Three teams earned titles on Monday to wrap up the 2020 USTA Florida 18 & Over Men’s 4.0 & Women’s 2.5/3.0/4.5 Sectional Championships at the USTA National Campus. The victorious squads included the 4.0 men from Hillsborough (HCC Tennis Complex – Tampa) along with the Orange/Seminole (Lake Cane Tennis Center – Orlando) 2.5 women and Orange/Seminole (Red Bug Lake Park – Casselberry) 3.0 women.

They joined the women’s 4.5 crew representing Hillsborough (HCC Tennis Complex – Tampa) as champions from the event.

The 4.0 men kicked off Monday with their semifinal round, where both Miami-Dade (Doral Park Country Club) and Hillsborough (HCC Tennis Complex - Tampa) advanced by a 2-1 margin. Miami-Dade survived a loss in singles against Duval (Jacksonville Golf and Country Club) by taking both doubles courts. Diego Mujica and Cristian Mateluna came through 6-2, 7-6 at the top spot to go along with Jaime Kang and Julio Jimenez rallying back for a 2-6, 6-3, 1-0 victory on court two. For Hillsborough, Michael Detsis produced a 6-3, 6-4 result in singles and the tandem of Jean-Claude Dallies and Daniel Zantedeschi won 6-2, 7-5 playing at line two doubles in their dual versus Broward (Parkland Tennis Center).

With the title on the line, Hillsborough bested Miami-Dade by prevailing in singles and the first doubles court. Detsis represented Hillsborough in singles once again, this time downing Mario Hidalgo 6-3, 6-2. Miami-Dade’s Jose Lebron and Alejandro Hasegawa swept through the matchup at the second position without the loss of a game, but it wasn’t enough, as Dallies and Elvin Vargas prevailed 6-3, 6-4 for the decisive victory.

Hillsborough is captained by Joe Orsini and features a complete roster of Bryan Lang, Enrique Escobar, Ernie Pabon, Jeffrey Mars, Detsis, Zantedeschi, Jeffrey Hirsch, Peter Katsarelis, Fred Church, Dallies, Jeffrey Biezunski, Aditya Deshpande, Eric Green, Hugo Rodriguez, Bob Brown, Kurt Williams, and Vargas.

The improbable run to the women’s 3.0 crown for wild card Orange/Seminole (Red Bug Lake Park – Casselberry), which lost twice during flight play, started with a 2-1 triumph over Duval (OakLeaf Tennis – Orange Park). After dropping the singles and getting an easy 6-2, 6-3 win from Elizabeth Corddry and Sunshine Newsom in the top spot, the duo of Teri Blais and Heather Miller found themselves mere points from elimination. However, they dug in and forced the contest to a match tiebreak, ultimately claiming a 6-7, 7-5, 1-0 victory. In the other semifinal, Miami-Dade (Kendall Tennis Training Center – Miami) outlasted Hillsborough (Tampa Yacht & Country Club) in a dual that could have gone either way. Maira Maguire took the singles 6-4, 6-3 as both doubles matchups went to a match tiebreak. Miami-Dade could not complete the comeback on court one, but Ana Tirado and Maggie Sanchez did deliver a 6-3, 5-7, 1-0 score line for their squad.

In the divisional final, Maguire took care of business again for Miami-Dade to give her team the early lead, but it would not hold up. Orange/Seminole sent the same pairs back out for the championship tilt, with both coming through in the clutch. Blais and Miller needed just two sets this time on court two, grabbing a 7-5, 6-3 win. Instead it would be Corddry and Newsom having to hold their nerve on the pressure points, which they managed to do so in the 7-6, 4-6, 1-0 marathon triumph.

Captain Patty Blake’s Orange/Seminole roster features Newsom, Blais, Corddry, Sonya Mandel, Ann Schneider, Suzanne Turbyfill, Audrey Freedman, Miller, Nancy Borck, and Nadia Galati.

After jumping out to the early advantage by going 2-0 on Sunday, the Orange/Seminole (Lake Cane Tennis Center – Orlando) squad ran away with the women’s 2.5 division by virtue of sweeping both of their duals during the final day of play. Overall, Orange/Seminole won 10 of the 12 courts their players contested. Miami-Dade (Doral Park Country Club), the only other team in the field to post a winning record at 3-1, placed second.

Captained by Jessica Strack, the full Orange/Seminole roster consists of Libby Viau, Rosana Monteiro, Yardise Jones, Ashley Johnson, Erin Haynes, Jodie Ortiz, and Clare Bregetti.

For complete results from the 2020 USTA FL 18 & Over Men’s 4.0 & Women’s 2.5/3.0/4.5 Sectional Championships, click here.