Austin Tennis Academy News

November 20, 2007

Junior Team Tennis State Championships: 3rd State Title for "Dream Team", "Aces" Return to State

For the third consecutive season, the 14 and under ATA Gold Team, the "Dream Team", won the JTT State Championship in New Braunfels. Consisting of Morgan Barnhill, Brittany Brewster, Allie Carlisle, Maggie O’Meara, Josh Hagar, Austin Mayo, Conor O’Rourke, Charlie Shin, and Liam Woolley MacMath, the Dream Team fought through rain shortened duals and tough state competition to claim their third consecutive State Junior Team Tennis (JTT) Title. In addition, ATA’s 14 and under Aces Comp Team: Savannah Brilliant, Ali Burak, Jessica Clouse, Carli Knezevich, Garrett Callen, Will Douglass, Pierce Kelley and Casey Shaw won their final dual of the weekend. Both ATA teams were coached by Academy Co-Director Cristina Moros and Junior Academy Director Brian Notis.

In the round robin qualifying, the Dream Team "blasted through the draw, winning 87 of 90 games", as an excited Coach Notis looked on. Due to rain, the semi-final format was shortened to 10 point super-breakers where ATA faced their strongest competition in the Corpus Christi team. After outlasting Corpus Christi, Coach Notis saw the Dream Team "dominate a strong Dallas squad", adding that, "we handled our position as favorites and defending Champs with class and confidence."

Playing in the Intermediate Comp division, the 14 and under Aces Team lost their first two duals by the same narrow 3 to 2 margin. Though they finished their round robin competition with a 5-0 win over East Texas, the Aces fell one match short of advancing to the final round. Coach Notis knew that the Aces were "disappointed they did not advance, but should be very proud of their efforts both in New Braunfels and through out the season."

In late June, the Dream Team will try to defend their JTT State Title for the fourth time, with a win securing a trip to JTT Nationals in Mobile, Alabama. For all Austin Tennis Academy Junior Team Tennis squads, 2008 marks the beginning of another great JTT season. The Austin Tennis Academy encourages all players to sign up for JTT, as it is a great orientation to tennis competition. Congratulations to all JTT players on a great season!

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