The Willow Glen Resident

What a Racquet: The San Jose Swim and Racquet Club's women's 4.0 tennis team won the District 3 championship and qualified for the USTA League Tennis Sectional Championships of Northern California held last weekend in Carmel. Members of the team include (front row, l-r) Leah Willson, Margaret Glomb, Ellen Shaffer, Amber McDowel and Jessica Morrison, and (back row, l-r) Patty Yasukawa, Christie Flores, Sandy Schmidt, Julie Alcaine and Tricia Guidace.

Local women win tennis title

SJS&RC 4.0 team heads to Carmel

By Dick Sparrer

Leah Willson and her friends had to spend last weekend in Carmel... tough assignment, huh?

But this was no recreational trip for the group of San Jose women from the San Jose Swim and Racquet Club. They weren't there to stroll through the downtown shops and visit the area's quaint restaurants--they were there to play tennis.

The San Jose squad was one of 48 teams to qualify for the USTA League Tennis Sectional Championships of Northern California, held Aug. 22-23 at the Carmel Valley Racquet Club and Chamisal Tennis Club in Carmel Valley.

The local women's 4.0 team was a South Bay League finalist and went on to win the District 3 title with three straight victories in competition in Fresno.

"It is quite an achievement," said Willson, the San Jose team captain. "The San Jose Swim and Racquet Club has never had a women's team as even a league finalist."

Joining Willson on the San Jose team are Patty Yasukawa, Christie Flores, Sandy Schmidt, Julie Alcaine, Tricia Guidace, Margaret Glomb, Ellen Shaffer, Amber McDowel and Jessica Morrison.

More than 600 tennis players from all over Northern California were expected in Carmel for the weekend tournament.

"The sectional championships determine the best tennis teams in this area," said Lisa Hotchkiss, tournament director and NorCal's director of adult leagues. "They've fought their way here, and now they have a chance to win and earn their way to the national championships. These teams have a shot at being the number one recreational tennis team in the country."

Teams competing in Carmel represented various clubs, parks and recreation departments and other organizations. Players are grouped into six different ability levels, from beginner (2.5) to advanced (5.5). Levels are based on the National Tennis Rating Program. Team play consists of both singles and doubles matches with the outcome based on team scoring.

Players from local clubs in San Jose, Los Gatos, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale and Mountain View were competing in the tournament that also included teams from as far away as Auburn, Fresno, Reno and Yuba City.

[ Back to Contents Page | Willow Glen Resident Home Page | Archives ]