Sunday, July 5, 2015

HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS PLAYERS ADVANCE TO US OPEN NATIONAL PLAYOFFS

The 2015 US Open National Playoff Sectional Qualifying events have seen a recent surge in success by high school tennis stars across the country. By winning the 15 Sectional Qualifying tournaments players advance to the US Open National Playoffs Championship events to be held during the Connecticut Open presented by United Technologies. The US Open National Playoffs men’s and women’s singles champions earn a wild card into the US Open Qualifying Tournament, held the week prior to the US Open. The US Open National Playoffs men’s, women’s and mixed doubles champions receive a wild card into the main draw of the 2015 US Open. 

FLORIDA
Women's Doubles -- Lauren Proctor - The Lakewood Ranch senior competed in her first year of high school tennis this spring and was a key component of the Mustangs Florida Class 3A State Championship team. Proctor, a Winthrop signee, said “Winning the state title as a team was incredible," The five-star recruit went on to claim her spot in the US Open National Playoffs Women's Doubles division winning the Florida Sectional Qualifier with Wyoming signee Miranda Talbert. The duo defeated Heather Kaiser and Sheronda Thompson of Gainesville 6-1, 6-0 in the women's doubles final. Proctor narrowly missed qualifying for the US Open Nation Playoffs in the Women's Singles tournament, falling 7-6 (4), 6-2 to Yukako Noi of Japan in the final.

MID-ATLANTIC
Women's Doubles -- Lizzie Baker - The National Cathedral School sophomore was dominant in the first year of the DCSSAA Tennis Championships claiming the Girl's Singles Championship without dropping a set. Baker teamed with Blue-chip recruit and Junior Tennis Champions Center training partner Mackenzie Clark to defeat former George Mason University player Catherine Crisostomo and Manhattan College alum Lindsey Keeler, 6-2 6-1.

MIDDLE STATES
Women's Doubles -- Kate Fahey - The Fair Haven senior and University of Michigan signee sat out her junior year of high school to focus on USTA events and improving her record. Fahey saw her national ranking rocket from 50th in the country to 5th and committed to play her college tennis with the Wolverines. With pressure off her back Fahey returned to the high school team winning the New Jersey Singles State Championship she desired so much. Her outstanding performance earned her NHSCA Girls Tennis Athlete of the Year honors. Fahey claimed her spot in the US Open National Playoff by winning the Middle States Sectional Qualifier with fellow New Jersey junior star Rima Asatrian. The duo defeated Rutgers freshman Chloe Lee and Rutgers junior Gina Li 6-4, 6-1 in the finals.

MIDWEST
Men's Singles -- Martin Joyce - The Hinsdale Central senior and Ohio State signee was awarded the top overall seed for the US Open National Playoff Midwest Qualifier. Following an outstanding high school tennis season that concluded with Joyce's second Illinois Singles State Championship. Joyce was selected as an All-American and the 2014-15 National High School Tennis Association Player of the Year. The former Red Devil defeated Indiana University Sophomore Matthew McCoy 6-4; 7-5 in the final. “It was a lot of fun and I was really happy with how I played,” Joyce said. “It was very cool. There are a lot of really good guys out here; a lot of college guys I haven’t seen before, so it was a lot of fun,” he said.

Women's Singles & Doubles -- Sara Daavettila - The Williamston junior and North Carolina commit has quickly risen to become one of the nation's top junior tennis prospects. The high school junior is the only high school player to qualify for the US Open National Playoffs in both singles and doubles. Daavettila won her second straight Michigan Division 3 Singles Sate Championship this spring. She finished her season with a 24-0 record without dropping a single game in any of her matches. The University of North Carolina commit has currently won 295 straight games in her high school career. Daavettila claimed her championship in the Women's Singles division with a thrilling 6-7(5); 6-3; 6-2 victory over junior tennis star and doubles teammate Alyvia Jones. Following the singles battle the pair partnered to claim the Women’s Doubles competition with a 7-6, 6-2 victory over University of Illinois sophomore Jerricka Boone and Stony Brook sophomore Adesuwa Osabuohien.

MISSOURI VALLEY
Women's Doubles -- Josephine Cao - The Shawnee Mission West junior has found great success at the high school level. The four-star recruit went 20-1 this fall winning the Kansas Class 6A Doubles State Championship with her sister Katherine. Cao partnered with fellow Kansas junior Dilara Spicer to take down Edmond Memorial High freshman Isabella Dunlap and Edmonth North High freshman Kinsey Fields 6-2, 7-5 claiming the US Open National Playoff Missouri Valley Qualifying spot for Women's Doubles.

NEW ENGLAND
Women's Singles -- Emma Davis - The Cohasset senior and Wake Forest signee stamped her ticket to the US Open National Playoff with a dominant performance defeating Yale freshman Carol Finke 6-1, 6-1 in the championship match. “Davis displayed beautiful, clean groundstrokes that allowed her to create an overwhelming offensive attack, said Woody Freeman, USTA New England Tournament and Rankings Manager. Nearly a week after winning the New England Sectional Qualifier Davis won her fourth straight Massachusetts Singles State Championship to finish her high school career 84-0. Perhaps even more impressive is the fact that Davis never dropped a set in her high school career.

NORTHERN
Men's Doubles -- Jackson Allen - The Shakopee sophomore captured third place in Minnesota's Class AA Singles State Championship this spring. Allen played the No. 1 singles position for the Sabers who spent most of the season ranked No. 2 in the Minnesota Coaches Association Class 2A poll. Allen partnered with Forest Lake senior Toby Boyer to claim their spot in the US Open National Playoff. It was a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Wayzata High junior Nick Beaty and Minneapolis South High senior Jesse Sprinkel that stamped the duo ticket to the US Open National Playoff.

Men's Doubles -- Toby Boyer - The Forest Lake senior capped off quite a high school career this spring. Boyer, a Nebraska signee, won the Minnesota's Class AA Singles State Championship this spring following back-to-back runner-up finishes. The future Cornhusker is the top ranked senior in the state of Minnesota. Boyer partnered with Shakopee sophomore Jackson Allen to win the Northern Sectional Qualifier of the US Open National Playoff in the Men's Doubles Division. The pair defeated Wayzata High junior Nick Beaty and Minneapolis South High senior Jesse Sprinkel 6-3, 6-4 for the title.

Women's Doubles -- Jessie Aney - The Rochester Century senior put on quite a show this spring as she played high school tennis for the first time since her freshman. Aney, a University of North Carolina signee, made her impact playing for the Panther's boys team. The senior who won a pair of girls state titles as an eighth grader and freshman finished the regular season as the undefeated Section 1 champion. Aney eventually lost in the Minnesota Class AA Singles State Semifinals to State Champion Toby Boyer of Forest Lake. Aney who narrowly missed qualifying for the Women's Singles Division with a loss in the championship to Alexis Nelson. Aney went on to partner with Nelson to claim the Women's Doubles title with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Chanhassen High junior Hayley Haakenstad and Edina High senior Caitlyn Merzbacher.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Men's Singles -- Victor Pham - The Menlo senior and Columbia signee already had already completed an All-American season prior to his Sectional Qualifying victory. Pham who played the No. 1 Singles spot for the Knights was selected to the All-Tournament team at the prestigious National Invitational Boys High School Team Tennis Tournament . Pham's success helped lead Menlo to a record tying 7th consecutive Central Coast Section Team Tournament title. Pham qualified for the US Open National Playoff by winning the NorCal Sectional Qualifier. Despite a number of three set challenges throughout the event, Pham rose to the occasion defeating Northwestern freshman Logan Staggs, 6-3, 6-3 in the championship.

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