MANDEVILLE/COVINGTON, LA HAVE TWO CHAMPS, THREE FINALISTS
The Louisiana cities of Mandeville and Covington have always had strong teams in USTA League competition. In the 2015 USTA League 40 & Over Southern Sectional Championships, the joint cities had extraordinary results, producing two champions and three finalists in the eight levels played.
North Carolina finished with two champions. Alabama had a winner and a finalist while Arkansas had two finalists.
Matches were played in Asheville, North Carolina, at the Asheville Racquet Club Downtown, the Asheville Racquet Club South and the Aston Park Tennis Center. Competition for the 3.5 and 4.5 levels were played Aug. 7-9. Matches for the 3.0 and 4.0 levels were played Aug. 21-23.
Champions and finalists were:
|
Level
|
Champion (with captain)
|
Finalist (with captain)
|
Score
in final
|
|
Men’s 3.0
|
Mandeville/Covington, Louisiana (B)
Russell Arthur
|
Mandeville/Covington, Louisiana (A)
George Mack
|
3-2
|
|
Men’s 3.5
|
Birmingham, Alabama
Terry Martin
|
Mandeville/Covington, Louisiana
Robert Tedesco
|
4-1
|
|
Men’s 4.0
|
Mandeville/Covington, Louisiana
Bentley Harvey
|
Fort Smith, Arkansas (B)
Shane Laster
|
3-2
|
|
Men’s 4.5
|
Cary, North Carolina
Mrinal Das
|
Hoover, Alabama
Bill Lawrence/Rick Gaynor
|
4-1
|
|
Women’s 3.0
|
Louisville, Kentucky
Justina Powers
|
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Sarah Pitts
|
3-2
|
|
Women’s 3.5
|
Memphis, Tennessee
Marnie Denman
|
Mandeville/Covington, Louisiana (A)
Eileen Scoriels
|
4-1
|
|
Women’s 4.0
|
Charlotte, North Carolina
Margaret Schrimsher
|
Jonesboro, Arkansas
Lauren Harmon
|
3-2
|
|
Women’s 4.5
|
Jackson, Mississippi
Virginia Walcott
|
Sandy Springs, Georgia (A)
Michelle Levey/Melissa Nodvin
|
4-1
|
The teams, which represented various clubs, parks, recreational departments and organizations, earned the right to represent one of nine states -- Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee -- by playing in leagues this year.
The leagues were established to provide adult recreational tennis players with the opportunity to compete against players of similar ability levels. Players participate on teams in a league format, which is administered by USTA Southern. The league groups players by using six NTRP levels, ranging from 2.5 (entry) to 5.5 (advanced). USTA League is open to any USTA member 18 years of age or older.