USTA Missouri District Championships Coming Soon

Bids to the USTA Missouri Valley Section Championships are up for grabs at the USTA Missouri District Championships.

The 2021 women’s 40 & Over League District Championships at 3.5 and 4.0 are slated to take place in mid-July at the Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield. Leslie Echols — who was recently hired as the USTA Missouri adult league coordinator — said she’s looking forward to overseeing the District proceedings for the first time.

“I’ve never been to districts or sectionals, but I’ve heard the competition is definitely a little more intense,” Echols said. “I’m excited to see our teams go, and I’m excited to experience it in person.”

Districts for the 3.5  are scheduled for July 17 at the Cooper Complex with July 18 acting as a make-up date. There are additional back-up dates on July 31 as well as August 1. The winner of a three-team pod in Springfield will face off against the winner of a three-team grouping in Columbia. The victor in that matchup will claim a district title and advance to sectional action.

At the 4.0, Echols noted two teams were added this year in the Columbia pocket to enable districts to take place. The two Columbia-based teams will face off while a Joplin team and Springfield team will also face off.

The winners of each of those matchups will then duke it out in the championships. That is tentatively scheduled for July 18 at Cooper Tennis Complex. The 4.0 champion will move on to USTA Missouri Valley Sectional Championships, which is slated for August 26-29 in Tulsa. Meanwhile, the 3.5 winner will compete in Sectionals in Topeka, Kansas August 26-29.