North Penn’s Velaga wins state title

North Penn junior Neha Velaga continued her ascension among tennis’ elite by winning the PIAA Class 3A title in impressive fashion, rallying for a three-set victory over North Allegheny’s Ashley Huang Saturday at the Hershey Racquet Club.
Velaga won 4-6, 6-2, 6-4. The loss in the first set was the only set she dropped the entire tournament.
In the semifinals, the North Penn junior defeated Eliza Askarova of George Washington 6-2, 6-4.
Velaga is currently ranked No. 1 in Middle States 18 and under, playing a national schedule which included a match against now WTA pro 19 year-old Kayla Day.
Over in the doubles, Methacton’s Dina Nouaime and Tina Prince were finally stopped. After losing the first set in their first match of the District 1-3A Tournament 6-0, the Warriors duo has been unstoppable.
They met their match in the finals, falling 6-1, 6-2 to Harriton’s Sophia Sassoli and Saige Roshkoff.
In the semis, Nouaime and Prince defeated Shady Side Academy’s Ella Santora/Aya Youssef 6-1, 6-3. Over in 2A, Lower Moreland’s Nikole Lisovyy won the title with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Bethlehem Catholic’s Brenna Magliochetti, 6-1, 6-4. In the semifinals Lisovyy defeated South Williamsport’s Olivia Dorner, 6-2, 6-4.