USTA Southern California Celebrates Excellence
at Annual Service Awards

The USTA Southern California community gathered on February 5, 2026 at the Long Beach Marriott to celebrate individuals, families, and organizations whose extraordinary and diverse contributions were driving forces in growing the game across Southern California in 2025. 

The evening was a celebration of their dedication and impact. Below are the honorees.

Henry Talbert Lifetime Achievement Award : Pam Shriver

Pam Shriver made her mark on court as one of the greatest doubles players in history.

She has won 112 career titles, including 22 Grand Slams, 21 in women’s doubles. Alongside Martina Navratilova, she set the record for 109 consecutive match wins, a streak that included the 1984 Grand Slam. A few years later, partnering with Zina Garrison, Pam captured Olympic Gold in doubles at the 1988 Seoul Games. 

Her playing career is extraordinary, but what truly sets Pam apart is her work beyond the court. Service is part of who she is. It is how she was raised and how she lives. 

From her annual charity tennis event in downtown Baltimore, raising over four million dollars for the Baltimore Community Foundation, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and other local causes, to Sisters4Good, an organization she founded with her sister, Eleanor Shriver Magee, her service is unparalleled.

In leadership roles, she has served as President of the WTA, was the first elite player to serve on the USTA Board of Directors, and became the inaugural President of the USTA Foundation. She currently serves on the WTA Charities Board of Directors and volunteers with organizations including Coaches Across America, ACEing Autism, and JDRF. 

Monumentally, in 2022, she demonstrated extraordinary courage by sharing her personal story in order to promote healing, accountability, and, most importantly, to protect current and future generations of athletes. 

Most recently, following the fires in the Pacific Palisades and Altadena, Pam stepped forward as President of Village Rising Foundation. With tennis as the through-line, she dedicated thousands of volunteer hours to rebuilding fire-impacted communities, supporting schools, restoring access to courts, feeding educators, and directing over $125,000 to trusted local nonprofits. 

As Elise Friedman, founder of Village Rising, put it: “Pam’s “doubles mentality”—being the best partner possible—has forged alliances across Los Angeles, transcending affiliations and uniting stakeholders around a shared goal: rebuilding fire-affected communities stronger than before. How fitting that Pam is once again “serving” on the front lines, this time in fire recovery, working tirelessly to help Los Angeles rebuild and thrive, just as the city prepares to welcome the 2028 Olympic Games, forty years after her own Olympic gold medal victory.”

Through tennis, Pam Shriver has modeled excellence, leadership, courage, and generosity for nearly five decades. Like Henry Talbert, she leads with purpose and devotion to the sport. She is one of the Greats, not only for her excellence on the court, but for her unwavering commitment to making people’s lives better off of the court.

Curt Condon Spirit Award: Debbie Mahdessian

As the founder of the Santa Monica Tennis Collective, Debbie Mahdessian has spent the past nine years cultivating inclusive, community-based tennis programming. She enthusiastically supports USTA initiatives, hosting local tournaments, community play days, wheelchair workshops, and more, fostering an environment where players of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities feel welcome and valued. Through her selflessness and generosity, Debbie exemplifies how tennis can serve as a powerful vehicle for connection and healing.

Debbie demonstrated exceptional leadership and compassion in 2025, more than once turning times of crisis into opportunities for community support through tennis. Having lost her own family’s home in a fire in 1993, following the devastating Los Angeles fires in January 2025, Debbie quickly organized the collection and distribution of essential tennis equipment to families affected by the disaster, helping give back their access to tennis. 

Later that year, after the tragic loss of Braun Levi, Debbie channeled her grief into action by spearheading the Live Like Braun Memorial Tournament in partnership with the LLB Foundation and USTA SoCal, creating a meaningful space for remembrance and collective healing. Jennifer Saltzgiver Levi, Founder, Live Like Braun Foundation, MADD CA Legislative Board, and Advocative for DUI Awareness and Sentencing Reform, joined Debbie at the event.

Area Specific Service Award: Homefield Advantage – Los Angeles

Home Field Advantage (HFA), based in Downey, has played a transformative role in expanding access to tennis through a deeply community-rooted model. Founded in 2016 by Sacha van der Most van Spijk with the mission to build healthier, stronger, and more connected communities through sports-based leadership development, HFA began as a soccer organization, expanded to basketball in 2019, and introduced tennis in 2022.

