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Tennis

Two teams advance to USTA nationals

By NANCY MORGAN
Published August 16, 2006

This month has been a busy one for area players. Juniors traveled as far away as California to compete in USTA National Hard Court Championships, and adults were in Daytona Beach challenging for state USTA Adult League team titles that would result in trips to national competition.

Two of the three adult teams at the state competition played past their challengers and earned spots in USTA Adult League National Championships. The third team placed second.

Countryside Country Club 3.0 women and McMullen 5.0 women were winners. Seminole Lake Tennis Academy 4.5 men's team finished two sets short of advancing.

Countryside's win was an especially dramatic one. A player's disqualification after she had played two matches dropped the squad to second place, even after winning the final match 4-1 over Sarasota.

Just as Countryside was preparing to leave the center, they were called back and named state champions.

With two teams in the women's 5.0 division, McMullen played Jacksonville three times. After splitting the first two games, the winner was determined in the final match.

St. Petersburg's Donna Gutierrez teamed with Gail Gibson to win in No. 1 doubles, and Kim Cashman and Anh Thu Burks won in No. 2. Margaret Roset played singles for McMullen in all three matches.

"It came down to the final match to see who would be the winner," Seminole men's captain Mike Hooper said. "We were just two points away."

Among the juniors at hard court nationals were Alexandra Cercone and Lindsay Dvorak in the girls 16-and-under competition in San Diego, Calif. Cercone was seeded fifth in singles and No. 3 in doubles with Gulf Breeze's Jacqueline Kasler. Cercone played to the round of 16 in singles and was fourth in doubles. Dvorak won two matches to reach the round of 64.

Garrett Betsarakis won three matches in the boys 14 to reach the round of 32. Christina Liles won two in the girls 18, and Morgan Frank won one, as did Julia Claire Jones in the 12 and Becky Bodine the 14.

Second-seed Danielle Collins won six matches to reach the girls 12 final. In doubles, Collins teamed with Jarret Fisher of Illinois and played to the quarterfinal round.

Collins, though eligible for the 12 division, plans to compete in local 18 tournaments to help develop her game. Of 20 matches she's played, Collins has lost just one.

Teachers, coaches and anyone interested in recreational tennis programming are encouraged to attend this interactive, on-court training. Cost is $25 and includes registration, training materials, lessons plans, sample equipment and lunch.

To register, contact site director Julie Panton by phone at 744-3699 or e-mail julikens@verizon.net or call SPTC at 823-2225.

* Fabiana Taverna and Nick Gallauer won the mixed doubles open title in last weekend's State Closed Championships at Royal Racquet Club. Mark Taylor teamed with Port Orange's Rita Gladstone to collect the 35-and-over title. Judy and Pat Siracusa won the 55 round-robin competition.

* Collecting designated singles honors last weekend were Anya Coy in the women's open, Marc Mazo the men's 55 and top-seed Juan Segovia the 35.

OTHER JUNIOR ACTION: Seven-year-old Anastasia Nefedova had a win in the Little Mo Regional Tournament in Peachtree, Ga. Nefedova will now compete in the Little Mo National Championships Oct. 20-23 in Austin, Texas.

COMING UP: Seminole Lake Tennis Academy is holding a State Doubles Warm-Up Tournament this weekend for junior players. Call 394-1733 for information.

News for this column may be faxed to Nancy Morgan, 445-4119; e-mailed to namorgan@tampabay.rr.com or sent to 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. Please include phone number.

[Last modified August 15, 2006, 10:04:45]