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PRESS RELEASE

11Section Champions Crowned at
2012 Combo Doubles Southern Section Championships

SOUTH CAROLINA LEADS WITH FOUR CHAMPIONS

Dothan, AL – March 14, 2013–USTA Southern crowned 11champions during the 2012 Combo Doubles Southern Sectional Championships March 8-10 in Dothan, Ala.

South Carolina led the section’s nine states with four champions.North Carolina had three champions, Alabama and Louisiana both had two champions.

For the first time, USTA Southern split is sectional championships in two events. Seniors and Super Seniors played here and Adults were played March 1-3 in Mobile.Both events are recognized as the largest tournament in the world by player count with about 1,900 players. Approximately 950 played in Dothan and another 950 in Mobile.

There wereabout 100 teams that played in five men’s Adults and six women’s Adults divisions.Matches were played at Westgate Tennis Complex, Azalea Swim & Tennis Club and the Dothan Country Club.

In Combo Doubles, the two teammates on court must have a combined National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP) rating that does not exceed the level in which the team competes.More information can be found on the tournament’s website, This is the 2012 tournament because teams qualified in local play last year. In 10 levels, teams representing the nine states in the Southern Sectionplayed four matches of flight play before the flight winners faced off in the finals. In Women’s 9.5 there was round-robin play.

Teams emerging victorious were:

Level / Winner / Finalist / Score
in final
Men’s 6.5 Senior / Columbia, S.C.
Captain: John Alexander / Memphis, Tenn.
Captain:Steve Tower / 3-0
Men’s 6.5 Super Senior / Rock Hill, S.C.
Captain: Albert Andrews / Southport, N.C.
Captain: Joe Meissner / 3-0
Men’s 7.5 Senior / Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Captain: Steve Conklan / Valdosta, Ga.
Captain:Joe Brashier / 2-1
Men’s 7.5 Super Senior / New Orleans, La. (A)
Captain: Tony Davila / Baton Rouge, La. (B)
Captain:Parry Thomas / 2-1
Men’s 8.5 Senior / Greenville, S.C. (A)
Captain: Richard Jones / Lake Norman, N.C.
Captain:William Hirata / 2-1
Women’s 6.5 Senior / Lake Charles, La.
Captain: Denise Durel / Nashville, Tenn.
Captain:Jill Peterson / 3-0
Women’s 6.5 Super Senior / Muscle Shoals, Ala. (B)
Captain: Lon Brown / Birmingham, Ala. (A)
Captain:Hyacinth Prince / 2-1
Women’s 7.5 Senior / Oxford, Miss. (B)
Captain: Jill Puliam / Mandeville/Covington, La.
Captain:Paula Fricker / 2-1
Women’s 7.5 Super Senior / Asheville, N.C. (B)
Captain: Dottie Mattern / Wilmington, N.C. (A)
Captain:Vicky Hanes / 3-0
Women’s 8.5 Senior / Lexington, S.C.
Captain: Debbie Laney / Shreveport, La.
Captain:Sue Landry / 2-1
Women’s 8.5 Super Senior / Charlotte, N.C.
Captain: JoAnn Crolley / Monroe, La.
Captain:Virginia Eddleman / 4-0 in
round robin

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 during 2012.

The leagueswere 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).Combo Doubles is open to any USTA member 18 years of age or older. It features an Adult Division, as well as a Senior Division (age 50) and a Super Senior Division (age 60).

Team photos are available on request. E-mail Ron Cioffi at .

About the USTA and USTA Southern
Founded in 1881, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in this country. In addition to owning the US Open and selecting members of the Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Olympic and Paralympic teams, the USTA administers a variety of programs nationwide for players of all ages and ability levels. A not-for-profit organization, the association is divided into 17 sections, of which USTA Southern is the largest. The 178,000+ USTA members living in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee make up USTA Southern, and account for approximately 25% of the total USTA membership. A professional staff housed in Norcross, GA carries out USTA Southern’s daily operations, but policy is formed and much of the organization’s work is executed via a Board and committee structure of over 230 volunteers. For more information about the types of programs and services offered by USTA Southern, visit

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Media Contact:

Ron Cioffi, USTA Southern

770-368-8200 x112