In 2023, HFA leadership convened coaches and community members at the HFA Clubhouse to explore a central question: what does a true community tennis club look like? Those collaborative workshops led to the launch of an adult tennis team and the formal creation of the HFA Tennis Club.

Since then, HFA has grown into a full-service tennis club offering adult team play, youth and adult classes, and Junior Team Tennis programs. As a member of the USTA SoCal National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) network, HFA has introduced young players in Downey to both the fun and competitive sides of the sport while also providing low-cost adult programming that models lifelong participation.

By activating local neighborhoods, developing homegrown coaches and role models, and utilizing underused community facilities, Home Field Advantage has made tennis more accessible, inclusive, and locally driven, strengthening the long-term growth of the game in the Downey community.

Area Specific Service Award: Club Raquetas – San Diego

Tony Ley, founder of Club Raquetas, is known for his infectious energy and commitment to building vibrant, inclusive tennis experiences in Southern California. Since launching the club in 2022, he has transformed it into a powerful force for connection and access in San Diego’s South Bay. With a mission to make tennis accessible to all, Tony set out to challenge the perception of tennis as an elite sport and to increase Hispanic representation in the game.

A self-described “captain of fun,” he hosts weekly open clinics, created “Tamales y Tennis” at a local brewery to promote Red Ball play, and co-hosted a USTA coaching workshop in Chula Vista to expand access in historically underserved areas. He also served as a keynote speaker at the 2024 Hispanic Heritage Celebration at Cal State LA. A relatively new player himself, Ley first picked up the sport while seeking a healthier, more active lifestyle, one that could also inspire his young daughter. 

Through community events and social media, Tony has introduced hundreds of new players to tennis. Accepting his award with his wife and daughter looking on, he emphasized cultural pride and sensitivity, reinforcing that lasting growth in tennis depends on belonging as much as programming.

Organization of the Year: Woodcraft Rangers

CEO Julie Brooks accepted the Organization of the Year award on behalf of the entire team at Woodcraft Rangers. Founded in 1922, Woodcraft Rangers has spent more than a century providing high-quality afterschool and enrichment programs for youth across Southern California. Their work is guided by the belief that every child is “innately good, deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential, and should have a voice in shaping their own path.” Their north star is “access and equity.”

A newly designated SoCal NJTL chapter, Woodcraft Rangers has rapidly expanded access to Red Ball tennis across Los Angeles schools, creating meaningful entry points to the sport for elementary and middle school students. In partnership with the section, Woodcraft launched tennis programs in spring 2025 at eight schools, fielded eight doubles teams at the WOW! (Ways of Woodcraft) tournament, and hosted the inaugural Woodcraft Open, bringing together 20 school teams from the San Fernando Valley for competition and a family Play Day.

Today they serve more than 25,000 youth annually through after-school, sports, arts, STEM, and enrichment programs. Recognized by the USTA Foundation as the only Community Impact Hub on the West Coast, Woodcraft has expanded to 18 schools and expects to reach up to 5,000 youth and families this year. 

Family of the Year: Eusebio Family

The Eusebio Family, Jacob, Evan, and their mother, Wendy, were honored as “Family of the Year” for founding Serving Advantage, a youth-led adaptive tennis nonprofit serving players with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The organization began in 2020 when Jacob recognized the lack of consistent group tennis opportunities for his autistic brother, Evan. What started as a way for two brothers to connect has grown into a thriving program offering camps and weekend clinics for youth ages 8–17 across Southern California.

Founded by Jacob and two fellow high school students, Serving Advantage pairs athletes with and without disabilities, often one-to-one, creating inclusive, supportive tennis experiences. Volunteer coaches are middle and high school players.

Now in college, Jacob remains connected to the mission, with Wendy leading ongoing operations and serving as a resource in the adaptive tennis community. At its heart, Serving Advantage is about joy and belonging, something Evan summed up beautifully: he loves tennis because it makes him happy and everyone is so kind.

