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The Natchez women’s 2.5 tennis team won the district match in Jackson this past weekend at the Parham Bridges Tennis Center. From left to right are, Jessica Ryan, Christina Smith, Leigh Pyron, Cynthia Reynolds, Henry Harris, Aubry Adair, Fayla Guedon, Amanda Young and Carol Ann Riley. Not pictured are Brandae Miller and Carolyn Ridley.

Natchez tennis team makes sectional championships

By Patrick Ochs (Contact) | The Natchez Democrat

Published Thursday, June 26, 2008

NATCHEZ —This past weekend, the Natchez women’s 2.5 tennis team won their division in the United States Tennis Association League adult championships in Jackson.

“They played together as a team No. 1,” coach Henry Harris said. “And we had four ladies who went to state last year who knew what it was all about and we have a couple more who are getting there.”

Harris said the team has a combination of players with different skill levels.

“It’s a mixture of beginners and ladies who have played high school tennis and have been out of it a few years and some who are fairly new to the sport.”

In Jackson, the team played five different matches.

Each contest consisted of one singles match and two doubles matches. In order to win each contest, they had to win two of the matches.

As a result of the team’s victory, they will be traveling to Mobile to play in the Southern Section Championships from July 19-22.

According to a USTA press release, the tournament in Mobile has become known as “The World’s Largest Tennis Tournament” with more than 2,000 tennis players expected to participate.

In the tournament, teams from Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina will be involved.

“Now it’s seeing how many ladies can get to Mobile, Ala., and then placing the right people with the right partner will determine if they do well, because I think their talent level is right there with everyone else,” Harris said.

If the team wins in Mobile, they will represent the USTA Southern Section at the USTA League in Tucson Ariz., Las Vegas, and Indian Wells, Calif.

The team consists of Christina Smith, Cynthia Reynolds, Fayla Guedon, Aubry Adair, Leigh Pyron, Carol Ann Riley, Jessica Ryan, Amanda Walker, Brandae Miller and Carolyn Ridley.