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Senior leagues head to California for nationals

By NANCY MORGAN
Published October 11, 2006

This week, two local teams travel to Palm Springs, Calif., to compete for the USTA National Senior 4.0 League Championships. Challenging the other 16 sections are Florida champions Renaissance Vinoy men's squad and McMullen's senior women.

"For us to go to the Florida sectionals for the first time in the 4.0 division and then earn a trip to nationals is unbelievable," Vinoy captain Scott Stewart said. "I think on any given day we can beat anybody."

Stewart and Scott Johnson were part of the Vinoy squad that qualified for nationals in 1999 at the 3.5 level, placing fourth.

The Vinoy faces USTA sections Northern and Middle States on Friday and Southern California Saturday, with hopes of making Sunday's semifinal and final.

According to Stewart, likely first-match teams will be Dave Pitt and Stewart, Don Mathias and Nga Duong and Terry Reeb and David Dickerson. Rounding out the team are Johnson, Covington Sharp and Don Wheeler.

Dave Pitt is a shark on the court with a big serve, and I try to feed off him at the net," Stewart said. "I'm a pretty good net player. Dave and I were 6-0 at the state tournament.

"Nga has a lob game and forces people to run while Don (Mathias) is real consistent at the net. They're both quick and they complement one another's styles with Don the more traditional and Nga's the more unusual."

Dickerson's big serve and powerful strokes, Stewart said, allow Reeb to utilize his spins, angles and drop shots.

"Our top six guys have a similar skill level and are interchangeable in positions," Stewart said. "All of us can play anywhere, so we plan to go there, do our best and have some fun."

Representing Florida on the women's side at nationals are captain Ria Graham, Marion Murch, Hank Skoczen, Sharon Carlile, Carol Levin, Sandy Lamy and Nancy Morgan. At sectionals in May, Treasure Island's Pat Kelly and Lynn Klein participated on the team when it won the Florida title to qualify for nationals.

MORE LEAGUE NEWS: Shipwatch Tennis Club's 8.0 senior mixed doubles team placed second in last weekend's USTA Florida Championships in Daytona Beach. The Shipwatch team of eight beat Tallahassee, Gainesville and Lee/Charlotte to advance to the championship with Sarasota, which won 2-1.

Playing for Shipwatch were Mickie Gelestor, Gail Pierce, Vicki Tuller, Mary Jane Evertz, Tim Kahle, Les Spang, Mike Carrigan and Tom Lincicome.

- Captains for the men's and women's senior, super senior and super 70 doubles leagues, senior mixed doubles and women's 6.5 evening combo leagues are encouraged to meet with coordinators Nov. 16 in the Grill Room at East Lake Woodlands Country Club. The social begins at 6, followed by the meeting at 6:30.

NET SHOTS: Nearly 125 doubles teams competed in the three-day 13th annual Humane Society Tournament at Royal Racquet Club. Mixed doubles champions were Jennifer and Brian Siracusa in the open, Janet Poort and Tim O'Brien (4.5), Barbara Soto and Ken Emery (4.0), Martha and James Nadar (3.5) and Debbie and Jerry Walker (3.0).

Donna Roberts and Emily Foster clinched the women's open division, as did Jane Robinson and Karen Randazzo (4.5), Joanne Valone and Turtle Marshall (4.0), Sue Burroughs and Sonia Leshko (3.5) and Sabrina Smith and Pamela Hodges (3.0).

Pat Gilliant and Rick Workman won the men's 4.5, Wendall Walker and John Beda (4.0), Jeff Kopelman and Larry Nickerson (3.5) and Tom Keller and Kris Nielsen (3.0 round robin).

- Macey Cook won the girls 14-and-under singles title in the state-sanctioned Bardmoor Battle. Taylor Kreis was second in the girls 12, as was Leanne Yarn (18) and Dan Stefan (boys 12).

- St. Petersburg's Ralph Howe won the USTA National 65 Grass Court Championships in Rumson, N.J., last month. Howe beat the No. 3 and No. 2 seeds on the way to the singles final. There, Howe defeated the No. 4 in two sets.

- This weekend, Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club hosts the Mills-Redgrave Challenge, a contest between top-ranked juniors from Florida and the USTA Southern section. Started in 1994, the top three girls and boys in the 14-and-under, 16 and 18 are invited from both sections. Among Florida players are Alexandra Cercone and Joel Samaha.

SAVE THE DATE: The 22nd annual Charity Pro/Am Tournament is Oct. 20-21 at the Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club. The event includes a women's and men's pro/am round robin and benefits All Children's Hospital. Contact Bardmoor, 391-2205.

COMING UP: The SPTC Adults and Senior Vets begins Saturday at the St. Petersburg Tennis Center. Call 823-2225 today to enter. ...The St. Petersburg Country Club Rookie Tournament is this weekend for players 18-and-under. Call 867-9105.

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 October 10, 2006, 19:35:26]