Eugene Jung Multicultural Award: Lisa Thomas

A Chicago native, Lisa Thomas first discovered tennis through a community program, an experience that shaped her lifelong commitment to opportunity in sport. She went on to excel in both tennis and basketball, playing professionally in the first women’s pro basketball league (1979–1982), and was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018.

After retiring from a distinguished career as a scientist and researcher at Cedars-Sinai, Lisa launched MYF to serve the diverse communities of the San Gabriel Valley. The foundation offers inclusive programming for youth and adults of all skill levels, from beginners to advanced players, with a focus on representation, mentorship, and high standards.

In accepting her award, Lisa highlighted tennis as a unifying force, sharing how, after the Pasadena and Altadena fires, tennis was among the first sports to resume, helping young people reconnect with classmates and adults rebuild community ties. Through MYF, she continues her mission to make tennis accessible to all.

Junior Competitive Tennis Service Award: Alison Guzman

Alison Guzman, head coach of the girls and boys varsity tennis teams at Temecula Valley High School, is a driving force behind the growth of junior competitive tennis in Riverside County. Alison brings elite experience, integrity, and joy to her coaching. 

Alongside her husband Marc, Alison teaches her players to compete confidently, encourages collaboration, and nurtures lasting relationships among players, creating a family-like environment. Her philosophy is rooted in belief in each athlete’s potential and balancing competitive rigor with kindness. Her teams achieve ongoing success, and many of her players participate in USTA SoCal Junior Team Tennis.

She credits her husband, her children, and her mother’s lifelong love of tennis for inspiring her work. For Alison, this award reflects the players’ passion, commitment, and love of the game more than her own achievements.

Wheelchair/Adaptive Service Award: Lindsey Vosburgh – YTSD WC Youth Outreach Program

Lindsey Vosburgh has played a pivotal role in expanding youth wheelchair tennis through Youth Tennis San Diego (YTSD). Over the past three years, she has helped grow the free Youth Wheelchair Outreach Program from a small initiative into a thriving weekly after-school program serving elementary through high school students. Today, eight youth athletes participate regularly. The program removes financial barriers by providing certified adaptive coaching, sport wheelchairs, equipment, free clinics, tournaments, and summer camps at no cost.

The impact is tangible. One standout example is Kaia, an 11th grader at Canyon Hills High School, who earned a spot on her high school team and now competes in tournaments while exploring scholarship opportunities. Accepting the award on behalf of YTSD and its coaches, Lindsey emphasized that the work is about inclusion, belief, and expanding opportunity for all young athletes.

Junior Net Generation/Junior Team Tennis Service Award: Fabiana Ibanez-Dieguez

Fabiana Ibanez-Dieguez, who is only a few years into coaching JTT teams, has quickly made an impact in Junior Team Tennis and Net Generation programming in San Marcos. Her coaching philosophy emphasizes joy, inclusion, and personal growth, creating a welcoming, supportive environment for every child. She removes barriers by providing loaner racquets, fostering engagement, and motivating players. One of her 10-and-under teams even qualified for sectionals last year. Beyond on-court success, Fabiana goes above and beyond off the court by hosting team barbecues, giving participation trophies, and involving her family to make events feel like true community gatherings, helping parents and players form lasting friendships. Honored with the Junior Team Tennis award, Fabiana credits her family, USTA SoCal, and supportive parents (who she will only let bring healthy snacks!). She emphasizes that this honor is all about the kids, who are the heart of her work.

College Tennis Award: Megan Lowery Haber

Megan Lowrey Haber, a San Diego native and head women’s tennis coach at Grossmont College since 1999,  has built one of the most successful community college programs in California’s history. Megan is deeply committed to athlete development both on and off the court. A trusted mentor, she supports student-athletes, preparing them to transfer successfully to four-year universities. She shares, “Each year presents an opportunity to work with new athletes. It is very rewarding to see these women advance to greater levels, both academically and athletically.” Megan maintains a strong connection with many of her former players and is often invited to celebrate life milestones long after their college playing days are over.

