will take place at the Janet L. Swanson Tennis Center at Washington & Jefferson College.

The 2A match is set for 2 p.m. and the 3A finals are at 3:30 p.m.

More tennis

While only the two finalists, North Allegheny and Gateway, qualify for the PIAA Class 3A team tennis playoffs, three district teams go to the state postseason in Class 2A.

The finalists, Sewickley Academy and Quaker Valley have secured their spot. They will be joined by the winner of the 2A consolation match Wednesday.

That contest pits No. 2 North Catholic against No. 4 South Park. The match is schedule for Shady Side Academy at 3:30 p.m.

Last call

With all the playoff berths wrapped up, the WPIAL baseball and softball regular season is winding down.

Teams have a couple of days left to hit the diamond before the WPIAL playoffs begin next week.

Chris Harlan and I will have our bracket predictions for both the upcoming softball and baseball playoffs online over the next two days.

We will unveil the brackets during the WPIAL Playoff Pairings Shows, with softball set for 2 p.m. Thursday and baseball at noon Friday on Trib HSSN.

Postseason tune-up

The WPIAL boys volleyball regular season ends Thursday.

Two Section 3-2A teams will conclude their section schedule a day early as Seton LaSalle hosts Trinity.

The Rebels are battling South Fayette and Thomas Jefferson for the top three spots in the section; the Hillers are locked into fourth place.

The top four teams in each section qualify for the WPIAL playoffs.