Belle Vernon’s Dusi wins 2nd WPIAL tennis title

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Gabriella Dusi of Belle Vernon returns a forehand during WPIAL tennis championship action. Dusi defeated Grace Stitt from Hampton in straight sets, 6-1, 6-0, to claim the Class AA singles title for the second year in a row.

Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

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Gabriella Dusi of Belle Vernon receives a congratulatory hug after defeating Grace Stitt from Hampton, 6-1, 6-0, in the WPIAL Class AA tennis singles finals played at Bethel Park High School. It was the second championship for Dusi and she is now qualified for the PIAA tournament to be held in November at the Hershey Racquet Club.

Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

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Gabriella Dusi of Belle Vernon repeated as a WPIAL tennis singles chamion after she defeated Grace Stitt from Hampton in straight sets, 6-1, 6-0, in the Class AA final played Sept. 19 at Bethel Park High School.

Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

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By The Observer-Reporter

BETHEL PARK – Belle Vernon junior Gabriella Dusi won her second WPIAL Class 2A singles tennis championship Thursday, defeating Hampton’s Grace Stitt 6-1, 6-0, in the finals held on the outdoor courts at Bethel Park High School.

Dusi advances to the PIAA Championships that will be held Nov. 1-2 in Hershey.

“It’s special to not only win but win two years in a row,” Dusi said. “This year, I feel like I made a lot of improvements and was able to be more consistent.”

Dusi was the top seed in the WPIAL tournament after winning a section championship last week with a dominant 6-0, 6-0 victory over Oakland Catholic’s Mollie Sclichter in the finals.

Dusi received a first-round bye in the WPIAL tournament and routed North Catholic’s Brea Kelley 10-0 in the quarterfinals. She defeated Beaver’s Anna Mrkonja 6-1, 6-1 in the semifinals to advance to the championship round.

“This year was different because I was expected to win the tournament, so you have that pressure,” Dusi said. “Everything was working today. My forehand was a strength today.”

Last year, Dusi advanced to the state quarterfinals.

Belle Vernon does not have a girls tennis team. Dusi is a member of the Upper St. Clair tennis development program.