TITLE HOPEFULS START STRONG AT JTT 18U NATIONALS

It's only the first day of play at the 2017 USTA Junior Team Tennis 18U National Championships, but two teams have already punched their tickets to the playoffs.

The Island Grinders, representing the USTA Eastern Section in the Advanced division, and Berry Creek, USTA Texas' representative in the Intermediate flight, secured spots in the championship playoff on a rain-interupted opening day of competition.

Play kicked off Friday morning and went into the night following a rain delay at Nationals, hosted at the USTA National Campus at Lake Nona in Orlando, Fla.
 

Teams competed in flight play throughout the day in hopes of maneuvering themselves into position to secure their spot in the championship playoff draw. One Advanced and two Intermediate flights were trimmed down from four teams to three after the trio of USTA Caribbean squads – all hailing from Puerto Rico – that qualified to compete were unable to travel to Orlando due to Hurricane Maria.
 

In the Advanced division, the Island Grinders have locked up first place in Flight B. Consisting of only three squads, the flight took another hit when Northern (BLS) was ruled ineligible as a result of not fielding the minimum number of players required to compete. That meant the winner between the Island Grinders and the USTA Southern (CBRC Tornadoes) wild-card team would claim the flight’s spot in the championship playoff, which went the way of the Island Grinders, 55-37.
 

Northern California (Bay Club Courtside) out of Flight A and Southern (Southern Reign) from Flight D earned the maximum number of games (120) en route to posting 2-0 records on the day, taking firm control in those flights. Texas (ATA Dream Team) sits atop Flight C thanks to winning seven of the 10 individual courts it played, but Missouri Valley (Quail Creek) and New England (North Shore Legends) also remain in the hunt heading into Saturday.

After Friday’s Intermediate matches, Berry Creek (pictured above) built an insurmountable lead in Flight B behind winning 105 games in two duals. Northern California (Laguna Creek Racquet Club) recorded the maximum number of games in their defeat of Middle States (Ox Strong) in Flight D action, setting them up nicely for a spot in the championship draw.

Three teams are still in contention in Flight C while the entirety of Flight A is mathematically left with a chance to play for the championship. Mid-Atlantic (Tennis ADDicts) have won the most games (105) after Day 1 in Flight C, but Eastern (Island Grinders) and Northern California WC (Stonegate Tennis Academy) earned 94 and 85 games, respectively. In Flight A, a mere eight games separates the first and fourth place teams. Southern California (iStringing Team Tenacity) compiled 93 games, one more than both New England (New Hampshire Rogues) and Pacific Northwest (Servivors). Meanwhile, Northern (BLS) loom closely behind with 85 games won.  
 

Play continues Saturday morning starting at 8 a.m. Flight matchups will be completed by the early afternoon, setting the quartet of four-team playoff brackets. All playoff semifinal matches will be contested on Saturday, with finals set to take place on Sunday.

For more information on the 2017 USTA JTT 18U National Championships, click here.
 

ADVANCED FLIGHT STANDINGS
 

Flight A (games won-lost)
Northern California (Bay Club Courtside): 120-39
Midwest (RCC): 87-74
Middles States (The Mill at Gulph Mills JKST): 62-93
Hawaii Pacific (Mililani Monster Tennis Red): 47-110
 

Flight B (games won-lost)
Eastern (Island Grinders): 95-37
Southern WC (CBRC Tornadoes): 37-55
Northern (BLS): 0-40
 

Flight C (games won-lost)
Texas (ATA Dream Team): 108-54
Missouri Valley (Quail Creek): 91-90
New England (North Shore Legends): 85-94
Middles States WC (Delaware Nightmare): 57-103
 

Flight D (games won-lost)
Southern (Southern Reign): 120-17
Pacific Northwest (PNW Elite): 113-72
Southwest (Team ATA): 49-113
Midwest WC (Grant County CTA): 40-120
 

INTERMEDIATE FLIGHT STANDINGS

Flight A (games won-lost)
Southern California (iStringing Team Tenacity): 93-81
New England (New Hampshire Rogues): 92-90
Pacific Northwest (Servivors): 92-96
Northern (BLS): 85-95
 

Flight B (games won-lost)
Texas (Berry Creek): 105-59
Southern (Hendersonville): 30-59
Missouri Valley (RH-91): 29-46
 

Flight C (games won-lost)
Mid-Atlantic (Tennis ADDicts): 105-60
Eastern (Island Grinders): 94-73
Northern California WC (Stonegate Tennis Academy): 85-67
Florida (Miami Thunder): 33-117
 

Flight D (games won-lost)
Middle States (Ox Strong): 73-101
Northern California (Laguna Creek Racquet Club): 60-18
Southwest (Team TCA): 41-55