| | Sonoma Valley
Tennis Association
Newsletter
July 2010
| | Issue No. 13
|
SONOMA VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
TENNIS COURTS
|
NOW OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
The Sonoma Valley High School courts are now open for use by the public. We owe thanks to several dedicated community activists who refused to abandon the issue.
A new group "Friends of the SVHS Courts" is being formed and will undertake an effort to raise
funds for maintenance and lights. Let's take care of them like they were our own!
Watch
for details about a fall fund-raiser tournament.
|
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Start date is Saturday, September 18, at the
SVHS courts. This year, the contact for the S.O. practices is
Maureen Keesey Fuentes
Special
Olympics Sonoma Valley
mkfuentes@earthlink.net
(707) 938-0280 tel
(707) 775-8359 cel |
2010 FREE SUMMER YOUTH TENNIS CLINICS
|
10th Annual
SVTA Free Summer Tennis Clinics
for Juniors Sponsored by Sonoma
Valley Tennis Association,
Made Possible by Kiwanis Club
of Sonoma Plaza and Rotary Club of Sonoma.
The 2010 Free Program has been
in session since June and will conclude August 10.
Facilitated by Barbara and Swede
Thoreson, together with Judy Muller, with instruction by Teaching Pro Brett Stephenson and the able assistance of generous volunteers
from SVTA, the program again boasts a full roster.
If you can volunteer to help at the clinic
on Tuesday evenings at Maxwell Courts, 5:00-6:30 pm, please call Judy Muller
933-8020.
|
 USTA LEAGUE NEWS
|
NEW NORCAL PILOT LEAGUE
USTA NORCAL
has announced that a 2010 Pilot 70+ League will be open to players seventy years or
older on or before December 31, 2010. This league has been developed by USTA NorCal in response to requests
from many players seeking a playing field appropriate to age 70 and above. Last fall, in
Sacramento, the Pilot 70+ for men debuted with six teams at a combined 7.0 level.
This
year there will be a 6.5 combined divison and a 7.5 combined division for men's teams and a 7.0
combined division for women's teams. Matches will consist of three doubles lines of play. Match results
will not be used in the calculation of year end ratings for 2011.
Teams may register August 23 - September
20, 2010. Play begins October 4, 2010.
|
USTA LEAGUE PLAY |
ADULT & SUPER SENIOR 2010 LEAGUES WRAP-UP
Mens 4.5 Stefan Serbicki, Captain
5th
in field of 8
Record: 3 Wins-8 Losses
Mens 4.0 Bob Benz, Captain6th
in field of 11
Record: 4 Wins-6 Losses
Womens 4.0 Sue Smith, Captain7th in field of 10
Record: 6 Wins-5 Losses
Womens 3.5 Winnie Nemiroff, Captain 10th in field of 15
Record: 6 Wins-8 Losses
|
USTA 2011 SENIOR LEAGUES - IN SIGN-UP
|
New Senior Season Begins Soon!
Start
Date: Sept. 27, 2010
Co-Capt: Lou Knipper
2011 Senior League Womens 4.0
Capt: Sue Smith
Co-Capt: Jan Edwards
Click on above links for team USTA pages.
|
SVTA 2010 FIFTY MIXED LEAGUE 8.0
|
Short but Sweet
Fifty Mixed Season has
started
The first match of the season was a nail biter, but we
couldn't quite pull it out this time. Our 50MX team lost 1-2 on Saturday to the ever tough La Cantera players.
But they are just warming up for the season, which continues into fall.
|
SONOMA-NAPA-MARIN WOMEN'S TENNIS LEAGUE (SNMWTL)
|
LEAGUE NEWS NEW
DIVISION
For Beginners and Veterans
B-3 IS BACK!
The Sonoma-Napa-Marin Women's Tennis
League (SNMWTL) has reintroduced the B-3 Division for the 2010/2011 season. Three teams have registered for the Fall 2010 Season. It is anticipated that more teams will join for
the 2011 Spring season (January start) The goal of the new division is to provide a level specifically geared to beginning
players and those players who no longer enjoy the competitive level of the higher divisions.
