Preview: USTA Florida Mixed 40 & Over 7.0/9.0 League Sectionals Tennis

Two-time champion Pinellas County will try and make it three in a row in the 9.0 division, and Orange/Seminole counties will defend their 7.0 title from last year at the 2016 USTA Florida Mixed 40 & Over 7.0/9.0 League Sectional Championships, to be held May 20-22 at the Florida Tennis Center in Daytona Beach.

Pinellas teams won the 9.0 division in 2015 (St. Petersburg Tennis Club) and 2014 (McMullen Tennis Center, Clearwater), and the McMullen players will attempt to continue the hot streak this weekend.

This year’s event has drawn the top teams from throughout Florida, representing various clubs, parks, recreational departments and organizations that finished at the top of their local leagues. The winning Mixed 40 & Over 7.0 and 9.0 division teams this weekend will 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.

Teams consisting of three doubles lines will compete in a non-elimination round-robin format. The winner of each flight/division will be determined by team matches won. The winner of each flight will then advance into a single-elimination semifinal followed by the final.

NTRP levels of play will be 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.

Teams competing this weekend:

Mixed 40 & Over 7.0 Division — Flight 1

Brevard County (Jimmy Moore Park, Melbourne; captain: Carol Hahn)
Escambia County (no club affiliation; captain: Susan Bonsignore)
Leon County (Forestmeadows Park and Athletic Center, Tallahassee; captain: Denean Sykes)
Polk County (Beerman Family Tennis Center, Lakeland; captain: Dawn VanHorne)

Mixed 40 & Over 7.0 Division — Flight 2

Duval County (Boone Park, Jacksonville; captain: Jeff Dao)
Marion  County (Ft. King Tennis Center, Ocala; captain: Jennifer Boyd)
Miami-Dade County-South (Crandon Park Tennis Center, Key Biscayne; captain: David Montoto)
Volusia/Flagler counties (Florida Tennis Center, Daytona Beach; captain: Rose Lucas)

Mixed 40 & Over 7.0 Division — Flight 3

Collier County (Marco Island YMCA; captain: Andrea Washak)
Hillsborough County (Hunters Green Sports Center, Tampa; captain: John Cotey)
Orange/Seminole counties (Tuscawilla Country Club, Winter Springs; captain: Blaine Roseberry)
Pinellas County (Innisbrook Resort, Palm Harbor; captain: Dean Smith)

Mixed 40 & Over 7.0 Division — Flight 4

Alachua County (Westside Park, Gainesville; captain: Mark Martin)
Broward County (Midtown Athletic Club, Weston; captain: Eliseo Sanchez)
Indian River/St. Lucie/Martin counties (The Legacy Golf & Tennis, Port St. Lucie; captain: Joanna Taylor)
Lee/Charlotte counties (Park Meadow Tennis Club, Ft. Myers; captain: Wayne Jackiew)
Okaloosa County (WaterColor Tennis, Santa Rosa Beach; captain: Mark Braddock)

Mixed 40 & Over 9.0 Division — Flight 1

Brevard County (Rockledge Park; captain: Angela Copeland)
Escambia County (Pensacola Athletic Center; captain: William Morris)
Lee/Charlotte counties (Park Meadow Tennis Club, Ft. Myers; captain: Oliver Stenger)
Pinellas County (McMullen Tennis Center, Clearwater; captain: David King)
Sarasota/Manatee counties (Longwood Athletic Club, Sarasota; captain Barb Lancer)

Mixed 40 & Over 9.0 Division — Flight 2

Alachua County (DB Racquet Club, Gainesville, captain: Ekanong Van Roy)
Clay County (Eagle Harbor Country Club, Fleming Island; captain: Bill Chapman)
Hillsborough County (Hunters Green Sports Center, Tampa; captain: Santiago Romero)
Indian River/St. Lucie/Martin counties (The Boulevard Tennis Club, Vero Beach; captain: Nick Liguori)
Broward County (Veltri Tennis Center, Ft. Lauderdale; captain: Barry Wank)
Miami-Dade County-South (Tropical Park Tennis, Miami; captain: Martin Escobedo)

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.