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Graham captains nationals-bound team

By NANCY MORGAN
Published October 11, 2006

Among the players traveling to Palm Springs, Calif., this week for the USTA National Senior League Championships is New Port Richey's Ria Graham.

Graham is captain of the seven-player squad based at McMullen in Clearwater that captured Florida's 4.0 senior title in May.

"The majority of us have been to a national at some point in our league playing, and that experience will definitely help us in Palm Springs," Graham said.

The women's team faces USTA sections Midwest and Mid-Atlantic on Friday and Middle States and the Caribbean on Saturday with hopes of winning that flight to advance to Sunday's semifinal and final.

Each of the 17 USTA sections is represented in the 50-and-over competition and are divided into four flights of four or five teams. Each match includes three doubles matches. Graham's strategy to do well is simply to collect at least two points in each match played.

Partnerships are set, Graham said, with Marion Murch teaming with Hank Skoczen, Graham with Nancy Morgan and Sandy Lamy, Carol Levin and Sharon Carlile rotating for the third position.

"Our best strength, I think, is that we all really want to do well," Graham said. "We have really pulled together, taken extra lessons and practiced on the hardcourts. If we lose, it certainly won't be because we haven't tried to prepare."

Also competing in Palm Springs is Florida's senior men's 4.0 champion, the Renaissance Vinoy. Follow the action on www.usta.com.

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 final with Sarasota, which won 2-1.

- This weekend, adult mixed doubles teams Countryside Country Club 7.0 and Royal Racquet Club's 8.0 and 9.0 compete in the state championships in Daytona Beach.

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

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 won the 3.0 round robin.

- This weekend, Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club hosts the annual Mills-Redgrave Challenge, a contest between top-ranked junior players 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 the Florida players are Wesley Chapel's Kayla Rizzolo, Joel Samaha and Alexandra Cercone.

- Todd Whitaker won the boys 16 and Sabian Latore (14) in last month's Bardmoor Battle in Largo.

SAVE THE DATE: The 14th annual Tennis Classic is Nov. 2-5 at Paul Kronk Tennis Center at Crescent Oaks Country Club. The men's, women's and mixed doubles competition benefits the Good Samaritan Health Clinic of Pasco Inc. For sponsorship or underwriting opportunities, call the Tennis Classic hotline, (727) 237-2415. For playing details, call tournament director Matt Kleber, (727) 934-6920.

COMING UP: The Halloween Junior Classic begins Saturday at the Temple Terrace Tennis Center. Call (813) 989-7178. ...Seven Oaks Fall Rookie is Oct. 21-22 in Wesley Chapel. Call (813) 843-0962.

News for this column may be faxed to Nancy Morgan, (727) 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, 23:08:46]