The new B-3 Division is subject to all the rules of the SNMWTL and USTA but with the following exceptions:
Features: Small roster size: minimum of 10 players Small
line-up: 1 singles and 2 doubles
Later start time is optional to accommodate
players with young children If you
are interested in joining or wish additional info, please contact Judy Muller: 707-933-8020, mullerwoman@sbcglobal.net
|
SNMWTL
FALL 2010
SEASON BEGINS LAST
WEEK OF AUGUST 2010
SVTA
A-3 Team Barbara Hall, Captain Sue Smith, Co-Captain SVTA B-1 Team Sue Vargas, Capt Genevieve Blanchard, Co-Capt SVTA B-2 Team
Judy Muller, Captain Jeanette Barekman, Co-Capt
If you would like information about our
Women's League, contact our
SVTA League Rep Darcy Stephens.
For League Information and Current Standings
and Results, visit SNMWTL
|
Rally for the Cure Success
Thanks for your support
On May 7, 2010, SVTA held
its 2nd Annual Rally for the Cure in support of the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
A round-robin tennis tournament, run by USPTA pros Christi Hayes and Sam Levy,
was followed by lunch at George Ranch, catered by Rocket, and concluded with a great raffle. 37 Sonoma women opened their hearts and wallets, and sent a check for $2170 to the Cure!
|
QUICKSTART
- SONOMA JUNIOR TEAM TENNIS
|
Through the energy and drive of SVTA board
member Lisa Dedmore (above left), NorCal USTA's QuickStart program is in high gear in Sonoma Valley. SVTA is grateful for the generousity of NorCal USTA, and most particularly for the unselfish time and resource commitment of NorCal rep Michelle Skipwith (above right), who has been working tirelessly with Lisa to make the program a
success.
For
those of you not familiar with the Quick Start format, please visit the USTA's QuickStart website
There will be another 6 week clinic beginning in Fall (Sept. 5th) and it will welcome all beginner children ages 6-8. Lisa can always use
parent or community volunteers!! Training is provided, so please contact her
for more information.
**PLEASE EMAIL SonomaJrTeamTennis@yahoo.com for more information or to VOLUNTEER
and visit the QuickStart page at sonomavalleytennis.org
|
COURT CLEANING AT MAXWELL TO
END!
SVTA is sorry to lose Mark Harvey's court cleaning services at Maxwell. He has
been doing an excellent job for a couple of years, washing, blowing, and emptying trash, but cannot continue. (The County
had been paying him to clean Larson, too, but he will not continue there, either.)
WANTED:
A part-time court cleaner! Is there a member, or do you know someone, who would like this job? The court washing is during
summer months only, but we also need someone to blow the courts and empty trash cans weekly all year. Get in touch for more
details -
please respond by email if you are interested. |
ENGLISH CAMP - July 2010
Since 2001, CommonBond's English
Camp, directed by Ms. Anna Pier, has offered a three week summer camp designed to provide English
learners an opportunity to expand their knowledge while developing their English language skills, using
science, math and games. And tennis is one of those games. This year, the children from English
Camp, along with Brett Stephenson, SVTA Teaching Pro, Mentors Barbara and Swede Thoreson, Judy Muller,
and SVTA volunteers, participated in the English Camp Tennis Program at Larson Park during the month of July. It is because of the continuing
support of Kiwanis and Rotary of Sonoma and the generous
donations of our SVTA members, that SVTA is able to participate as sponsors in this exciting community
program. |
STRING FORUM
Noel Barbulesco,
USRSA
|
If you
listen to John McEnroe's commentary during the Grand Slam tournaments, you know that many of the top players have switched
to a new type of tennis string. While natural gut is still very popular, there is a seismic shift to the new "polyester
and co-polyester" strings.
Traditionally, synthetic strings have been made of some form of nylon which is
fairly elastic - basically an attempt to simulate the playability of gut. Polyester strings are entirely different.
These strings are very stiff and provide increased control and spin production - especially for players that take a full
swing at the ball.
Some of the new polyesters are:
Luxilon M2 - Luxilon is one of the leaders in polyester
technology. Their "Big Banger" string has been a huge success. The new M2 is a high tech polyester
that creates "variable flex" providing more comfort on soft hits and more control on hard hits.
