Hollidaysburg Area High School senior Crosby Denis made District 6 tennis history on Wednesday by capturing her fourth Class 3A girls doubles title at Mansion Park’s Herb Faris Tennis Courts. Partnering with fellow senior Emma Moritz, Denis and the second-seeded Hollidaysburg squad defeated top-seeded State College opponents Joanna Liu and Abigail Cao 6-3, 6-2 to secure the program’s sixth straight district crown.
Hollidaysburg Duo Overcomes Early Deficit
State College claimed the opening game of the match before Hollidaysburg adjusted its strategy to dominate the remaining sets. Denis and Moritz leaned on lifelong doubles familiarity despite never previously playing together in a varsity match. “When we got behind 1-0, we had to adapt, and we scored the next three points to go up 3-1,” Denis said. Coach Brian Denis pointed out that his daughter displayed remarkable resilience after falling short in the District 4-6 Class 3A singles final against teammate Grace Muriceak just one week prior. Despite initial disappointment, Denis chose to compete to support her school, ultimately becoming the first four-time District 6 Class 3A girls doubles champ ever.
State College Rivals Reflect on Title Match
First-year State College coach Ryan Kennedy praised both squads for clean execution and strong fundamentals. Liu and Cao reached the final after strong tournament performances, with Liu returning to the district title match after losing last season. “We held up as long as we could. I’m proud of the two of us,” Liu said. Cao highlighted Hollidaysburg’s high energy and solid game plan as the deciding factors that allowed the Hollidaysburg pair to pull away in straight sets.
Upcoming PIAA State Championship Goals
Denis and Moritz advance directly to the PIAA Class 3A state doubles tournament, scheduled for November 6–7 at the Hershey Racquet Club. Grace Muriceak will represent Hollidaysburg in the state singles competition after winning the District 4-6 Class 3A singles crown. Coach Brian Denis noted that the program aims to push past previous barriers at the state level. “We’ve never had a girls doubles team make it to the second day of the tournament and the state semis,” Coach Denis said. “That’s our goal this year, and I think that we have a good chance.”
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