The women’s team from Orange County, representing the USTA Southern California Section, captured the national title at the USTA League 8.0 Super Senior National Championships held at the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex in Surprise, Ariz.
The Orange County team defeated the team from Delaware County, Penn. 2-1 in the championship match. Earlier in the day, the Orange County team defeated a team from Hilton Head Island, S.C. 2-1 in the semifinals. They advanced this far by winning their round-robin flight contested Friday and Saturday.
The team is captained by Gayle Trager (Lake Forest) and features team members Sandi Carter (Laguna Beach), Pamela Larson (Rancho Mirage), Sue Mayer (Mission Viejo), Suzie Jespersen (Mission Viejo), Kathy Lundblad (San Juan Capistrano), Dorothy Bishop (San Juan Capistrano), Melanie Blau (Laguna Niguel), Pam Lillie Irvine), Nancy Fussell (Aliso Viejo).
Find out what's happening in San Juan Capistranofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The team plays at the Lake Forest Beach & Tennis Club in Lake Forest.
The top four teams in order of finish are: USTA Southern California (Orange County), USTA Middle States (Delaware County, Penn.), USTA Southern (Hilton Head Island, S.C.) and USTA Southwest (Scottsdale, Ariz.).
Find out what's happening in San Juan Capistranofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
This year’s USTA League 8.0 Super Senior National Championship has drawn the top 33 teams, with 17 men’s teams and 16 women’s teams from all over the United States and Puerto Rico.
USTA League celebrated its 30th Anniversary in 2010. Since its inception in 1980, USTA League has grown from 13,000 participants in its first year, to more than 820,000 players across the nation today, making it the world’s largest recreational tennis league.
USTA League was established to provide adult recreational tennis players throughout the country with the opportunity to compete against players of similar ability levels. Players participate on teams in
a league format, which is administered by the USTA through its 17 Sections. The league groups players by
using six National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP) levels, ranging from 2.5 (entry) to 5.0 (advanced). USTA League is open to any USTA member 18 years of age or older. It features Adult and Mixed Doubles divisions, as well as a Senior Division (age 50 or older) and a Super Senior Division (age 60 or older).
Beginning with the 2013 National Championship season, USTA League changed its structure and format. The change offers USTA League participants among three age
categories (Adult 18 & Over, Adult 40 & Over and Adult 55 & Over and Mixed 18 & Over) to better align participants with players their own age. The restructuring guarantees more frequency of play opportunities at more
appropriate age groups.
Head Penn Racquet Sports is in its 26th year as official ball of USTA League.
For more information about USTA League or the USTA as a whole, visit www.usta.com.