Kate Fahey outlasted No. 4 seed Kaitlyn Christian 11-6, 6-11, 11-9 to earn her first gold medal on the PPA Tour.

Both players made it a point of emphasis to get to the kitchen line to finish points with volleys, and they had equal success in doing so as they split the first two games with identical score lines.

Christian got out to a 7-3 lead in the third game, but a key adjustment from Fahey helped her turn the tables.

The No. 14 seed began directing her drives toward Christian’s backhand volley. She earned several errors off of that shot that allowed her to get back into it and ultimately have match point at 10-7.

Fahey closed out the affair a few minutes later at the third time of asking.

This is Fahey’s first PPA title after earning a silver medal in Kansas City earlier this month.

“I played Brooke [Buckner] in the final in Kansas City, and I knew that Kaitlyn would be such a tough opponent,” she said. “I was down in the third and just kept telling myself I had to give it my all. I’m so happy with myself and how I played and just really proud.”

The former University of Michigan tennis star had some special support on her bench: her boyfriend Charlie, who flew into Salt Lake City on Saturday night.

“I don’t think he’s ever coached a pickleball match, but he did a really great job with the support,” Fahey shared. “Last time he came he saw me lose, so I’m glad it was a different result today.”

In the bronze medal match, Zoey Wang secured her second consecutive singles podium with an 11-6, 11-4 victory over Judit Castillo.