Preview: 2016 USTA Florida Mixed 18 & Over 7.0/9.0 Sectional Tennis Chps.

Two USTA League National Championships berths will be on the line this weekend when the 2016 USTA Florida Mixed 18 & Over 7.0/9.0 League Sectional Championships are held on Sept. 30-Oct. 2 at the Florida Tennis Center in Daytona Beach.

Defending champions from last year are Marion County in the 7.0 division, and Sarasota/Manatee counties in the 9.0 division.

The event has drawn the top regional winners from throughout Florida in the 7.0 and 9.0 USTA League Mixed 18 & Over divisions. The teams, which represent various clubs, parks, recreational departments and organizations, have finished at the top of their local leagues and are now vying for a chance to represent the USTA Florida Section at the USTA League National Mixed 18 & Over National Championships.

Orange/Seminole counties will look to add to its section-leading five USTA Florida League Sectionals titles, while Clay, Miami-Dade and Pinellas counties all trail one title behind (see standings below).

The Mixed 18 & Over champions will represent the USTA Florida Section at the 2016 USTA League Mixed 18 & Over 7.0/9.0 National Championships on Nov. 4-6 at the Hilton El Conquistador Resort in Tucson, Ariz.

Divisions and teams competing this weekend:

Mixed 18 & Over 7.0 — Flight 1

Alachua County, captain: Chad Schafer
Broward County, captain: Enrique Escobedo
Lee/Charlotte   counties, captain: Dan Campbell
Marion County, captain: Kathy Houpt

Mixed 18 & Over 7.0 — Flight 2

Duval County, captain: Jeff Dao
Orange/Seminole counties, captain: Pedro Hernandez
Pinellas County, captain: Mona Kelly
Volusia/Flagler counties, captain: Al Huertas

Mixed 18 & Over 7.0 — Flight 3

Brevard County, captain: Shannon Johnson
Indian River/St. Lucie/Martin counties, captain: Tanya Green
Polk County, captain: Michelle Counter
Sarasota/Manatee counties, captain: Karen Nicholson

Mixed 18 & Over 7.0 — Flight 4

Collier County, captain: Randie Fischel
Hillsborough County, captain: Erin Vickers
Leon County, captain: Denean Sykes
Miami-Dade County-South, captain: Carmelo Rubio

Mixed 18 & Over 9.0 — Flight 1

Broward County, captain: Mike Curry
Duval County, captain: Bill Chapman
Escambia County, captain: Lauren Haack
Hillsborough County, captain: Sean Vickery
Marion County, captain: Corey Forrest

Mixed 18 & Over 9.0 — Flight 2

Alachua County, captain: Ashok Kumar
Pinellas County, captain: Josh Melton
Brevard County, captain: David Majors
Orange/Seminole counties, captain: Becky Cusick
Miami-Dade County-South, captain: Carin Blanchard

2016 USTA FLORIDA ADULT LEAGUE
SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE LEADERS

The Orlando area holds the lead in the 2016 sectional championships standings after winning two titles at the recent 18 & Over championships. Here are the league sectional title leaders this year (through Sept. 26):

1. Orange/Seminole counties (5) — 40&Over W4.5+, 40&Over M3.5, 18&Over M5.0, 18&Over W4.5, 18&Over W3.5

2T. Clay County (4) — 55&Over W3.0, 40&Over W3.5, 18&Over W3.0, 18&Over W3.0
2T. Miami-Dade County (4) — 40&Over W4.0, 40&Over M4.0, 18&Over M4.0, 18&Over M4.5
2T. Pinellas County (4 titles) — 55&Over W4.0, 55&Over M4.0, 40&Over X8.0, 40&Over X9.0

5T. Collier County (3) — 65&Over W6.0, 55&Over M3.5, 55&Over W4.5
5T. Marion County (3) — 55&Over M3.0, 40&Over X6.0, 40&Over M3.0
5T. Volusia/Flagler counties (3) — 55&Over W3.5, 40&Over X7.0, 18&Over W-Open

8T. Broward County (2) — 55&Over M4.5, 18&Over M3.5
8T. Lee/Charlotte counties (2) — 65&Over M7.0, 18&Over M-Open

10T. Alachua County (1) — 65&Over M6.0
10T. Duval County (1) — 18&Over W2.5
10T. Indian River/St. Lucie/Martin counties (1) — 65&Over W7.0
10T. Leon County (1) — 18&Over M3.0
10T. Nassau County (1) — 65&Over W8.0
10T. Palm Beach County (1) — 18&Over W5.0
10T. Polk County (1) — 65&Over M8.0
10T. Sarasota County (1) — 40&Over M4.5+
10T. St. Johns County (1) — 40&Over W3.0

For more USTA Florida Leagues championship information go to www.ustaflorida.com/events/category/adultevents/ustafloridaleaguetennis/ustafloridaleaguesectionchamps/list.