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Tennis

Rain keep some from winning Ultimate league titles

By NANCY MORGAN
Published August 30, 2006

The Ultimate Tennis League, formerly known as the K-Swiss Tennis League, crowned its summer singles champions last weekend, despite its own challenge with inclement weather.

The weekend playoffs were staged at Countryside Country Club in Clearwater, but Sunday's finals were moved to various clubs throughout Pinellas and Hillsborough counties as players tried to dodge the raindrops.

In all, nine women's titles and 12 men's were being sought by players from Pinellas and Hillsborough counties for the Tampa Bay area championships and Manatee, Sarasota and Lee counties for the Southwest.

After the area champions were named, regional championships were played in the women's 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5 divisions and the men's 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5 and 5.0.

"I ended up at Treasure Bay for my final match," said Stan Maxwell of St. Petersburg. "My opponent was coming from Sarasota, so it worked out well for us.

"I just moved from Atlanta about six months ago, so this was my first time to play K-Swiss. We had it in Atlanta, but I was playing a lot in the ALTA league there, mostly men's and mixed doubles."

Maxwell competed in the men's 4.0 division and earned a No. 4 seed for the playoffs. A three-set win over top seed Pete Mosher of St. Petersburg set up Maxwell for the Tampa Bay championship with Jay Bortner of Valrico. Bortner hardly missed a shot and ran down everything, Maxwell said, and it took a break of serve to give Maxwell the 6-4, 7-6, 6-4 win.

Maxwell's Tampa Bay win advanced him to the regional championship with the Southwest area champion.

The plan worked for Maxwell, as he won his regional match 7-6 7-4, 6-4.

Players joining Maxwell as regional champions include Pinellas players Leanne Hoffman in the women's 4.5 and Kirsten Willis 3.5.

East Lake Woodlands' Kelly Hansen won the Tampa Bay 3.0 women's title and was to play for the regional 3.0 championship.

Mike Purvis of St. Petersburg hadn't played in the league for several years when he decided to get back into it this summer and joined the 4.5-minus division.

"I ended up at Harbour Island to play my last match," said Purvis. "It was a nice facility and it was really nice of them to let some of us come over and play our final match.

Purvis took his own advice and won his Tampa Bay title with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 score.

Collecting Tampa Bay titles, along with Purvis, Maxwell, Hansen and Hoffman were Willis (3.5 women), Christy Whitehurst (4.0), Sharon Dehnel (4.5-minus) and Michael Juno (5.5 men).

Yet to complete the Tampa Bay final round are Tarpon Springs' Marian Fiero and Tampa's Donna Zambito in the women's 4.0-minus, Micheal Leopardi of Clearwater and Mark Schmidt of Tampa in men's 2.5, Jakub Knitter of Palm Harbor and Henry Dinnan of Tampa in 3.5-minus and Safety Harbor's John Kenny and Odessa's Marvin Wilhite in men's 6.0-minus.

According to league organizers, players have a two-week period to complete their matches.

The Ultimate Tennis League is registering for its fall league, slated to begin Sept. 16. Registration deadline is Sept. 8. Go online to www.ultimatetennis.com.

MIXED LEAGUE NEWS: Last weekend, East Lake Woodlands beat Royal Racquet Club 2-1 in a 8.0 adult mixed-doubles playoff match to join Countryside Country Club 7.0 and Royal Racquet Club's 9.0 as St. Petersburg/Clearwater USTA Adult League champions.

The teams advance to state championships in October.

NET SHOTS: St. Petersburg College is searching for a head coach for its women's tennis team. Call director of athletics Lars Hafner by calling 727-341-4642 or send e-mail to hafner.lars@spcollege,edu/athletics.

* Ishan Mandani defended his top seeding to win the boys 10-and-under singles title at this month's Hunter's Green Rookie III. Greg Perenich was a boys 10 finalist. Among the consolation winners were Evie Sobczak in the girls 10 and Dylan Sleszynski in the boys 12.

* Top seeds Julia Teytelbaum in the girls 14 and Dan Stefan in the boys 12 claimed singles titles in this month's Tampa Palms Junior Summertime Classic. Angel Deng played to the girls 12 final and Becky Bodine won the girls 18 consolation.

* Seminole Lake Tennis Academy teaching professional Michael Tarkowski won the men's open singles in last month's Royal Racquet Summer Classic Designated.

* Emily Dvorak won the girls 14 singles title in the 14th annual Oceanside Junior Super Series in Ormond Beach. Her younger brother Robert won the boys 12 singles and doubles with Orlando's Samuel Lampman.

SAVE THE DATE: The 13th annual Humane Society of Pinellas Charity Tournament is Sept. 27 to Oct. 1 at Royal Racquet Club in Clearwater. Call the club at 727-791-8415.

COMING UP: A Meet-the-Club Labor Day Weekend round robin is planned Saturday at the St. Petersburg Tennis Center. Cost is $20 per player and there is a 40-player limit. For details, contact Motez Robinson at 727-823-2225. . . . The Seminole Lake Tennis Center Academy Challenge for juniors starts Saturday at Seminole Lake Racquet Club. Call 727-394-1733.

- 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 29, 2006, 10:40:32]