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McMullen women find the going tough in national championships

By NANCY MORGAN
Published October 18, 2006

 Stronger teams with greater depth and familiarity with hard-court competition resulted in McMullen's senior women's 4.0 team placing third among five in its flight competition at the USTA National Senior Women's 4.0 National Championships in Palm Springs, Calif., last weekend.

"We definitely prepared ourselves for the hard-court play, but the competition was stronger and more consistent than we were," said New Port Richey's Ria Graham, captain of the McMullen team. "In most cases, we were all in our matches until the very end and our opponents were, I think, relieved when it was over."

McMullen opened its five-team flight against Midwest with a 2-1 win on the play of doubles teams Graham and Nancy Morgan and Marion Murch and Hank Skoczen.

In second match, only Graham and Morgan posted a win against Mid-Atlantic. Facing an unbeaten Middle States, Murch and Skoczen collected McMullen's only point in a 2-1 loss.

"One of the things that I noticed was that almost all the favorites were very mobile and quick on their feet," Graham said.

With a 2-1 team record, McMullen took on Caribbean and won 2-1 with straight-set wins from Skoczen and Murch and Graham and Morgan.

Rounding out the team were Sharon Carlile, Carol Levin and Sandra Lamy.

Middle States advanced to the semifinal with its 4-0 flight record. McMullen and Mid-Atlantic tied for second at 2-2, followed by Caribbean 1-3 and Midwest (0-4). With Mid-Atlantic recording seven position wins among a possible 12 and McMullen scoring six, McMullen was edged out of second place. Pacific Northwest was the national champion.

The Renaissance Vinoy's senior men competed at the same Palm Springs site and finished second in the nation, losing the title by a third-set 10-point tiebreak to New England.

MORE LEAGUE NEWS: Among the teams traveling to Tucson, Ariz., this week to compete in the USTA National Senior 4.5 League Championships are the women from the St. Petersburg Tennis Center and men from McMullen in Clearwater.

Heather Nicoll, captain of the seven-player SPTC team, will look to Jackie Keller, Liz Leigh, Clara Reynolds, Diana Gabay, Andrea Martin and Mary Jane Evertz to fill the doubles positions in its flight matches with Southwest, Hawaii and Pacific Northwest.

McMullen's squad includes captain Ron Massey, Marc Mazo, Jimmy Dundee, Terry Payton, Mike Carroll, Robin Kippenberger, Ralph Howe, Paul Reilly and Jeffrey Julien. McMullen meets Southern California, Pacific Northwest and Mid-Atlantic.

To follow the championships, go to www.usta.com.

NET SHOTS: Sean Little (boys 18 and under) and Ryan Gushlak (16) defended their top seedings in the Countryside Fall Junior Rookie and unseeded Garrett Napolitano won the 10. Tamara Bustard played to the girls 16 final, as did Nicholas Napolitano in the boys 14.

- Tu Mai was a straight-set winner in the women's 30-and-over singles in the Hunter's Green Adult Challenge. Thor Moody won the men's 50 and Lee Harang the 30. Bridget Harrer and Debbie Hobbs collected the women's 50 doubles title. Steve Ponton won the men's 50 consolation.

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 is a benefit for the Good Samaritan Health Clinic of Pasco Inc. Call the Tennis Classic Hotline, (727) 237-2415. For playing details, call tournament director Matt Kleber, (727) 934-6920.

COMING UP: Seven Oaks Fall Rookie is this weekend 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. Include phone number.

[Last modified October 17, 2006, 22:35:29]