Caribbean & Southern win 2.5 National Champs

 A fantastic weekend of tennis came to a close at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, with the Caribbean section men’s team and Southern section women’s team clinching titles at the USTA League Adult 18 & Over 2.5 National Championships.

The Caribbean section men’s team, from Caguas, P.R., eliminated the Pacific Northwest section team, from Mill Creek, Wash., 2-1, in an early-morning semifinal match. From there, Caguas produced its best tennis of the weekend, powering to a 3-0 victory in the final over the Northern California Section team from Roseville, Calif.

“It feels beautiful. Our sacrifice and our love for tennis won it for us,” said Caribbean section team captain Josue Fernandez. “We were so excited to be here in Indian Wells. We had fun and it was a great experience.”

The men’s Southern section team, from Covington, La., finished in third place, blanking the Pacific Northwest section squad, 3-0.

The women’s 2.5 championship match featured a thrilling conclusion as the Southern section team, based at the Brec Highland Road Park Tennis Center in Baton Rouge, La., edged the Pacific Northwest section women’s team, from Tualatin, Ore., 2-1.

Earlier in the day, Southern prevailed in a tight semifinal against the Mid-Atlantic section team, from Columbia, Md., 2-1.

“It’s absolutely incredible,” said Southern section team captain Melissa Johnson. “From playing locally, to going to state and sectionals, we never thought in our wildest dreams we would make it to California. To win is even more incredible.”

The Mid-Atlantic section women defeated the Northern California section women’s team, from Alamo, Calif., 2-1, to capture third place.