First qualifier of the 2012 Rec League season yields four Finals bids

HOUSTON (February 22, 2012) -- In the first of eight WTT Rec League National Qualifiers, four teams earned a regional title and a ticket to the WTT National Finals.

After a rainy start on Friday and Saturday, teams in four divisions had to play most of their matches Sunday with the Tree Huggers of McCordsville, Ind. (pictured to the right below); Bad Aces of Houston (pictured to the left); Vote for Pedro of Houston; and Texas Twisters of Tyler, Texas, advancing to Nationals.  All teams will be making their first trip to the championships at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, Calif., November 2-4.  Championship teams from the eight National Qualifying events, along with Corporate League Teams, advance to the WTT Finals.

The remaining Qualifiers on the WTT Rec League schedule are as follows: March 9-11 in Daytona Beach, Fla.; April 27-29 in Las Vegas, Nev.; July 13-15 in Kansas City, Mo.; July 20-22 in Beverly, Mass.; August 17-19 in Raleigh, N.C.; September 28-30 in Irvine, Calif.; and the final qualifier of the 2012 season in Landisville, Pa., October 5-7. 

For more information on WTT Rec League programs, visit www.WTT.com/RecLeagues or visit the official Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/wttrecleague.

3.5 DIVISION:

In the 3.5 Division, the Tree Huggers of McCordsville, Ind., were undefeated to win the Division title. Captain Tammy Alcala and her team bested the other squads, Hollytree-Smith and Grapes of Wrath, in round robin action on Sunday to earn their first trip to Nationals.  Joining their captain in Indians Wells for the Finals will be Beth Zeilinga, Greenfield, Ind.; David Webber, Plainfield, Ind.; Stephanie Hastings, Indianapolis, Ind.; and William Huff, Beech Grove, Ind.

4.0 DIVISION:

Houston-based Bad Aces won all four matches over the weekend to win the 4.0 Division.  The Aces defeated the Hollytree Warriors and El Chupacabra twice each to earn a ticket to Indian Wells.  Captain Alex Montes, of Houston, will be joined by Sandi Pike, Cypress, Texas; Shannon Pickard, Cypress, Texas; Sheryl de Asis, Pearland, Texas; Bao Hangoc, Richmond, Texas; Pete Rios, Houston; and Tuan Tran, Houston.

4.5 DIVISION/4.5 SENIOR DIVISION:

Vote for Pedro of Houston and the Texas Twisters from Tyler, Texas, captured titles in the combined 4.5 and Senior 4.5 Divisions.  The Vote for Pedro team members qualifying for the Nationals include captain Robert Rizarri, Joe Graham, Pete Rios, Bethuel Gabriel, Piasha VanTho, and Connie Hsiao, all of Houston. The Texas Twisters headed to the Finals are captain Jan Bulls, Tyler, Texas; Cathy Carter, Whitehouse, Texas; Dicksie Walker, Bullard, Texas; Ronnie Blake, Tyler, Texas; Bruce Carter, Tyler, Texas; and Mike Murphy, Tyler, Texas.

MEDIA CONTACT:  Rosie Crews, WTT (rcrews@wtt.com) PH: 817-684-0366

Full results to follow:

3.5 DIVISION:

Tree Huggers (McCordsville, Ind.) earns a 4-0 record to win the 3.5 Division.

1) Tree Huggers (finished with a 4-0  round-robin record)

Tammy Alcala (captain), McCordsville, Ind.; Beth Zeilinga, Greenfield, Ind.; David Webber, Plainfield, Ind.; Stephanie Hastings, Indianapolis, Ind.; and William Huff, Beech Grove, Ind.

2) Grapes of Wrath (finished with a 1-3 round-robin record)

Kent Williams (captain), Bixby, Okla.; Allison Eve, Patrick Volak, Stephanie Galles, Steve Paulsen, Dale Mathis, Kimberly Oliver, Faith Bewley, and Jim Eagleton, all of Tulsa, Okla.

3) Hollytree-Smith (finished with a 1-3 round-robin record)

Bad Aces (Houston) earns a 4-0 record to win the 4.0 Division.

1) Bad Aces (finished with a 4-0 round-robin record)

Alex Montes (captain), Houston; Sandi Pike, Cypress, Texas; Shannon Pickard, Cypress, Texas; Sheryl de Asis, Pearland, Texas; Bao Hangoc, Richmond, Texas; Pete Rios, Houston; and Tuan Tran, Houston.

2) Hollytree Warriors (finished with a 2-2 round-robin record)

Patty Harrison (captain), Jacksonville, Texas; and Tina Vaughn, Melanie Winans, Yvette Brunett, Travis Hunt, Robert Stevens and Josh Way, all of Tyler, Texas.

3) El Chupacabra (finished with a 0-4 round-robin record)

4.5 DIVISION:

Vote for Pedro (finished with a 1-0 round-robin record)

SENIOR 4.5 DIVISION:

Texas Twisters (finished with a 0-1 round-robin record)

Jan Bulls (captain), Tyler, Texas; Cathy Carter, Whitehouse, Texas; Dicksie Walker, Bullard, Texas; Ronnie Blake, Tyler, Texas; Bruce Carter, Tyler, Texas; and Mike Murphy, Tyler, Texas.