The SoCal 55 and 65s teams took different routes, but ended up at the same place…the winners’ podium, today in San Antonio.

The 65s swept through the competition, beating New England 5/0 in the semis and Eastern 4/1 in the final to win the 65s. NorCal, unseeded, edged New England for the bronze. Suella Steel, Lurline Fujii, Roz King, Judy Louie, Uta Hegberg, Anne Russ and Andi Polisky were the teams’ players, and Anne was the playing captain

In the 55s, both the final and the 3/4 playoffs came down to the wire. Northern California, seeded 2 and Southern California, seeded 3 faced off in the final. Carolyn Nichols, playing for SoCal for the first time (having recently defected from NorCal), beat Leslie Airola Murveit at #1 singles; Kathy Barnes, NorCal  played a flawless match to beat Ann Stanley at #2 singles, and Bonnie Tetrick and Ruth Young (SoCal) battled for nearly 3 hours before Bonnie won 64 in the third to send NorCal into the doubles with a 2/1 lead. NorCal had to win only one doubles match. Nichols/Sue Sprague beat Tetrick/Pam Schulz in straight sets and finished just as Murveit/Barnes and Kathy Bennett/Jackie Heston split sets. The third set was close…lots of lengthy points and the sun was wicked on one side. Shadows crept across the court. Jackie and Kathy pulled out the doubles 63 in the third giving the tie to SoCal.

The 3/4 playoff in the 55s was even closer. Southern started well, winning #1 and #2 singles, (Wendy McColsky d. Tracy Viebrock in 3 sets and Brenda Carter took out Kathy Foulk; Florida’s Lil Peltz-Petow beat Jan Kirkland-Cochran at #3 singles.). It was down to the doubles…Brenda Carter/Cindy Babb, Southern played Peltz-Petow/Betsy Savitt, Florida and the Floridians won in three sets. Janet Bezmalinovich/Kirkland/Cochran vs Viebrock/Cindy Leprevost was the deciding doubles match and it came down to a third set tiebreak which the Southern team won 7-5. It couldn’t get any closer than that!

The 35s and 45s started play today and the 75s and 80s continued play. SoCal 45s beat Middle States and play Mid Atlantic tomorrow.