A trio of divisional champions were crowned on Monday at the USTA Florida 55 & Over 6.0/8.0 Sectional Championships.

In the women’s 6.0 semifinals, Escambia (Roger Scott Tennis Center – Pensacola) held off Collier (Greater Marco Family YMCA – Marco Island) by a 2-1 margin while Hillsborough (Apollo Beach Racquet Fitness Club) swept all three courts against Leon (Forestmeadows Park and Athletic Center – Tallahassee). For Escambia, they prevailed thanks to a 7-6, 6-3 effort from Kendra Skellen and Cindy Jenista at line three along with an extended 6-7, 6-3, 1-0 victory at the top spot by Liz Payne and Klara Szalai. Hillsborough had a much easier go of it, winning all six sets played versus Leon. Lynn Malarz and Karen Montembeault claimed court three 6-4, 6-1 while the top pairing of Patty Trabue and Lisa McCarthy plus the line two tandem of Sally Raque and Mary Flynn turning in identical 6-4, 6-3 score lines.

The championship dual took an unfortunate turn of events, as Escambia was only able to field two pairs, meaning they had to forfeit line three. That set the stage for another Hillsborough sweep, as Trabue and McCarthy delivered the crucial 6-4, 6-0 win on court one followed by Raque and Flynn rallying back from a set down to take line two 4-6, 6-1, 1-0.

Mary Flynn serves as the team captain for the Hillsborough crew that consists of Montembeault, JoAnn Kazura, Renee Hovden, McCarthy, Raque, Trabue, Shirley Payne, and Malarz.

Both women’s 8.0 semifinals ended with 2-1 final scores, as Orange/Seminole/Lake (Lake Cane Tennis Center – Orlando) defeated Miami-Dade (Dante Fascell Park – Miami) and wild card Brevard (Kiwanis Island Park Recreation Center – Merritt Island) bested Hillsborough (River Hills Country Club – Valrico).

The battle of unbeaten teams between Orange/Seminole/Lake and Miami-Dade fittingly came down to a match tiebreak on court two, as Katherine Foulk and Penny Watzka came through in a marathon 7-5, 6-7, 1-0 affair. Tami Florin and Emily Sakol also won 6-4, 6-1 at the third position to propel their squad into the divisional final. In the other semifinal, all three courts ended in straight sets, with Brevard taking the top two spots to advance; Joni Smith and Susan Noble combined for a 6-3, 6-2 victory at line one while Yvette Van Der Wiel and Linda Madyda took line two 6-1, 6-1.

In the championship dual, Orange/Seminole/Lake earned the title by winning the matchups at the top two spots. Foulk and Watzka moved up to line one in the lineup, where they once again showed their toughness in a 6-4, 6-4 victory. Florin and Sakol also moved up, filling line two in the lineup, where they came through 6-1, 6-3. Smith and Noble got Brevard on the board in the end thanks to their 7-6, 2-6, 1-0 effort on court three.

Captained by Angela Tuckerman, the complete Orange/Seminole/Lake team includes Mary Ann Koula, Lisa Peele, Jamie Roedig, Terri Haddock, Watzka, Sakol, Jennifer Widga-Kirby, Florin, Patricia Monserez, Barby Molnar, and Foulk.

There was only one men’s match on Monday, as Escambia (Roger Scott Tennis Center – Pensacola) took on Brevard (Fee Ave Courts – Melbourne) for the 8.0 crown. Michael Phelipa and Peter De Lange earned the top spot for Brevard by a 6-2, 7-5 margin, but it wasn’t enough, as Escambia claimed lines two and three. Tim Falzone and Shane Russell narrowly avoided being pushed to a match tiebreak in taking court two 6-1, 7-6; Derrick Racine and John Wimberly were solid in securing a 6-3, 6-3 victory at line three.

Calvin Moore is the captain of the Escambia squad that features a full roster of Falzone, Harold Major, Russell Ball, Wimberly, Terry Thrash, Rick Cuny, Russell, Racine, Douglas Patton, and Peter Nowak.

For complete results from the USTA Florida 55 & Over 6.0/8.0 Sectional Championships, click here.