Local USTA Tennis Team Heads To Nationals, Holds Fundraiser

A local women’s 4.5 USTA tennis team has achieved the highest honor in the United States Tennis Association’s League Tennis — the chance to play at the National Championships in Las Vegas October 30 through November 1.

Among the members of the team, which consists of players throughout Fairfield County, is Sandy Hook’s Amy Read, a co-captain.

The Middlebury Just Out (MJO) team, whose home club is Middlebury Racket Club, cruised through the local level, beating several strong teams, and ended up in first place. The team’s run continued when the players headed to the East Hartford Racket Club to play at the District Level, August 8-9. MJO was successful in beating a strong Westchester, N.Y. team 3-2. The Westchester team also competes in the Connecticut League. MJO then went on to beat a Stamford team 4-1. This last win secured their place to play at the Sectional Level.

Sectionals were held at Mt Holyoke College August 28-30. MJO continued its winning streak, in the first round, by beating a team from Eastern Massachusetts 4-1. In the second round the women faced a strong team from Maine but were able to pull out a 3-2 win. In the final round, they again faced another Eastern Massachusetts team, but cruised 4-1 to clinch their berth in Nationals. This win also gave MJO the status of being the No. 1 team in all of New England. 

The team has been practicing for Nationals and will host a fundraiser on Saturday, October 3 at Middlebury Racket Club. It will start at 7 pm with an hour cardio tennis class, and will run until 11 pm, with open tennis and games. There will be appetizers, desserts and drinks, as well as a silent auction. The cost is $25 per person. The fundraiser is to help secure funds to cover the team entry fee of $550 and to help defray the cost of the team flying to Las Vegas. Donations can be made by calling Melanie Marks at 203-856-6270.