After breezing through the regular season with a record of 11-1, the seven-time section champion Franklin Regional boys tennis team met its match on Tuesday in the first round of the WPIAL Class AAA tournament.

The Panthers were edged, 3-2, by Butler Area, which moved on to face top-seeded Upper St. Clair.

"It was close. It wasn't to be," coach Howard Fisher said. "The guys played very well, extremely well. It was really a nice match for both teams. It really shows the depth of the Class AAA teams this year."

Winning in doubles were the unit of Mike Accornero and Guneet Sahota (4-6, 6-1, 6-4) and the tandem of Andrew Vallo and Brady Zbikowski (6-3, 6-1).

Falling at first singles was Osman Khwaja (6-3, 6-1). Losing at second singles was Kevin Carter (6-3, 6-0). And going down at third singles in a tight match was Matt Kitson (6-3, 6-4).

"It was really a very satisfying season, winning the team section title again and having the top singles players and the top doubles teams," Fisher said. "That was very satisfying."

Doubles tournament

Section 1-AAA doubles champions Carter and Khwaja were defeated in the first round last week at the WPIAL Class AAA doubles tournament. The duo lost to Matt Berus and Bryan Watt of Pine-Richland, 10-7.

Franklin Regional's second doubles team of Kitson and Sahota was dealt a 10-3 loss at the hands of Mt. Lebanon's Richie Phan and Jared Weinstein.

Chris Mengel and Josh Ferraccio of Shady Side Academy went on to defeat Peters Township's Doug Subosits and Andrew Nixon in the doubles championship, 6-3, 6-2, and will move on to the PIAA doubles championships later this month.