Fleming, Indian Harbour, Vero Win USTA Florida League Tennis Sectionals, Advance to Nationals

Clay and Brevard counties claimed their first USTA Florida League Sectionals title of the year, and a team from Indian River/Martin/St. Lucie counties will also be advancing to USTA League Nationals after the completion of the 2015 USTA Florida Mixed 18 & Over 6.0/8.0 League Sectional Championships, held on Oct. 9-11 at the Florida Tennis Center in Daytona Beach.

Clay County team (Fleming Island Plantation, Fleming Island) did not drop a match in defeating Polk County (Lake Wales Country Club, Lake Wales) 3-0 for the Mixed 18 & Over 6.0 division crown. The Fleming Island team ended a three-year stranglehold by Duval County on the Mixed 18 & Over 6.0 division title.

The Indian River/Martin/St. Lucie counties team (Hidden Palms Tennis Club, Vero Beach) edged Escambia County (Club II, Gulf Breeze) 2-1 for the Mixed 18 & Over 8.0 division title. Brevard County (Kiwi Tennis Club, Indian Harbour Beach) advanced directly to the 10.0 national championships as the lone USTA Florida Section local league-winning team in 2015.

The event drew the top regional winners from throughout Florida in the 6.0 and 8.0 USTA League Mixed 18 & Over divisions. The teams, which represented various clubs, parks, recreational departments and organizations, finished at the top of their local leagues.

The Mixed 18 & Over champions will next represent the USTA Florida Section at the 2015 USTA League Mixed 18 & Over 6.0, 8.0 & 10.0 National Championships on Nov. 20-22 at the Hilton El Conquistador Resort in Tucson, Ariz.

Final Results:

Mixed 18 & Over 6.0 Division

Final: Clay County (Fleming Island Plantation, Fleming Island) d. Polk County (Lake Wales Country Club, Lake Wales) 3-0
Championship Match Results:
No. 1 Doubles: Tim Fritz/Megan Alfano (Clay) d. Chad Barnhardt/Sarah Marston 6-2, 6-3
No. 2 Doubles: Eric Palaca/Chau Do (Clay) d. Jayma Knight/James Knight 6-2, 6-3
No. 3 Doubles: Tai Pham/Alexa Fritz (Clay) d. Allison Guerra/Steven Whitaker 7-6, 4-6, 1-0 (super-tiebreaker)
Clay Season Roster: Tim Fritz (captain), Tammie Gentry, Alexa Fritz, Eric Palaca, Donald Gentry, Tai Pham, Kim Le, Chau Do, Megan Alfano, Pam Fritz, Ryan Bowen, Julian Mansell

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Mixed 18 & Over 8.0 Division

Final: Indian River/Martin/St. Lucie counties (Hidden Palms Tennis Club, Vero Beach) d. Escambia County (Club II, Gulf Breeze) 2-1
Championship Match Results:
No. 1 Doubles: William Morris/Renee Baggett (Escambia) d. Sidney Sutton/Juliet Gravlee 6-3, 3-6, 1-0 (super-tiebreaker)
No. 2 Doubles: Frank Schlitt/Kammie Glenn (IRMSL) d. David Shane/Lisa Bew 6-4, 7-5
No. 3 Doubles: Derek Dorado/Catherine Oess (IRMSL) d. Timothy Sumrall/Lauren Haack 6-1, 6-3
IRMSL Season Roster: Nick Liguori (captain), Laura Bradshaw, Zach Hackett, Catherine Oess, Sidney Sutton, Derek Dorado, Betsy Sturgis, Juliet Gravlee, Frank Schlitt, Kammie Bilardello, Mark Hanlon

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2015 USTA FLORIDA ADULT LEAGUE
SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE LEADERS

Pinellas County remains in the top spot on the leaderboard for USTA Florida League Sectionals titles thus far in 2015, with Broward and Duval counties in second-place (through Oct. 12):

1. Pinellas County (6 titles) — 65 & Over M8.0, W8.0, Mixed 40 & Over 9.0, 40 & Over W4.0, 40 & Over M3.5, 40 & Over M4.5+

2T. Broward County (4) — 55 & Over W4.5, 18 & Over W4.0 & M5.0+, 18 & Over W4.5
2T. Duval County (4) — 65 & Over W6.0, 55 & Over W4.0, 55 & Over M3.5, 18 & Over W2.5

4T. Hillsborough County (3) — 55 & Over M4.0, 40 & Over W4.5+, 18 & Over W5.0+
4T. Indian River/Martin/St. Lucie counties (3) — 65 & Over W7.0, 55 & Over W3.5, Mixed 18 & Over 8.0
4T. Marion County (3) — 40 & Over W3.0, 18 & Over M2.5, Mixed 18 & Over 7.0
4T. Miami-Dade County (3) — 40 & Over M4.0, 18 & Over M4.0, 18 & Over M4.5
4T. Orange/Seminole counties (3) — Mixed 40 & Over 7.0, 18 & Over W3.0, 18 & Over W3.5

9T. Escambia County (2) — Mixed 40 & Over 8.0, 40 & Over W3.5
9T. Leon County (2) — 40 & Over M3.0, 18 & Over M3.5
9T. Sarasota/Manatee counties (2) — 55 & Over M4.5, Mixed 18 & Over 9.0
9T. Volusia/Flagler counties (2) — Mixed 40 & Over 6.0, 18 & Over M3.0

13T. Alachua County (1) — Mixed 18 & Over 2.5
13T. Brevard County (1) — Mixed 18 & Over 10.0
13T. Clay County (1) — Mixed 18 & Over 6.0
13T. Collier County (1) — 55 & Over W3.0
13T. Lee/Charlotte counties (1) — 65 & Over M7.0

The next USTA Florida League Sectional Championships will be the 2015 Mixed 55 & Over League Sectional Championships on Nov. 13-15 at the Florida Tennis Center in Daytona Beach.

For more info on USTA Florida Leagues go to www.ustaflorida.com/adulttennis/usta-leagues.