A visit with WPIAL tennis champion Ashley Huang


Background Info: Ashley Huang won a championship every year she was in high school. The North Allegheny senior was a member of four WPIAL and two PIAA Class 3A team championships squads. She also finished second in the WPIAL in doubles and both a freshman and sophomore and was a state runner-up in 2015. Last season the Cornell recruit became the first Tigers player in 18 years to win the state singles championship and she finished her WPIAL individual career win her first singles title this season an first for North Allegheny since 1999.

Ashley Huang n her WPIAL experience.
"I love playing in the WPIAL sections because it was a really great atmosphere, the teams were stronger and it was a lot of fun to compete against them because the team gets pumped up and the atmosphere is really great. I really enjoyed playing in that and playing in the WPIAL. Finishing off my career with a WPIAL title was something I didn't think of when I first started playing high school tennis and, of course, it's really great to win it in my last year for North Allegheny and it's really special."

Ashley Huang on playing in high school instead of solely in USTA matches.
"I love playing with a team and the team atmosphere. In USTA, you're out there by yourself and always competing for yourself and it's a really competitive atmosphere. But high school tennis, you get to b around your friends and have people who will support you while you're out there playing and get to be with a good team. that's something you don;t experience in USTA and that's why I looked forward to playing high school tennis."

Ashley Huang on whether her WPIAL and state team or singles titles were more special.
“I value them both equally because I love playing for the team and, like I said before, the atmosphere is much different when it comes to the team, you have your whole team there to cheer you on from the balcony (at Hershey Racquet Club) and on the court. It's a more relaxed and pimped-up atmosphere compared to singles. Singles at WPIALs and states are more like a USTA event again, but you're competing for yourself and your school. They're both really great accomplishments, but I would not put one over the other.”