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Tennis

Weather can't mar Ultimate experience

By NANCY MORGAN
Published August 31, 2006

Sports

The Ultimate Tennis League, formerly known as the K-Swiss League, crowned its summer singles champions last weekend despite 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 sought by players ranging 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.

Among the Tampa Bay winners were Pinellas competitors Leanne Hoffman in the women's 4.5, Sharon Dehnel 4.5-minus, Christy Whitehurst 4.0, Kirsten Willis 3.5, Kelly Hansen 3.0, Stan Maxwell men's 4.0 and Michael Juno 5.5.

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.

For 12-year Palm Harbor resident Dehnel, this was her first win in the 4.5-minus division. Her final with Innisbrook's Dee Dolson was a three-set duel.

"After I lost the first set in a 9-7 tiebreaker, I had some trouble with my confidence," Dehnel said. "I just tried to hang in there. The difference, I think, was in the second set when I was serving at 1-2 in games and held after a long game. Then, I broke her to go up 3-2."

Dehnel won 6-7 9-11, 6-3, 6-2.

Hoffman, a 6-3, 6-4 Tampa Bay winner, won her first regional title with a 7-6, 6-1 score.

"I had played in the K-Swiss spring season after not playing since 2001," Hoffman said. "I decided it was time to get into it again, and playing more regularly has helped my play. I'm a baseliner and I like to hit my forehand down-the-line."

Along with Hoffman, Willis and Maxwell went on to win the regional championship. East Lake Woodlands' Hansen could not complete her regional matchup due to the weather.

"We were both glad to get our match in, especially since she was coming from Cape Coral," said Willis, who co-owns Yellow Ball tennis shop in Palm Harbor. "This is my third season in K-Swiss and my only other win was in 3.5-minus last spring. ... I think that I'm playing more aggressively now as opposed to just being satisfied with keeping the ball in play."

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.

LEAGUE NEWS: Adult Combo Doubles League competition has concluded for 23 women's teams with three collecting local league championships to advance to state competition in January.

St. Petersburg Country Club won the 8.5 among five women's teams, Safety Harbor Spa the 7.5 among six and Countryside Country Club the 6.5 with four teams. In a second 6.5 division, eight teams competed in a night league with another Countryside team winning. The night league will not advance to state.

* 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.

In East Lake's playoff win, Ellen Johnson and Marvin Wilhite won in No. 2, as did Donna and Scott Monette in No. 3. Donna Coddington and Troy Felland collected Royal's only point in the playoff. The teams advance to state in October.

* An early start 2007 USTA Adult Mixed Doubles League will begin next month. For details, contact Linda Meehan at meehan100@yahoo.com.

NET SHOTS: St. Petersburg College is searching for a women's coach. Contact director of athletics Lars Hafner at 341-4642, or e-mail Hafner.Lars@spcollege,edu/athletics.

* Ishan Mandani defended his top seeding to win the boys 10-and-under singles title in the Hunter's Green Rookie III. Greg Perenich was a boys 10 finalist.

* 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.

* Adam Ambrozy defended his top seeding to win the boys 10 title in the Labor Day Championship Super Series at Cheval Country Club. Ambrozy then teamed with Alec Josepher of Tampa to collect the 10 doubles award.

* Garrett Betsarakis won the boys 16, Danielle Collins the girls 18 and Julia Sikorski the 14 in last weekend's SPTC Junior Super Series in St. Petersburg. Teytelbaum was second in the girls 14.

* A USTA Tennis Training Camp begins its eight-week program next month at Palm Harbor University. Youths ages 6 to 18 of all levels are invited. Tennis professionals will provide on-court instruction. To register, go to www.ourtennis.net or call 784-4938 or 733-2750. Deadline to register is Wednesday.

* The Team Tennis Junior League is registering for its fall season, slated to begin in October. The coed league offers four divisions, beginners ages 8-12 and 13-16 and intermediates ages 8-12 and 13-16. To register by the Sept. 26 deadline, visit www.TeamTennisJuniorLeague.com or call 724-6400.

SAVE THE DATE: The 13th annual Humane Society of Pinellas Charity Tournament is Sept. 27-Oct. 1 at Royal Racquet Club in Clearwater. For sponsor information or player details, contact the club (727-791-8415).

COMING UP: The Seminole Lake Tennis Center Academy Challenge for juniors starts Saturday at Seminole Lake Racquet Club. Call 394-1733. ...The Fall Junior Rookie Tournament is at East Lake Woodlands Sept. 9-11. Call 785-2212. ...The Clearwater Fall Championship is at McMullen Tennis Complex Sept. 16-18. Call 669-1919.

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 30, 2006, 07:49:14]