GIRLS TENNIS (DOUBLE PARTNERS) | ALLISON PAVLANSKY & GABRIELLE BRANT | CANFIELD

ALLISON PAVLANSKY

11“They were two completely different players,” Pavlansky said. “Kaitlin was more defensive and Gabby was more offensive. I didn’t really change my game much, I just played how I would play with anyone else. We just had to play to win.”

Up until Oct. 21 — they did. The tandem went undefeated through the postseason and easily won the Oberlin district, going 4-0. The championship tilt pinned the Canfield pair with Upper Arlington, a foe it faced earlier in the season at the Canfield Doubles Classic and the 2010 state championship. However, after an opening set win, Pavlansky and Brant fell behind and eventually lost 6-3, 4-6, 1-6.

“We were confident going, but we just couldn’t pull through,” Pavlansky said. “I don’t think Upper Arlington did anything to change us, they just were hitting shots and we were making mistakes. It’s the way the game is played.”

The junior is now playing basketball under coach Pat Pavlansky, her father. She also helps instruct area youth tennis players.

“It’s something that’s invaluable because passing down something that you love to do to someone who’s younger and eventually going to carry on something that you’ve been doing — it’s one of the best feelings,” she said.