Arkansas Adult NTRP Clay Court Championships

Over the weekend, Teresa Emerson and Kelly Kramer went to Little Rock, AR to compete in the Arkansas Adult NTRP Clay Court Championships.  Yes, they played on clay courts.  They were the Women’s 3.5 Doubles Consolation Winners.  They defeated Melanie Kiker(1)/Lori Uekman(1) 6-4; 5-7; 1-0 in the Finals.  Congratulations ladies on a job well done!!!

4-0 RECORD

Our Jammer girls did well this week; maybe my pep talk last week did help.  They won all 5 courts against the TopSpin team.  Kelly Kramer won her singles match against Candise Kroutil 6-2, 6-1.  Lisa Powell made her debut at singles and won her match 6-0, 6-0.  Pretty impressive I say.    Okay she won her match because the other team defaults.  Now that’s something you will never see the Jammers do.    We would never give an easy win to our opponent like that.  We make them work for it.

Our doubles team of Leigh Lewis and Julie Skinner, who never play together, had an easy match over their opponents Tijuana Julian and Linda Donnelson 6-1, 6-1.  Mary Ann Daum and Beth Wilson had a little tougher time with their match.  They won the first set 6-4, but lose the second set 3-6 against Nancy Skinner and Judy Daugherty.  They had to battle it out in the 3^rd set tie-break, which Mary Ann said to herself as she started to serve the first point for the tie –break that she refuse to lose, and that’s all it takes.  Mary Ann and Beth won the tie-break 10-4.    And our third doubles team of Carol Rollins and Margaret Taylor had an easy time with their match.  They won their match within an hour against Leah Clark and Lori Robinson 6-2, 6-0.

Four matches under their belt the Jammers are undefeated.  Way to go Jammers!

Team Standings

 

Team Name	Wins	Losses	Indiv. Wins	Indiv. Losses	Sets Lost	Games Lost
Jammers	4	0	17	3	9	113
Netchix	1	2	6	9	18	135
TopSpin	0	3	2	13	26	164

Next week, the Jammers will have a bye.  Two more matches left to the season; they are going for another undefeated season.  Good Luck Jammers!  May the aces be with you!!!

ARE THESE THE SAME JAMMERS

Even though it was a long and tough weekend for some of the Jammers, they still have a match to play when Monday came.  Everyone was tired from playing in the Spam Slam so the match on Monday was a tough one to come back to for the Jammers.  Everyone knew how important this match against the Netchix was going to be for us.  We cannot lose to them.   

The girls did well; not their usual best, we won 3 out of 5 courts against the Netchix.  Teresa Emerson won her singles against Lesley Skinner in the first set pretty easy 6-0.  She fought hard in the second set after falling behind at 4-0 to win it at 7-5.  Great come back TE!

Julie Skinner tried her best at singles for the first time.  She hung in there and fought for every point but couldn’t come up with a win.  She lost to Pat McCormick with the scores of 6-2, 6-2.  Great try Julie; you’ll get her next time!

 

Our doubles team of Kelly Kramer and Nancy Winters won their match against Susy Barr and Peggy Lindsey with the scores of 6-3, 6-1.  The team of Karen Griffin and Kim Wood  battled it out against Karen Smith and Laura Wilhite but couldn’t come out on top, they lost with the scores of 6-3, 6-4.  And our third doubles team of Leigh Lewis and Heidi Smith were victorious with their match against Carol Goldstein and Ann Vogel.   They also won their match with the scores of 6-3, 6-1.

Yes, the team did win their match, but I was still disappointed in how they play.  Maybe I’m just too hard on them, and expected too much from all of them.  I knew they were tired, but sill, they DID NOT play their best at all.  We came very close to lose that match.  I was NOT very happy with them at all.  Their overall performance was just unacceptable to me.  If they continue to play like that the rest of the season, the Jammers will not be going to Sectionals.  So I told them they ALL better get their butts in gear and play like a winner the rest of the season, otherwise, it will be a repeat of what happened to them last year-sitting at home, while another team played at Sectionals.    Let’s see how they will play next week.  Geez!!!  They are stressing me out!!!

Not sure anyone win any beer this week!

2013 – SPAM SLAM

Some of the Jammers traveled to Bentonville AR on May 31 – June 2 to play in the Spam Slam Tournament.  For some, it was our second year to compete at the Spam, for others it would be their first.  Last year, Springfield brought 10 players to the Spam, this year we brought over 30 players to Bentonville.  Current and former Jammers did great but not as great as we had wanted to.  Last year, we captured the 3.5 Women’s Singles and Doubles titles, and were finalists in both singles and doubles in the Consolation bracket for the 3.5 Women’s.  This year, Teresa Emerson and Nancy Winters made it to the Quarterfinals, while Kelly Kramer and Heidi Smith made it to the Semifinals in the 3.5 Women’s Doubles.  Carol Rollins was the finalist in the Consolation bracket in the 3.5 Women’s Singles. 

 

Debbie O’Reilly and I was the finalist in the Consolation bracket for the 4.0 Women’s Doubles, we lost in the match tie-break 13-11.  That was hard for me to lose; I don’t usually lose in a tie-break.  Tough lost that weekend.    

