On August 8 – 11, 2013 the Jammers traveled to Des Moines, IA to compete in the 2013 USTA Sectionals Championship. The trip to Sectionals was a repeat for several of the Jammers, but it was also a first timer for a few of the new Jammers.
It was a little bit different in 2013; there was no players’ party, so the team took our time making the trip to Iowa. We all met for dinner once we arrived in Des Moines on Thursday evening.
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| Karen Griffin, Mary Ann Daum and Lisa Powell- at the Plaza in Kansas City. They made a pit stop in Kansas City to get a little practice in as they made their way to Des Moines. |
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| Lisa Powell & Karen Griffin at the Plaza in Kansas City |
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| Lisa Powell & Mary Ann Daum |
Our first match Friday morning wasn’t until 10:30 AM, so the team didn’t have to rush in the morning to get there. We did get on site plenty of time to do some warm up drills as a team in the parking lot.
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| Who needs a court to practice on, just a wall and some lines will do |
The Jammers did great with our first match against the St. Louis Wildcard team. Leigh Lewis had a long singles match against her opponent, Diana Stevenson. She lost the first set in a set tie-break 6-7. She hung in there and won the second set 6-4. And finished the match by winning the match tie-break 1-0. Julie Skinner also did well at her singles match. She won her match against her opponent, Irene Schoolfield with the scores of 7-5, 6-2.
In doubles line ups, Teresa Emerson and Nancy Winters, defeated Margaret Ropelle and Michelle Wilson with the scores of 6-4, 7-6; Kelly Kramer and Beth Wilson had an easy time against their opponents Karen Shaw and Margreta Talen with the match scores 6-0, 6-4; Maggie Taylor teamed up with Heidi Smith for our 3rd doubles. They had a tougher time with their match but also come out on top. They defeated their opponents Barbara Criner and Brenda King in the first set tie-break 7-6; lost in the set tie-break in the second set 6-7; they hung in there and won the match tie-break 1-0.
It was a great start of the day for the Jammers beating the St. Louis Wildcard team with the team win 5-0. Woo hoo!!! The next match up for the Jammers would be against Heart of America team.
The Jammers had a tougher time in their 3:30 PM match Friday afternoon. They took the match against Heart of America with the match score of 3-2, but I wouldn’t say it was that easy for them.
Once again, Leigh Lewis played singles for us. She defeated her opponent, Jan Rockwell, in two sets 6-3, 7-6. Nancy Winters tried her hands at singles this time. She gave it her all, but couldn’t come up with a win for the team. Nancy lost to Deanna Paramore in two sets 6-4, 6-1.
Teresa Emerson teamed up with Kelly Kramer this time and defeated their opponents Kim Hanson and Kay Acuff in two straight sets 7-6, 7-5.
Julie Skinner and Beth Wilson also did well at doubles together. They defeated their opponents Wendy Leiker and Betsy Triplett with the scores 7-6, 6-1.
Our third doubles for the afternoon were Maggie Taylor and Mary Ann Daum. They played well together but couldn’t come up with a win. Maggie and Mary Ann lost to Susanne Stanley and Amy Rogoz in two straight sets 6-4, 6-2.
The Jammers have won both their matches on the first day of competition. They knew with the two wins, they will definitely be playing Saturday afternoon. Oh yeah, Friday was also my birthday, perfect ending to my day!!!
Saturday morning, the Jammers also had a 10:30 AM match. This time against a Nebraska team. It was a very tough match for the Jammers. Leigh Lewis was the only win for the team that morning. She lost in the first set in a set tie-break 6-7. She hung in there and won the second set 6-3. It was a tough match tie-break, but she pulled it off and won the match tie-break as well 1-0 against Allison Arntz.
It wasn’t her day; Teresa Emerson couldn’t do it at singles. She lost to Rebecca Lee with the scores of 6-2, 6-3.
Kelly Kramer and Beth Wilson didn’t do so well Saturday morning, they lost to the doubles team of Linda Hitzemann and Jenny Sladicka 7-5, 6-4. No such luck for Nancy Winters and Julie Skinner, they lost to their opponents Chris Shouse and Beth Camenzind with the scores of 6-2, 6-0.
Maggie Taylor and Lisa Powell weren’t able to finish their match against Kimberly Sorensen and Lisa Smith. After playing 2 games, they have to retired the match due to an injury with Lisa Powell.
It wasn’t one of the best matches the Jammers played. With the loss to Nebraska, the Jammers were in second place after pool play. They are still in it, it just mean, they don’t get a bye in the Quarter-Finals; they had to play in the afternoon.
