May 23rd, 2016
Pinellas Wins 3rd Straight at USTA Florida Mixed 40 & Over League Tennis Sectionals
Pinellas County (McMullen Tennis Center, Clearwater) won a third consecutive title in the 9.0 division, and Volusia/Flagler counties (Florida Tennis Center, Daytona Beach) won the 7.0 division at the 2016 USTA Florida Mixed 40 & Over 7.0/9.0 League Sectional Championships, held May 20-22 at the Florida Tennis Center in Daytona Beach.
Pinellas teams have now won the 9.0 division in 2016 (McMullen Tennis Center, Clearwater), 2015 (St. Petersburg Tennis Club) and 2014 (McMullen Tennis Center, Clearwater).
The Clearwater and Daytona Beach teams will now advance to represent the USTA Florida Section at the USTA League Mixed 40 & Over 7.0 & 9.0 National Championships on Nov. 11-13, 2016 in Surprise, Ariz.
The latest title puts Pinellas County in sole possession of the top spot on the USTA Florida League Sectionals leaderboard in 2016 (see below).
This year’s event drew the top teams from throughout Florida, representing various clubs, parks, recreational departments and organizations that finished at the top of their local leagues. Teams consisting of three doubles lines competed in a non-elimination round-robin format. The winner of each flight/division was determined by team matches won. The winner of each flight then advanced into a single-elimination semifinal followed by the final.
NTRP levels of play were a combined 7.0 and 9.0. For more information on NTRP levels go to www.usta.com/Adult-Tennis/USTA-League/Information/About_NTRP.
Final results:
Mixed 40 & Over 7.0 Division
Final: Volusia/Flagler counties (Florida Tennis Center, Daytona Beach) d. Broward County (Midtown Athletic Club, Weston) 2-1
Championship Results:
No. 1 Doubles: Yenny Herrera/Luis Ocampo (Broward) d. Lorraine Worley/Doug Testerman 6-3, 6-1
No. 2 Doubles: Margie Bailey/John Ufheil (V/F) d. Carla Neopensi/Ramon Mora 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (super-tiebreak)
No. 3 Doubles: Robin Cosker/Shawn Doyle (V/F) d. Maria del Rosario Pia Diodato de Brozzi/Luis Di Lauro 6-4, 6-3
Volusia/Flagler Season Roster: Rose Lucas (captain), Margie Bailey, Shawn Doyle, Thu-Ha Bacha, Lorraine Worley, James West, Saroj Kasturi, Jeffrey Britt, Hang George, Robin Cosker, Rodney George, Doug Testerman, John Ufheil, Russell McDonald, Heather Gardner
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Mixed 40 & Over 9.0 Division
Final: Pinellas County (McMullen Tennis Center, Clearwater) d. Indian River/St. Lucie/Martin counties (The Boulevard Tennis Club, Vero Beach) 2-1
Championship Results:
No. 1 Doubles: Chris Canfield/Stephanie Wager (Pinellas) d. Michael Phelipa/Deanne Decker 6-1, 6-3
No. 2 Doubles: Drew Wager/Kay Caldwell (Pinellas) d. Troy Lamm/Jennifer Lane 6-1, 6-3
No. 3 Doubles: Ted MacBeth/Katherine Zanon (IRSLM) d. Rhett Rollyson/Lynn O’Brien 2-6, 4-5, retired
Pinellas Season Roster: David King (captain), Chris Canfield, Jillene Panella, Christopher Henderson, Kay Caldwell, Dianne Albina, Stephanie Wager, Lynn O’Brien, Brenda Sturm, Sandy Trail, Albert Alhadeff, Ronald Wiser, Barbara Brown, Sean Vickery, Drew Wager, Rhett Rollyson, Christopher Muller
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2016 USTA FLORIDA ADULT LEAGUE
SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE LEADERS
Pinellas County takes lone possession of the top spot on the leaderboard after claiming a title at the 40 & Over Mixed sectionals. Here are the league sectional title leaders through five league sectionals events this year (through May 23, most recent winners in bold):
1. Pinellas County (4 titles) — 65&Over W6.0, 55&Over W4.0, 40&Over X8.0, 40&Over X9.0
2. Collier County (3) — 65&Over W6.0, 55&Over M3.5, 55&Over W4.5
3T. Marion County (2) — 55&Over M3.0, 40&Over X6.0
3T. Volusia/Flagler counties (2) — 55&Over W3.5, 40&Over X7.0
5T. Alachua County (1) — 65&Over M6.0
5T. Broward County (1) — 55&Over M4.5
5T. Clay County (1) — 55&Over W3.0
5T. Indian River/St. Lucie/Martin counties (1) — 65&Over W7.0
5T. Lee/Charlotte counties (1) — 65&Over M7.0
5T. Nassau County (1) — 65&Over W8.0
5T. Polk County (1) — 65&Over M8.0
Next USTA Florida League Sectionals: July 8-10, Adult 40 & Over 3.0/4.0 & Open Division “Road to Vegas” 18 & Over/40 & Over
Established in 1980, USTA League has grown from 13,000 participants in a few parts of the country in its first year to more than 904,000 players across the nation today, making it the world’s largest recreational tennis league.
USTA League was established to provide adult recreational tennis players throughout the country with the opportunity to compete against players of similar ability levels. Players participate on teams in a league format, which is administered by the USTA through its 17 Sections. The league groups players by using six National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP) levels, ranging from 2.5 (entry) to 5.0 (advanced). USTA League is open to any USTA member 18 years of age or older.
For more tournament information go to www.ustaflorida.com/event/2016-mixed-40-7-09-0-sectional-championships.