I then teamed up with my mixed doubles partner, Alex Wiley; we won the 9.0 Mixed Doubles Consolation bracket against Vanessa Pruitt and Tim Sammarco 6-3, 0-6, 1-0 (10-8).  Had the best match ever playing mixed. 

It was a long weekend but we all had fun.  We enjoyed going to Bentonville and played since we don’t know the players.  Different type of games and we always learn something every year we go.  We all are definitely come back to this tournament every year.

RECAP OF THE 2013 SPAM SLAM:

NTRP Women’s 3.5 Doubles:

Semifinals:   Ashley Pierce/Sarah Wohlford d. Kelly Kramer/Heidi Smith  6-2; 6-3

Quarterfinals:  Kelly Kramer/Heidi Smith d. Cindy Holeyfield/Jan Jennings 3-6; 6-4; 1-0

                            Ashley Pierce/Sarah Wohlford d. Teresa Emerson/Nancy Winters 6-3; 6-3

Round of 16:  Kelly Kramer/Heidi Smith d. Emily Espinosa/Khristina Gerads 6-4; 6-2

                         Teresa Emerson/Nancy Winters d. Tabitha Watkins/Karen Casey 6-3; 6-4

                        Ashley Pierce/Sarah Wohlford d. Karen Griffin/Julie Skinner 6-2; 6-3

Round of 32:  Kelly Kramer/Heidi Smith d. Caroline Salvador/Koven White 6-4; 6-3

                        Teresa Emerson/Nancy Winters d. Deidre Lea/Judy Pufall 6-3; 6-3

                        Karen Griffin/Julie Skinner d. Khankeo Khouborin/Jennifer Lindsey 7-5; 6-1

                        Jill Holmes/Carolyn Neubauer d. Shanan Hood/Leigh Lewis 7-5; 7-5

            Michele Adnan/Stephanie Reese Hollingsworth d. Karen Smith Margaret       

            Taylor  6-3; 6-4

                        Sara Cunningham/Billie Nelligan d. Lesley Skinner/Beth Wilson 6-1; 6-1

                   

Consolation:

Round 2:  Deana Deramo/Leigh Wendlandt d. Lesley Skinner/Beth Wilson 6-4; 3-6; 1-0

Round 1:  Mona Cochran/Devon Milum d. Shanan Hood/Leigh Lewis 6-3; 6-4

                  Rebecca Cantey/Carrie Rampey d.  Karen Smith/Margaret Taylor 4-6; 6-3; 1-0

 

NTRP Women’s 3.5 Singles:

Quarterfinals:  Natalie Kaderly d.  Julie Warren 6-2; 6-2

Round of 16:  Sarah Nunn d. Carol Rollins 6-1; 6-0                   

Consolation:

Finals:  Pamela Kinnevan d.  Carol Rollins 7-6; 6-4

Semifinals:  Carol Rollins d. Julie Warren Def (ns)

Quarterfinals:  Carol Rollins d. Rebecca Welton 6-3; 1-6; 1-0

 

 NTRP Women’s 4.0 Doubles:

Quarterfinals:  Dani Madison/Ai-Chau Nguyen d. Huong Doan/Debbie O’Reilly 6-3; 7-5

                            Gayla Saegert/Sandy Stursma d. Hee-Sun Kim/Julie Warren 6-2; 7-5

 

Consolation:

Finals:  Caroline Bond/Nancy Rahmeyer d. Huong Doan/Debbie O’Reilly 3-6; 6-1; 1-0

Semifinals:  Huong Doan/Debbie O’Reilly d. Hee-Sun Kim/Julie Warren Def (ns)

 

NTRP Women’s 4.0 Singles:

Round Robin:  Emelita Trotter d. Hee-Sun Kim 7-6; 6-2

                           Sherri Dotson d. Hee-Sun Kim 6-2; 6-2

                           Dianne Hendrix d. Hee-Sun Kim Wo (inj)

  

NTRP Combined Mixed 9.0 Doubles:

Semifinals:  Tara Pfeil/Andrew Todd d. Huong Doan/Alex Wiley 6-0; 6-3

 

Consolation:

Finals:  Huong Doan/Alex Wiley d. Vanessa Pruitt/Tim Sammarco 6-3; 0-6; 1-0

Cool prizes for the raffle


 

Yes - this cake is edible
 

The coolest cake ever


 

This is what I won at the raffle - basketball (SPAM), 2 pairs of socks (SPAM), a pair of shorts (SPAM), and a SPAM man.  I'm ready to try out for the LA Lakers.

 

All the Springfield tennis players at the SPAM slam

 

My SPAM man

 

GO GIRL RUN

On May 18^th, 2013 Carol Rollins and I took a rest from tennis and traveled to Olathe, KS as we participated in the Go Girl Run.  The Go Girl Run was specifically designed to celebrate women, health and fitness, and ultimately support several women-centered charities in the area.  The Go Girl Run was to make a BIG difference and improve the lives of women!  We believe the event truly celebrate women and their accomplishments.  The Go Girl Run was being held in three different cities in three different weekends – Springfield – May 11, Kansas City – May 18, and Columbia MO – May 25.  Carol ran in the 5K (3.1 miles) event with her daughter while I ran in the half-marathon (13.1 miles) with my sister and sister-in-law.  I trained for it for the last six months and was hoping I could finish it within 2.5 hours or just to finish it. 

