UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- As South Park's first representative in the PIAA Class AA boys' tennis finals, senior Dan Gal did not seem that upset about losing decisively to Mak Kendall of Harriton, 6-1,6-2, at the Penn State Sarnis Tennis Center yesterday.

"I played well. I had my shots, but he hit everything big no matter where he was on the court," said Gal who won 144 of 148 games in WPIAL section competition this spring. "I'm happy. Now I can go home and brag about this at school."

Gal reached the final by defeating Kyle VanFleet of Loyalsock in the morning, 6-1, 6-1.

"I just had to return his deep shots [on the serve] and I could see that frustrated him and I used that to my advantage by using my forehand," Gal said about his semifinal victory.

This is only the third season for boys' varsity tennis at South Park. Gal was among the students who lobbied to get the Eagles' tennis program started. South Park has only lost one dual section match in three years with Gal leading the way.

"I want to keep this going. I don't want to see this die after I graduate," said Gal, who has a tennis scholarship to NCAA Division II powerhouse Bloomsburg.

Gal was routed by Kendall in the first set, having his serve broken three times.

In the second set, there was a glimmer of hope. After having his serve broken for a fourth time in the match, Gal broke Kendall's serve and trailed, 3-2.

But Kendall broke Gal's serve again for a 4-2 lead and then took a commanding 5-2 lead when he swept all four points on his serve.

Kendall clinched the match after Gal fought off three break points before succumbing. In addition to a big serve, Kendall also relied on several well-placed drop shots.

"I was able to run down most of his drops, but it was his second shot after that I couldn't cover," Gal said. "It was tough to cover everything."

"[Kendall] was more consistent with his power," said South Park coach Chuck Correll. "He was getting in his first serve more consistently. [Gal] was put on the defensive right away. The more first serves you get in, the more the percentages are in your favor."

In Class AA doubles, Sewickley Academy's Trevor Heck and Evan Steigel lost their semifinal to Benji Kendall and Mark Lansmann of Harriton, 6-1, 6-3. But the Panthers' duo recovered by claiming the third-place match, 6-4, 6-4, against Chad Morrow and Doug Morrow of Southern Lehigh.

In Class AAA, none of the players from the WPIAL advanced beyond the quarterfinals Friday.