USTA Florida’s Southwest Region USTA Adult League Championships are underway at Bonita Bay Club and Pelican Landings Tennis Club and as one would expect the competition will be stiff through the final matches on Sunday.
Women’s 2.5
Jeannette DeNicolo’s Marco YMCA from Naples swept the two matches they played against Choon Dho Olmstead’s 2.5 women from Fort Myers Racquet Club.
Women’s 3.0
As promised, the women’s 3.0 division is setting up for a thrilling finish. Sarasota’s Bath & Racquet team captained by Ann Berringer-Hollins stands at 2-0, while Tampa’s Volley Girls and Fort Myers Racquet Club’s team headed by Susan Kaar are 2-1. Lee PGC (1-2) and Naples Pelican Bay Park (0-3) are trailing the favorites. Sarasota has beaten the other two favorites in the field and it would take some heroics by one of the teams bringing up the rear to give either Tampa or Fort Myers the chance to move on to Sectionals.
The story in this division is the previously undefeated Tampa Palms Volley Girls suffering a heart-wrenching 2-3 loss at the racquets of Sarasota’s Bath & Racquet team captained by Ann Berringer-Hollins. The heroine of this battle was Lisa Temple, who beat Melanie Hayes in a third-set super-tiebreak at No.2 singles. Hayes had had a 10-match singles win streak, dating back to October of 2007, before the loss to Temple.
Women’s 3.5
Sarasota’s River Strand captained by Lance Martin is off to a hot start winning their first two matches. That includes a 3-2 win over previously undefeated Punta Gorda captained by Donna Bouffard. However, Sarasota has yet to play Naples Cambier Park or Tampa Palms Thunder, both of which were 1-0 after the first day of play, and Naples beat Punta Gorda 4-1. Three of those four wins were third-set super-tiebreaks, so Naples is clearly battle tested and will be no easy mark for Sarasota. Tampa Palms struggled with Lee Heritage Palms, which Sarasota shutout, so the 3.5 division ought to be a slugfest between Sarasota and Naples.
Women’s 4.0
Sarasota appears to be in control in the women’s 4.0 division as well, going 3-0 with dominating wins over Lee (5-0), Charlotte (4-1), and Tampa (5-0). However, three of the wins against Tampa were third-set super-tiebreaks. Although there are still matches to be played, it appears that even a Naples (1-1) of Sarasota and a Tampa shutout of Charlotte won’t prevent Sarasota’s 4.0 women from representing the Southwest in Daytonanext month.
Women’s 4.5
The women’s 4.5 would appear to be a battle between Naples and Sarasota, because both have beat Charlotte by 3-2 margin. However, Charlotte gets one more shot at both teams and those teams have yet to play each other. It is still an open race in this division.
Men’s 3.0
Fort Myers Racquet Club’s 3.0 men continue their traditionally strong performance and appear poised to repeat as regional champions. They are 2-0 while Tampa is 2-1, and Tampa gets another shot at Fort Myers. Given that Fort Myers beat Tampa 3-2 the first time around, it is likely to be another close one. Chances are Fort Myers will move on to Daytona.
Men’s 3.5
Sarasota is the frontrunner in the men’s 3.5 with a 2-0 record, but they have yet to play the two teams on their heels. Both Naples and Cross Creek Estates are 2-1 and are yet to play Sarasota.
Men’s 4.0
With four of five teams with one win each, and two of them with only one loss, the men’s 4.0 seems to be up for grabs. Yet, the Tampa Aces shutout the Naples Owlers, which took out Three Oaks Park 4-1. Sarasota barely got by Three Oaks 3-2, and Grandezza snuck by Sarasota 3-2. Chances are that Tampa will emerge as the regional champions of this division.
Men’s 4.5
The top men’s division comes down to a battle between the Tampa Eagles and Naples World Tennis Club. Naples Stands at 3-0, and Tampa at 2-0. Naples has lost only one individual match per team match, and is in good position to repeat as regional champs.
