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Area combo teams fare well at state

By NANCY MORGAN
Published January 18, 2007

The 2006 USTA league year concluded last weekend with its largest-ever event in Daytona Beach.

More than 870 participated in the senior and adult Combo Doubles League State Championships. Ten local league winners qualified for the statewide competition, and four returned champions. Two others came in second.

Winners were Countryside Country Club adult women's 6.5 team, Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club senior women's 6.5, St. Petersburg Tennis Center senior men's 7.5 and Feather Sound Country Club senior men's 6.5. Finishing second were McMullen senior women's 7.5 and Feather Sound's adult 7.5.

Countryside and SPTC were first-time participants in the three-year-old league while Treasure Island and Feather Sound were defending champions.

"We sort of had a skeleton crew, but we managed to put the right players together," said Catherine Kelly, Countryside's captain. "Once we saw what was working, we decided to go with it."

Countryside opened with 2-1 wins over Ocala and Naples, followed by a 2-1 win over Polk County to advance to the semifinals against South Miami. Wins from Kelly and Dina Glover in No. 2 and Kim Rega and Mary Beth Whiteleather in No. 3 launched the squad to the title match with Gainesville.

Whiteleather and Rega in No. 1 and Kelly and Glover in No. 2 posted straight-set wins to clinch a state title.

"Even though we won our first two matches, I never felt comfortable that we had it won until the very end," Kelly Glover said. "Our games have all improved because of all the hard work we did to get ready for adult nationals."

Rounding out the Countryside squad were Tracey Sullivan, Rachel Mayhew, Lisa Pratt and Lisa Harris.

George Pequinot, captain of SPTC's senior team, thought he had a strong team and relied on an overall team effort to claim 2-1 victories over Lee/Charlotte, Gainesville and Polk County for the title. Defending champion Treasure Island was unbeaten in its four-match competition.

After Feather Sound won its first three matches, captain Pat Augustine knew his team had successfully defended its title from Lee/Charlotte and Gainesville.

McMullen senior women's 7.5 squad posted a 1-1 record after a 3-0 win over Ocala and a 2-1 loss to Lee/Charlotte. A 2-1 victory over Gainesville, unbeaten until then, raised McMullen's record to 2-1. In its final match, McMullen fell to Polk County.

After winning its opening match 2-1 over Ocala, Feather Sound's adult 7.5 squad fell to Pensacola 2-1. Three more 2-1 wins were not enough to overtake unbeaten Pensacola.

Other results included Safety Harbor Spa's adult women 7.5 placing fourth in its flight, St. Petersburg Country Club's adult women 8.5 fifth in flight play, McMullen's adult men 7.5 second in its flight and McMullen adult men 8.5 third in flight action.

In all, there were 17 senior teams and 64 adult in the tournament.

LEAGUE NEWS: St. Petersburg/Clearwater Adult League captains' meeting begins at 6 p.m. Jan. 30 at Feather Sound Country Club.

JUNIORS: In last weekend's sectional tournaments, top seed Anastasia Nefedova won the girls 10 title, as did Dan Stefan the boys 10. Becky Bodine was second in the 14 and Alexandra Cercone third in the 18.

- Sean Westacott won the Train Smart Junior Rookie boys 16 title. Playing to the final round were Parker Hayslett (boys 10), David Bonderer (14) and Robert Costa (16). Jake Gabay won the 10 consolation.

- Among the winners in this month's Junior Championships at the St. Petersburg Tennis Center were top seeds Julia Sikorski in the girls 14, Mason Beiler (boys 10) and Ricky Szymanski (14) and unseeded Bruno Ambrosini (18). Barbara Bonec advanced to the girls 18 final, as did No. 3 Michael Beiler in the boys 14. Consolation winners included Savanna Roy (girls 10), Beba Suncica (16) and Jorge Ellena (boys 16).

GET FIT FAST: East Lake Woodlands is offering its first Cardio Tennis series on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning at 1 p.m. Cost is $10 for club members and $13 for nonmembers. Call 785-2212.

- McMullen Tennis Complex is continuing its Cardio Tennis on Tuesday mornings from 9-10:30 a.m. at a $20 cost that includes a heart monitor. Call 669-1919.

SAVE THE DATE: The third annual Sheriff Jim Coats Clearwater Women's Open, a $25,000 USTA Pro Circuit event, is Feb. 19-25 at the McMullen Tennis Complex. A wildcard contest is Feb. 12-15, followed by the singles and doubles qualifying Feb. 18-19. Call 669-1919.

COMING UP: The fourth annual Tournament of Champions charity doubles event begins Friday at Royal Racquet Club. For questions, call 725-3681. ...Ultimate Tennis signups continue through Jan. 31. The season begins Feb. 17. For details, visit www.ultimatetennis.com or call 347-2522.

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 January 17, 2007, 21:59:53]