Kirschbaum
Helix - A polyester that is helically wound in a multistage twisting process. Helix is a more lively polyester with
a bit of rough texture to enhance spin. Not quite as stiff as the Luxilon.
Prince Poly EXP - EXP provides
a crisp feel with plenty of power and durability. I have this in a thinner 18 gauge for additional touch.
Babolat
RPM Blast - This is the "black magic" string used at the French Open by Raphael Nadal and Samantha Stosur.
According to John McEnroe, this string will greatly increase spin production (how can Nadal hit with more spin...?)
All of these strings are in stock. One word of caution. If you suffer from tennis elbow, polyester is not
for you. The stiffer feel will transmit more impact to your arm. A good compromise would be to try a hybrid
string job with either natural gut or a good synthetic gut married with one of the polyesters.
(July 2010)
|
SVTA Logo Contest - Last Call
|
SVTA is having a
LOGO CONTEST! Have
you ever regretted that SVTA doesn't have an attractive, recognizable logo, to include on signs, letterheads, Facebook,
a clothing line??
Design
a simple, attractive logo; the winner will get one year free membership in SVTA.
Keep the number of colors to a minimum, because additional colors always add expense to printing processes.
Submit
your entries as a pdf to SVTA .
Last call for entries for the SVTA logo
contest. We only have 2 entries; that doesn't give the membership much of a choice! We will continue the contest until September,
so get inspired and submit your design(s!)
|
HANNA BOYS CENTER GOLF & TENNIS CLASSIC
|
Here's Your Chance!
How
often can you have fun and support a great cause at the same time?
Silverado Country Club, Napa Golf
(AM or PM Flights) * Tennis (Doubles Division A & B) * Evening Festivities
Friday, September 17, 2010
|
FOUNTAINGROVE GOLF & TENNIS TOURNAMENT
NORTH BAY CANCER
|
KNOW THE RULES
What happens if a server "whiffs"
the serve or moves excessively while serving?
USTA Comment 18.2: What does the rule mean when it says that the server may "not change position
by walking or running"? One key to understanding this rule is to realize that the server's feet must be at rest immediately
before beginning to serve. The delivery of the service then begins with any arm or racket motion and ends when the racket
contacts the ball (or misses the ball in attempt to strike it).
To define walking or running with precision is difficult.
This rule is intended to prevent the server from taking advantage of the receiver by serving while "on the move"
and requiring the receiver to guess the position from which the serve will be launched, and the rule should be enforced
with that intent in mind.
|
|
Welcome to our new and/or returning SVTA Members
 says welcome to our
most
Doug Lane, Santa Rosa
Carol High, SF
John Liles, Napa
Sara Butz, Sonoma
Dick Henley, Sonoma
(as of July, 2010)
|
IDEAS?
Suggestions for future items or comments about
the newsletter are welcome!
Click here and share your thoughts.
|
SVTA
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2010
Erin Collins, President
Ann Weeks, Vice President
Genevieve Blanchard, Secty-Treas.
Members-at-Large
Noel
Barbulesco
Lisa
Dedmore
Molly Johnston
Mike Kelly
Bruce Lamoreaux
Fred Merrill
Marilyn Mertens
Judy Muller
Steve Somers
Darcy
Stephens
Barbara Thoreson
| | | | |  RECYCLE Please help us recycle.
The County advises that its budget does not allow them to help us with a recycling program, but if you will
use the recyling bin from the shed for your matches, we'll try to save the planet.
AND
PLEASE, DON'T THROW YOUR LEFT-OVER COFFEE INTO THE COURT TRASH CONTAINERS.
|
| LESSON SPECIAL
FROM BRETT STEPHENSON
|
Six lessons for the cost of Five. If an SVTA
member pre-pays for five lessons, the sixth lesson will be complimentary. Or, if an SVTA member takes five private
lessons five weeks in a row, there will be no charge for the sixth lesson. For Fee and Schedule,
contact Brett Stephenson Phone:
925 683-2460
Email:brettstephenson10s@yahoo.com
|
Racquet
Stringing
Noel Barbulesco
(h) 938-1274
(c) 364-9211
(p/u & delivery
to Maxwell and Larson)
|
Would you like to write to the
SVTA Board of Directors?
| |
| |
| | | | |
|
