Wichita women’s tri-level team qualifies for nationals

USTA Kansas is home to some of the best USTA League teams in the country, as evidenced by one of the latest teams punching a ticket to the USTA League National Championships.

A 3.0-4.0 women’s tri-level team captained by Lesli Toubassi represented USTA Kansas and USTA Missouri Valley at the Tri-Level League National Invitational in San Diego on March 8-10. The team had a solid showing at nationals, defeating USTA Southwest 2-1 and USTA Southern 2-1 for an eighth-place finish.

The squad, which is primarily made up of Crestview Country Club members and other players from across the Wichita area, played together as a tri-level team for the first time. However, the team’s 4.0 players and 3.0/3.5 players have been playing together for several years in different leagues.

It wasn’t the easiest trip to the top of the sectionals podium for the team, as explained by Toubassi.

“Well, we’re sort of a Cinderella story,” she said. “We didn’t win our season and were lucky enough to get a wild card. We went into sectionals thinking there weren’t nationals at this low of a tri-level, just Section Championships.

“We played our first round and someone mentioned nationals to us. We had an emergency ‘Are we in it to win it?’ meeting, and my teammates heard San Diego and all bets were on. We swept sectionals 5-0.”

Player Kelsey Baker said: “I don’t do anything without a purpose, so let’s go for it.” Another teammate said: “San Diego? Who doesn’t want to go to San Diego?”

The 18 & Over 3.0-3.5-4.0 tri-level crew earned a spot at nationals in their own backyard, as the USTA Missouri Valley Tri-Level Invitational took place in Wichita. Toubassi said she had to make some difficult decisions to help the team advance.

“As some know, it’s hard being a captain,” Toubassi said. “I had to tell the girls, ‘If we’re in it to win it, lineups will change and some will play more than others. And some will only get to play once.’ No captain wants to make those decisions, but for the greater good it has to be done.

“My decision-making wasn’t always the best. But it was good enough to get us to nationals.”

To view team champions from the 2024 USTA Missouri Valley League Section Championships, click here. For full results from the national invitational, click here.