From September 12-14, San Diego’s Barnes Tennis Center played host to the 2025 USTA Southern California Adult 55 & Over League Sectionals, bringing together more than 600 of the section’s top players, each competing for a chance to lead their team to a championship title. Competition spanned the full range of skill levels, from 6.0 to 9.0.

Qualifying matches were held on Friday and Saturday, followed by championship play on Sunday. Teams competed not only for the title of Section Champion, but also for a coveted berth in the prestigious 2025 USTA National Championships.

Champions of the 7.0 and 9.0 divisions will advance to the USTA National Championships, taking place in Scottsdale, Arizona, from October 31 to November 2. Winners of the 6.0 and 8.0 divisions will compete the following week, November 7-9, in Surprise, Arizona.

Match formats were consistent across divisions, with minor variations. All levels followed a best-of-two tiebreak sets format, with a 10-point match tiebreak (win by two) played in lieu of a third set. Overall matches were decided by best of three team wins. 

Regarding tournament structure, the 6.0 Women’s division featured three unflighted matches, with the top two teams advancing to the final. The 7.0 Men’s, 7.0 Women’s, 8.0 Men’s, and 8.0 Women’s divisions also comprised three unflighted matches each, with the top four teams progressing to the semifinals. Meanwhile, both the 9.0 Men’s and 9.0 Women’s divisions were played in a single round-robin format, with final standings determining the champions.

6.0 Women

Earning the first Sectionals title for their area both on the weekend and the season, San Diego North County picked up the win in the Women’s 6.0 division. Led by captains Nellwyn Voorhies and Lori Strom, “SDNC Fairbanks Ranch” from the Fairbanks Ranch Country Club went undefeated in unflighted play, earning wins over teams from San Gabriel Valley, Inland Empire, and San Diego—dropping just one individual match along the way. With the best overall record heading into the final, San Diego North County (SDNC) faced a familiar opponent in a rematch against the San Diego squad they had already beaten just a day earlier. This time, they left no doubt, sweeping the final 3-0 to secure the title. Finishing the weekend as finalists, Laura Stacy’s squad out of Peninsula Tennis Club compiled a 2-1 record in their unflighted matches prior to the finale. 

7.0 Men

Dominating from start to finish, San Gabriel Valley captured the Men’s 7.0 division championship in commanding fashion. Led by captains Andy Chang and Jun Wan, the “Crouching Tigers” out of the Arcadia Tennis Center began qualifying play with wins over teams from Coachella Valley, Los Angeles, and San Fernando Valley, without dropping a single individual match. As the only undefeated team after unflighted play, San Gabriel Valley entered the playoffs as the top seed. They continued their momentum in the semifinals with a 3-0 sweep of Inland Empire, earning a spot in the final. Facing Beach Cities in the final, San Gabriel Valley held strong and clinched the title with a 2-1 victory, completing a perfect weekend. The finalists from Alta Vista Racquet Center, led by Maurice Kogon and Mark Gross, delivered a strong performance, finishing with a 3-1 record across unflighted play and their semifinal run.

7.0 Women

Triumphing in the Women’s 7.0 division, San Fernando Valley secured its first Sectionals title of the event and fourth of the season. Led by captains Helen McCusker and Jo Ann Thrailkill, the “Volley Gals” of the Glendale Tennis Academy went 3-0 in unflighted play with wins over teams from Los Angeles, San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire. One of just two undefeated teams entering Sunday, the “Volley Gals” advanced to the playoffs as the No. 1 seed. They edged out San Diego North County in the semifinals, 2-1, before defeating Beach Cities by the same score in the final to clinch the title. As finalists, Cheryl Unrein’s team from Beach Cities’s West End Tennis & Health Club also delivered a strong performance, compiling a solid 2-1 record in unflighted play before picking up another win in the semifinals over an unbeaten squad. 

8.0 Men

Adding to both their weekend haul and season total, San Gabriel Valley secured another Sectionals championship, this time in the Men’s 8.0 division. Captained by Andy Chang and Victor Ho, the “Arcadia Gladiators” from the Arcadia Tennis Center asserted their dominance early, launching an undefeated campaign with decisive victories over teams from San Diego, Ventura County, and the Beach Cities. Earning the No. 1 seed heading into the playoffs, the “Gladiators” swept Los Angeles 3-0 in the semifinals. The final featured a clash of unbeatens, as SGV squared off against Frank Tran and Enrique Garcia’s Orange County squad hailing from the Costa Mesa Tennis Center. In a tightly contested match, San Gabriel Valley came out on top once again, edging Orange County 2-1 to claim the title. The victory marks their eighth Sectionals title of the season, the most by any area so far in 2025, for San Gabriel Valley—tied for the most by any area so far in 2025. It also cements Andy Chang’s unique distinction as the only captain to lead two teams to Sectionals championships at this event.

8.0 Women

Captained by Mai Gu, Orange County’s “RCI” team from the Racquet Club of Irvine battled their way to a hard-fought Sectionals championship in the Women’s 8.0 division. Starting their weekend off strong, Orange County first picked up two victories against teams from Inland Empire and San Diego North County, before falling in their third unflighted match to San Gabriel Valley. Squeaking into the playoffs as the No. 4 seed, Orange County was immediately faced with a rematch against the same unbeaten San Gabriel Valley team that had topped them the day before. Rising to the challenge, they avenged the loss with a gritty 2-1 victory in the semifinals to punch their ticket to the final. There, another familiar opponent awaited: San Diego North County, the team they had previously beaten in unflighted play. Once again, Orange County came out on top, edging San Diego North County 2-1 to claim the championship. Lisa Moses’ “Surf & Turf” team, representing the Surf & Turf Tennis Center, also had an impressive weekend, losing only to the eventual champions.

9.0 Men

Not stopping at just one title, Orange County’s “RCI” picked up their second championship of the weekend, this time in the Men’s 9.0 division. Playing under captain Alex Truong, the team competed in a round-robin format and posted a 3-1 record, earning wins over Ventura County, San Diego North County, and Santa Barbara. Tied with Ventura County as the only teams to finish 3-1, Orange County claimed the championship by virtue of holding the head-to-head victory, while also leading in individual matches, sets, and games won. As runners-up, Bob Benton’s “North Ranch Legends” from the North Ranch Country Club finished the weekend with a strong 3-1 overall record.

9.0 Women

Wrapping up the weekend, Orange County captured an event-best third title with a win in the Women’s 9.0 division. Vicky Blanco’s “Laguna Woods” team from the Laguna Woods Golf Club went undefeated in round-robin play, notching victories over teams from San Diego, Beach Cities, and San Diego North County. The win marks the eighth Sectionals title of the season for Orange County-based teams, tying them with San Gabriel Valley for the most in Southern California during the 2025 season. Finishing as runners-up, the San Diego squad from University City Racquet Club—captained by Diane Ghiron and Deborah Fitzgerald—closed out the weekend with a strong 2-1 record.

Spirit Award Winner

With a tie, Ventura County’s “Hot Tamales,” captained by Patti McNamara, and Coachella Valley’s “Rancho La Quinta,” captained by Suzanne Young, were awarded the seventh and eighth Spirit Awards of the season. This recognition marks the second Spirit Award for a Ventura team this season, and the first for a Coachella Valley team. Both teams were honored for best embodying SoCal spirit during the event, earning widespread support across social media channels and ultimately being selected as co-winners.

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