William Campbell and Lindsey Liles Lead Arkansas Junior Tennis Rankings

William Campbell and Lindsey Liles, both of Little Rock, currently hold the #1 tennis ranking in the USTA Arkansas Junior Boy's 18s and Girl's 18s divisions respectively. Other Arkansas junior tennis players that are also #1 in their age groups include:


Boy's 16s- Julio Olaya of Little Rock
Girl's 16s- Mary Wright of Hot Springs



Boy's 14s- Jake Jacoby of Little Rock(pictured left)
Girl's 14s- Tiffany Tang of Rogers

Boy's 12s- Marshall Ney of Rogers
Girl's 12s- Katherine Tang of Rogers

Boy's 10s- Andrew Wood of White Hall
Girl's 10s- Thea Rice of Hot Springs


*** See Comments for All Ranked Players

Former Arkansas Razorback Tennis Star, Blake Strode Wins U.S. Open Nat'l Playoff Event in Atlanta, Georgia

Blake Strode, a former All-American for the University of Arkansas tennis team won the championship match of the U.S. Open National Playoffs in Atlanta, 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (1), over Cecil Mamiit. Strode will receive a wild card spot in the 2010 U.S. Open Qualifying Tournament for an Aug. 24th showdown with other qualifiers at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y.

Strode won a USTA Sectional Qualifying Tournament in Arizona and advanced with 15 other regional winners to the U.S. Open Nat'l Playoffs in Atlanta. He earned his spot in the playoff field by winning the U.S. Open Nat'l Playoff SW Section in Surprise, AZ, in June at the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex.

The St. Louis, MO native was an All-American for the Razorbacks by advancing to the semifinals of the NCAA Individual Championship in '09 and has been accepted into Harvard Law School, but is pursuing a professional tennis career before enrolling.

Arkansas Women's 2.5 and 3.5 Tennis Teams Capture Southern League Tennis Championships

Two Arkansas League Tennis Teams- Arkansas Women's 2.5 Tennis Team (pictured above, after winning National Championships) captained by Beth Clark from the Rogers area and the Arkansas Women's 3.5 Tennis Team captained by Teresa Williams from the Little Rock area, captured the Southern League Tennis Championships in Birmingham, Alabama.

Arkansas Women's 2.5 Team-Clark/Rogers defeated Louisana/Shreveport 3-0 for the Southern Sectional Women's 2.5 Title. Members of the team include Beth A. Clark, Carolyn Dianne Gilmore, Alysia Diane Treece, Kiki Hoener, Andrea Kapales, Kathryn Miller, Paula Kaufmann, Deanna M. Moser.

Arkansas Women's 3.5 Team- Williams/Little Rock defeated Alabama/Gulf Shores 4-1 for the Southern Sectional Women's 3.5 Title. Members of the team include Teresa L. Williams, Shannon Taylor, Wende L. Walraven, Annie J. Turchi, Catherine Edwards, Jenni R. Rickman, Dee N. Whalen, Katie Alice Staggs, Catherine Piaton, Beth Wilborne, Jonie D. Burks, Mary Kathryn Nelson, Martha F. James, Jennifer Moline, Mary Carolyn Bailey, Laurie Houff.

Other Arkansas teams that came close to winning sectionals were the Senior Women's 4.5 team captained by Judi Fess and Vicki Taylor and the Regular Women's 4.5 team captained by Tamara McColey. The Senior Women's 4.5 Team-Judi Fess/Taylor lost 2-1 in a close match to the winning team from North Carolina. Judi H. Fess/Anne Magee were defeated by Sheila T. Ernest/Saundra G. Denny 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 at #1 Doubles in the deciding match. The Women's 4.5 team-McColey lost to Kentucky's team which might have cost them the championship, too.

Good Luck to these Arkansas teams as they head to Nationals!!!

Central Arkansas Tennis Association (CATA) Sponsors Free Conway Junior Tennis Program

The Central Arkansas Tennis Association (CATA)is sponsoring The Free Conway Junior Tennis Program as it continues with its Fall Season on September 6th. This 8-week tennis lesson plan is free for children ages 6-13. Contact Chuck/Cindy at tennis@pinnacletennisacademy.com or call the office at 501-570-6755.