For the Shady Side Academy doubles team of sophomore Chris Mengel and senior Josh Ferraccio, the WPIAL Class AAA championship they earned last week was a coronation of sorts for a duo of accomplished singles players who gradually meshed together through the section doubles tournament and into the WPIALs.

"Every match I felt like they were getting better," said first-year Shady Side Academy coach Tom Mercer. "From the section tournament all the way through. As a team, they've seemed to get to know each other a little better. The more you play tennis with each other, the better you play with each other, and that's what they did."

Mengel, a Fox Chapel resident, and Ferraccio, of Apollo, won eight matches in a two-week period, capped by the championship victory against Doug Subosits and Andrew Nixon of Peters Township, 6-3, 6-2, Friday at North Allegheny.

"I think we complement each other pretty well on the court," Ferraccio said. "We both have decently big serves, and that helps a lot in doubles. Ending points quickly is kind of a key -- especially on the serve."

The duo, which took third place in the WPIAL doubles tournament last season, advances to play in the PIAA Class AAA doubles tournament May 23-24 at the Hershey Racquet Club.

"The ultimate goal is to win states, of course" Ferraccio said. "But we'll take it one match at a time there and hopefully it will work out for us."

"The WPIAL [champions] are usually one of the stronger teams there," Mercer said. "I think they should be one of the favorites."

Each has an accomplished resume as a singles player. Mengel is ranked No. 2 in the USTA Middle States region -- which covers Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and parts of West Virginia -- among players 18 and under. Ferraccio is No. 58 on that list.

Mengel would have been among the favorites in the WPIAL singles tournament last month but did not participate because he entered a major national junior tournament that particular week.

Mercer said Mengel is the only player to beat Pine-Richland senior Casey Watt in a high school match in his four-year career when the two teams met earlier this season.

Six feet 3 and with a big serve, Mengel plays an aggressive style, Mercer said. He had not lost a match this season heading into the WPIAL team tournament that began Tuesday.

"He's a phenomenal player," Ferraccio said. "It's really great to hit with him every day. It helps me a lot getting to practice with him every day, helps my game raise to another level because you have to improve just to keep up with him, for sure."

Ferraccio had lost only one match thus far this season as a singles or doubles player, Mercer said.

"Josh is a baseliner with a very good, very strong forehand," Mercer said. "When he and Chris play doubles, it's a good combo because Mengel plays well at the net and Josh is consistent with his shots from the back."

The two are major reasons the Indians lost only three times during the regular season and were on the short list of favorites to win the WPIAL team championship.

After a first-round 5-0 victory against Central Catholic Tuesday, Shady Side was to play in the quarterfinals yesterday against Peters Township.

The semifinals are scheduled for today and the championship and consolation matches tomorrow. The top two teams advance to the PIAA team tournament May 16-17 in Hershey.

Freshman Ben Cohen plays third singles, with seniors Rohan Menon and Dan Shaffer at first doubles. Shaffer was at third singles last season but a nagging arm injury has forced him to play doubles to avoid wear-and-tear.

"They have won a lot of big matches for us this year," Mercer said of the team of Menon and Shaffer.

Senior Jack Marous and freshman Justin Hunt combine as the second doubles team.

"We're a nice mixture of experience and youth," Mercer said.

Shaffer and Menon also participated in the WPIAL doubles tournament after playing in the section doubles title match, losing to Mengel and Ferraccio.