By Alex Headley
A Birmingham team featuring two Trussville women will be headed to Palm Springs, CA for the United States Tennis Association’s National tennis tournament.
Alexis Shuchart (Hoover), Sandy Thompson (Trussville), Mallory Cain (Cahaba Heights), Becky Holland (Trussville) and Kristin Westwood (Hoover) won the the USTA 5.0 women’s Local, State and Southern section tennis championships and now are headed to Palm Springs, CA for the USTA National tournament.
“So far so good – we have won everything!” Ruth Anne Bendall, the Birmingham Local League
Coordinator
. “Seriously, our team has had several tough matches at the sectional tournament and we are excited about making it through and qualifying for nationals.”
The team qualified for national six years ago but has some added youth to the team this year to help
them along. “We have three new players,” Bendall said. “Several of our core members have played together for years.”
The National tournament is a format of four teams in three pools and the top three teams advance to
the semi’s along with the top 2nd place team from across all pools. The Birmingham team will play one singles and two courts of doubles matches. The team winning the best of the 3 matches wins.
This is a record year for Alabama in the tournament. Alabama is sending 3 men’s teams – 2.4, 3.0 and 3.5 and the women’s 5.0 team. “This year is a landmark year for Alabama – we are sending 4 teams to nationals – all from the Birmingham area,” Bendall said. “We are excited to be representing the Southern Section in the national tournament – and appreciate all the local and state support