Youth Leadership Award: Mirabelle Dean

Mira Dean joined USTA SoCal’s Youth Leadership Council as a high school freshman at University High School in 2024 and quickly became a leader on the Community Engagement Committee. During her first term, Mira helped organize the USTA Junior Circuit through fundraising efforts, organizing the brackets and age groups, coming up with prizes and games, and volunteering as a full-day court monitor. Mira is ever present at community events, including SoCal Wheelchair Sectionals held at Great Park, the Jack and Jill of America donation drive, Angel City Games, and the USTA SoCal Community Provider Social. Also a member of the leadership team student-run nonprofit Serving Advantage, Mira helps develop the programming for adaptive tennis instruction, organizes clinics and adaptive community play days with USTA, and provides on-court coaching instruction. Her attention to detail led to program brochures being translated into Spanish to more fully reach underserved communities with intellectual or developmental disabilities. 

Youth Leadership Award: Armen Balikyan-Bekian

In his first year on the Youth Leadership Council, Armen Balikyan-Bekian made an immediate and meaningful impact by organizing the “Rebuilding Altadena” fundraising tournament in response to the January fires. Determined to use tennis as a force for good, Armen partnered with Cecil Mamiit and Joel Dacay of Tennis Mechanix, with support from his mother.

The event brought together 73 players across two sites, Burbank Tennis Center and Burbank High School. What began as an effort that directly raised over $2,000 to support 15 families ultimately grew to more than $9,000 with the help of Linda Milan and the SCTA Foundation, and helped over 60 individuals with financial assistance and tennis equipment.

Armen demonstrated initiative, persistence, and leadership well beyond his years to pull off the event. In accepting his award, he thanked his mentors, supporters, fellow council members, and family, emphasizing that the effort was worth it and that he would “do it all over again” to support his community.

Adult Tennis Service Award: Dominique Gambale

Dominique Gambale’s mother inspired her love of tennis, feeding her balls as a child at the local community center. Dominique has captained USTA League teams in San Diego for over 30 years. A former standout at Clairemont High School, Dominique is celebrated for her strategic insight, player development, and commitment to helping her league players improve their ratings and confidence. Many players credit her with opening doors to higher-level competition and creating thoughtfully constructed teams that challenge and support growth. She was able to lean on this same community she had nurtured over three decades following a tragic accident 15 years ago.

On February 11, 2011, Dominique Gambale was standing in front of a restaurant in downtown San Diego with her husband and others when she was struck by a taxi cab. The driver had fallen asleep at the wheel. She spent two months in the hospital and underwent ten surgeries to save her leg. Doctors could not guarantee she would walk again, much less return to the court.

Uncertain of the outcome, Dominique rehabbed for almost 3 years, while cheering on her teams from the sidelines. Today she is back playing 4.0 USTA League Tennis four times a week. “I hope to play as long as my mother did,” Dominique says. “She played until she was 88.”

Innovative Programming Award: Chris Boyer – SoCal Pro Series

Chris Boyer has reshaped professional tennis opportunities in Southern California through his visionary creation of the SoCal Pro Series. The annual series provides a high-quality, competitive platform for regional players, helping accelerate the careers of emerging stars like Alex Michelsen, Learner Tien, and Iva Jovic. 

In accepting the award, Boyer says, “As leaders in tennis, we are not just caretakers of the game, we are its architects. We shape pathways, set standards, expand opportunities and influence whether the sport grows or stagnates. Like any thriving enterprise, tennis must evolve.”

Over almost 5 years, the SoCal Pro Series has hosted $15,000 men’s and women’s events, distributing over $210,000 in prize money and offering valuable ATP and WTA ranking points. By attracting top juniors, college players, and rising professionals, the series fosters a vibrant competitive environment that sharpens competitive experience, builds confidence, and deepens the pipeline of top American players.

Chris’s vision emphasizes inclusion and opportunity. Southern California players, including juniors and college players, can compete in pre-qualifiers, while wild card spots ensure local talent has access to main draws. 

For more than 25 years, Chris has served the section and the USTA as a Board and Executive Committee member, national delegate, committee and task force member, and now as a USTA national consultant. “This award is not a finish line,” he says. “I hope it motivates all of us to think bigger, lead with integrity, and keep SoCal – rich in tennis history – at the forefront of innovation.”

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Our USTA Southern California Service Award ceremony brought to life a powerful truth this year: tennis is largely built outside of the spotlight, by coaches who host barbecues, families who build programs from scratch, communities who rally in times of crisis, and leaders who create access.