Update 11/20/06:  Playing a variety of line-ups, MATA defeated Florida (No. 2 seed) 3-2, New England 5-0 and Texas (No. 1 seed) 3-2, which advanced them to the final, where the team narrowly lost to Southern Cal 3-2.   Said Captain Julie Kaczmarek, "Our most dramatic match was against top-seeded Texas .  With the score tied at 2-2, Martha and I were the last match on the court.  In front of 100 loud Texas fans cheering against us, we won 6-3, 6-2 and won the team match!"

Congratulations on a great showing!

from left:  Joni Hannah, Mary Davis, Martha Condyles, Rachel Gale and Julie Kaczmarek

----------------------------------------------------

November 13-19, 2006 Austin, Texas

The USTA Women's Intersectional Team Event will be held November 13 - 19th at Lost Creek Country Club and the Westwood Country Club in Austin, Texas.  The University of Texas Men's and Women's Tennis Coaches and teams will be hosting top-ranked women ages 35 and over in this Open Level event. Representing the Mid-Atlantic Section in the 35's: Rachel Gale (Glen Allen), Joni Hannah (Vienna), Julie Kaczmarek (Richmond), Martha Condyles (Richmond) and Mary Davis (Mechanicsville).

Southern California, Florida, New England, Southern and Texas are also sending teams to participate in the various divisions: 35s, 45s, 55s, 65s and 75s.

Julie Kaczmarek, in her second year as captain for the 35s team, enjoys the role.  "We have players who know each other well and have played doubles with each other....it's always nice when friendships already exist on a team."

The Mid-Atlantic Section asked Julie, who is in charge of racquet events at The Country Club of Virginia, to captain the team.  She led the 2004 Team in Texas.  The 2005 event was cancelled due to a hurricane in Naples, FL.  Julie selects players for her team based on fielding the strongest team possible from the entire Mid-Atlantic section.  

"I know most players in the division," said Julie.  "I look up rankings and tournament results and also established doubles teams.  The women on our current team have had some impressive results to date.  In 2004, Rachel had a great record at No. 1 singles and actually had numerous match points in a third-set tie-break loss to the nation's top 35s player.  Both Martha and Mary compete on a national level in their age division and this past summer, Martha won a bronze ball in doubles at the national 40s indoor tourney."

The Richmond community is well represented this year, with four of the five players coming from the area.  Julie thinks her team is completely up to the task of representing the section at nationals. She anticipates the strongest competition will be Texas and Southern.  

"If we play to our capability, we can compete with anyone.  My goal for the team is to play to the best of our ability and then we'll see where that puts us!"

Although the schedule is very hectic, with gala dinners and receptions (not to mention tennis), the team may have a day off.  "Although it isn't likely that we will have down time - if we do, I'd love to go to San Antonio for a side trip."  It's where Julie lived for three years as a teenager.  

But, for now, she'll be totally content if all her players arrive safely and stay healthy.  In 2004, one of the team members sprained her ankle in the parking lot while listening to music on her IPOD.   

Martha Condyles, who is returning to Texas with the team, insisted on playing through the injury, even with the swollen ankle.  "The curb wasn't even a big curb, just a little, small thing," but her injury was quite severe. Fortunately, it occurred on the last day.

Says Julie, "Since we are all friends, we do have a good time but this year I'll be enforcing one strict rule: no dancing in the parking lot!"

Check back next week for results.