Saturday afternoon was the Quarter-Finals in which four teams battled it out in which two teams will get the remaining spots in the Semi-Finals. Missouri Jammers playing against St. Louis, while Heart of America battled it out against Kansas. Oklahoma and Nebraska are automatically in the Semi-Finals since they won pool play.
It was a great Saturday afternoon for the Jammers; they took St. Louis team with 3-2 matches win. Leigh Lewis only lost for the weekend was to Faye Lucas. She lost in the first set 1-6 won the second set 6-3, but couldn’t win the match tie break, lost it at 8-10.
Julie Skinner did great in her singles. She defeated Joan Jennings in two straight sets 6-1, 6-4.
Teresa Emerson and Nancy Winters beat their opponents Lori Schreck and Susan Blake in a match tie-break. They won the first set 6-2, lost the second set 4-6, and won the match tie-break.
Kelly Kramer and Beth Wilson came very close but couldn’t defeat their opponents. They lost to Kathy Drissell and Mickey Woolums in two sets, both went to set tie-break, 7-6, and 7-6. It could have gone either way. Darn it, it didn’t go our way!
Maggie Taylor and Heidi Smith once again did great together. They defeated their opponents Sharon Dillane and Jan Stobie in two easy sets 6-0, 6-1.
A win against St. Louis guaranteed the Jammers to move on to the Semi-Finals on Sunday which they would face Oklahoma. In the other Semi-Finals, it was Kansas versus Nebraska. Kansas upset Heart of America in the Quarter-Finals to earn a spot in the Semi-Finals.
Sunday morning came; it was an early morning match for the Jammers, 7:30 AM match. We all get up early for breakfast before heading out to the courts. The Oklahoma team was there for breakfast as well, it was a very quiet breakfast for both teams. Neither teams said anything to each other. It was an interesting morning indeed.
The Jammers Sectionals competition ended that Sunday morning against the Oklahoma team. They defeated the Jammers 3-2 to advance to the Finals and eventually the 2013 Sectionals Champion. We came very close, but just couldn’t pull it off, 3 of the matches went to a match tie- break. The last match we were waiting on, we lost 8-10, just two points away from being in the Finals. OMG!
Julie Skinner played a very tough singles player that morning, even though she lost to Stephanie O’Malley 6-2, 6-4. I think she played well.
Leigh Lewis played her 5th singles match for the weekend. She defeated her opponent, Kara Max in the first set 6-1; she lost in the second set in a tie-break 6-7. Leigh hung in there and won the match tie-break 1-0 and got a win for the team.
Kelly Kramer and Beth Wilson teamed up together one more time. They fought hard but couldn’t get it done. They lost to April Bonnet and Mellissa Parker 6-0, 6-4.
Teresa Emerson and Nancy Winters had a tough much but they hung in there and pulled off a win. They lost the first set 2-6, won the second set 6-4, and stayed tough to win the match tie-break 1-0.
Maggie Taylor and Heidi Smith fought hard for their match, point by point. They lost the first set to Shari Singleton and Lee Ann Beyersdorf 5-7. Maggie and Heidi came back and won the second set 6-3. They were behind in the match tie-break, came back, but couldn’t pull it off; they lost it at 8-10. It was a very close match.
Every Jammer played hard that weekend, none of them gave up. Yes, we were disappointed that we were that close to being in the Finals, and yet couldn’t get there, but we were a little closer than we were before. That just mean we will work a little harder next season and fight a little harder to make it happen.
This is not the end for the Jammers; we will continue to find ways to improve our games to get us to Indian Wells one of these days. None of us will stop until we reach that goal. We know it is possible, so we’re not giving up trying.
As for me, 2013 has been a great USTA season. This is the first year both my 3.5 and 4.0 teams made it to Sectionals. It was one of my goals to see that happen, and that actually happened this year. Not sure what my goal is for 2014 and after that. How much longer will I be with the Jammers? I think 2013 is it for me with the Jammers, I like to concentrate more on getting the 4.0 team to go farther, like the Jammers has. A lot for me to think about, not 100% sure what I will do in 2014. But one thing for sure, I will always support the Jammers, whether I’m there physically or not. There will always a place in my heart for the Jammers. Once a Jammer, always a Jammer!
So stay tune.
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2013 Jammers Front: Carol Rollins / Nancy Winters (Captain) / Huong Doan (Coach) / Karen Griffin / Lisa Powell / Leigh Lewis Back: Kelly Kramer / Julie Skinner / Teresa Emerson / Mary Ann Daum / Margaret Taylor / Heidi Smith / Beth Wilson (Captain); Not Pictured: Kim Wood |
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