November 21, 2008

TENNIS

Jax-Area USTA Teams Reach Nationals

Published on October 10, 2007

The Jacksonville men's and women's 5.0 teams and the Ponte Vedra women's 3.0 team were all victorious in August at the USTA League Adult Section Championships in Daytona Beach. The 5.0 teams advance to the national competition Sept. 28-30 at Indian Wells, Calif., while the women's 3.0 team will play at the nationals in Las Vegas on Oct. 12-14.

The men's 5.0 team is captained by David Paul, and the women's 5.0 team by Helen Muench-Ciesla. The Ponte Vedra women's 3.0 team captained by Kim Marshall went undefeated in Daytona Beach with a 3-0 record, and will represent Florida among the total 16 USTA sections at nationals.

"Our team is lucky to have several singles players," Marshall said. "Interestingly, many players prefer doubles. Versatility has certainly been our strength."

The Jacksonville men's 4.5 team from Deerwood advanced to the sectionals, and the women's 4.5 team out of San Jose Country Club, captained by Lisa Miller, finished runner-up behind Tampa at the sectional tournament in Daytona Beach.

"On a personal note my husband, son and I are moving to Guam on Oct. 1st," Miller said. "I have really enjoyed my time here and will truly miss the tennis here but more importantly all the women I have met on the tennis court."

Also advancing to the Daytona Beach sectionals from Jacksonville were the men's 3.0 and 4.0 teams from Eagle Landing, and the men's 3.5 team from Mandarin.

This article appears in the October issue of JAX Tennis Magazine, Northeast Florida's tennis source, www.jaxtennismagazine.com.