By Wendy Hyer

Rye Racquet Club’s 3.5 40+ women’s team, the USTA Eastern section representative, arrived early at the National Championships in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida the weekend of Oct. 27-29 to get used to the Har-Tru courts.  Conditions were windy and rainy over the weekend, so mid-way the format was amended to allow them to get all the matches in.  Over three days of round robin play, the Racquet Scientists won all their matches, each time just pulling out the win over teams from Mid-Atlantic (3-2), New England (3-2), Hawaii (3-2) and Pacific Northwest (3-2).  In the semifinals on Sunday, they handed a tough Midwest team their first tournament loss winning it 3-2.  After a quick 30 minute break it was on to the finals against the Caribbean team, also undefeated.  It was oh so close with the final score again 3-2…but this time in favor of the team from Puerto Rico.

The Club’s 4.0 40+ women’s team was the Eastern section representative for USTA and traveled to Orlando, Florida the weekend of Oct. 20 for the National Championships.  Very windy conditions and a tough draw in the round robin group made play challenging.  The team came up short against both Southern California and then the Midwest team.  They finished strong however against Northern, winning 4 out of the 5 courts.  They were also able to play some tennis just for fun against the Caribbean team from Puerto Rico (amazing that they were able to come) and Texas, who became national champs. 

The 4.5+ 40+ women’s team traveled to Mobile, Alabama the weekend of Oct. 20-22 for the National Championships as the Eastern section representative.  In round robin play, they were an impressive 3-0, beating teams from Northern California (4-1), Hawaii (4-1) and a previously undefeated Pacific Northwest (3-2).  In the semi-finals, they faced a tough Florida team who came out on top 3-2.  Sadly, the weather gods prevented the last round from being played and Eastern ended up sharing 3^rd place with Missouri Valley; similarly, Florida and Southern weren’t able to play for the championship and thus were declared co-winners.