It was a great day for a run, not too hot or too cold.  A few more hills than I expected, since the course in Springfield had no hills at all.  I tough it out and finished my race without puking everywhere.  My official time for the race was 2:26:21, which is better than the time I set for my goal.  I finished 19^th out of 58^th in my age division, and placed 270^th out of 577 overall.  The average time was 2:32:20; I guess that’s not bad for my first half-marathon. 

Carol did great in her 5K.  She finished with the time of 34:06.  She finished 3^rd out of 12 in her age division and 122th out of 297 overall.   The average time for the 5K was 37:42, so Carol did really well.

 So does this mean I will hang up my tennis racquet and start running full time? Uh, I’m not quite sure about that.  I know I would like to finish the Go Girl Run series.  I like to run in Springfield and then Columbia in the next year or two years, so I can say I have ran in all three cities.  But for now, I can proudly put the 13.1 sticker in the back of my car.





On stage with my 1/2 marathon medal

 

Carol getting her 3rd place medal for the 5K run

 

Carol crossing the finished line
 

Huong crossing the finished line
 

The half-marathon medal

 

WE’RE ON A ROLL

The second match for the Jammers went pretty well on May 13^th.  Teresa Emerson and Carol Rollins at singles.  Teresa had a great match against her opponent, Cheryl Daucher.  It was a pretty easy first set for Teresa; she dominated over Cheryl 6-1.  In the second set, Cheryl hung in there and won it at 6-3, so they had to battle it out in a match tie-break.  It was point by point, and our Teresa hung in there to win it for the Jammer at 10-8. 

Carol’s singles match was quite interesting against Yvonne Bussmann.  I think Carol was more frustrated with Y-vonne than anything with her not knowing what the scores were, and interrupted Carol when she was about to serve.  Carol lost the first set 6-3.  Then after Y-Vonne took a 20 minutes break, Carol fought hard in the second set, but couldn’t come up with a win.  She ended up losing in a set tie-break 7-6.

Our doubles team of Kelly Kramer and Lisa Powell had an easier time.  They cruised through their match against their opponents Candise Kroutil and Tijuana Julian  in two straight sets with the scores of 6-1, 6-0.

Mary Ann Daum and Nancy Winters had a tough match but hung in there and come out victorious.  They lost in the first set to their opponents, Linda Donnelson and Lori Young 3-6.  Come back and win the second set at 6-0.  For the 3^rd set tie-break, I guess they listened to their captain and remembered that ‘we do not lose in a tie- break’.  They dominated over their opponents with the score of 10-5.

The doubles team of Heidi Smith and Margaret Taylor also cruise through their match.  In the first set, they just lose 3 games to their opponents, Leah Clark and Lori Robinson, for the set score 6-3.  They didn’t drop a game in the second set with the score of 6-0.

So this week beer winners go to the doubles team of Kelly Kramer and Lisa Powell.  And the person who owes me a mojito would be Carol Rollins.  She lost in a tie break.  Sorry buddie!!!

Two weeks and two win down for the Jammers.  The next two weeks, the Jammers will have byes. Most of them will also be getting ready to travel to Bentonville AR to play in the SPAM SLAM May 31 – June 2.  Our favorite tournament ever!!!  Stay tune for our highlights about the weekend.

2013 USTA SEASON – OUR FIRST MATCH

The USTA season began for the Jammers on May 6^th.  It was a long weekend for them since most of them competed in the USTA-NTRP Central Regional Championships, I wasn’t sure if they still have enough in them to compete in their first match for the season.  It doesn’t matter how tired they were, the Jammers still come out and compete hard to win their first match 5-0 against the Netchix.

Leigh Lewis first year with the Jammer playing at singles dominated her opponent, Carol Goldstein in straight two sets 6-1, 6-0.  After the match, I asked Leigh why she gave away that one game.  She didn’t know how to answer that. J

Kim Wood also her first year with the Jammer, was victorious at her singles match.  She defeated Lesley Skinner 6-3, 7-6 (7-1).

Our doubles team of Teresa Emerson and Nancy Winters had a tough evening, but they managed to pull out a win against Susy Barr and Peggy Lindsey with the scores of 6-3, 7-5.

Our lefty, Karen Griffin and new Jammer, Julie Skinner, come together and got a win for the team.  They defeated Karen Smith and Laura Wilhite 6-4, 6-1.

The doubles team of Kelly Kramer and Beth Wilson once again played great together; they were victorious over their opponents Polly Egbert and Ann Vogel in two sets 6-3, 6-3.

At the beginning of the season I have told the girls that whoever loses the least amount of game each match, I will buy them a beer for the evening.  However, whoever loses in a tie-break will have to buy me a mojito.  So this week winners are, Leigh Lewis, and the doubles team of Karen Griffin and Julie Skinner.  What a way to start out the season, one match down and 5 more to go.  J