Alumbaugh, Purcell to play ITF Seniors Championships

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) announced today the players who will represent the United States at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Seniors World Team Championships, which will be held August 12-18 at various tennis facilities in Ulm, Germany.

Two players selected for the teams are from the USTA Missouri Valley. Willie Alumbaugh of Leawood, Kansas will be on the Fred Perry Cup team, while Patricia Purcell of St. Louis will be on the Alice Marble Cup team.

The tournament is the senior tennis equivalent of the Davis Cup and Fed Cup competitions, with top American tennis players representing their country in the 50-, 55- and 60-and-over age groups.

The U.S. will enter the event as the defending four-time champion of the Alice Marble Cup (Women’s 60 & over).  The American teams will also look to retain the Austria Cup (Men’s 55 & Over) title for the second year in a row.  Team USA will once again try to win the elusive Maria Esther Bueno Cup (Women’s 50 & over) after finishing runner-up the last two years.

Following the ITF Seniors World Team Championships, the World Individual Championships will be held August 18-25.

Below is a list of players representing the United States for each Cup:

Fred Perry Cup - Men's 50 & over

1. Eoin Collins, Houston, Captain

2. Fredrik Skoglund, Rockville, Md.
3.Tim Kullick, Charlotte, N.C.

4. Willie Alumbaugh, Leawood, Kan.

Austria Cup - Men's 55 & over

1. Bill Moss, Malibu, Calif. 

2. Kenneth White, Elma, N.Y.
3. Michael Tammen, Portland, Ore., Captain
4. Stuart Saiki, Orlando, Fla.

Von Cramm Cup - Men's 60 & over

1. Mark Vines, Naples, Fla.

2. Maxime Buyckx, Marietta, Ga.

3. Ross Persons, Houston, Captain

4. Wesley Cash, Chattanooga, Tenn.

Maria Esther Bueno Cup - Women's 50 & over

1. Andrea Rice, Bethesda, Md.

2. Debbie Spence-Nasim, Carlsbad, Calif.
3. Jenny Klitch, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

4. Rosalyn Nideffer, San Diego, Captain

Maureen Connolly Cup - Women's 55 & over

1. Mary Dailey, Delray Beach, Fla.

2. Shelly Works, San Antonio, Captain

3. Tracy Houk, Montara, Calif., 

4. Vicki Vasicek Buholz, Dallas

Alice Marble Cup - Women's 60 & over

1. Carolyn Nichols, Rancho Santa Fe, N.M., Captain

2. Diane Barker, Daniel Island, S.C.

3. Patricia Purcell, St. Louis

4. Susan Wright, Grand Junction, Colo.