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Sunday, July 22, 2001

There were glitches, to be sure, but tournament director Don Mercer gave two thumbs up for the National Collegiate Clay Courts Championships and $10,000 Futures of Pittsburgh that ran concurrently two weeks ago at the Mt. Lebanon Tennis Center.

Mercer would like to do it again next summer, expanding the event to two weeks if he can persuade the people who run the tennis center to make the courts available.

James Handly, USTA supervisor who evaluated the Futures, recommended bringing it back.

"We should give this site and the concept another run next year," Handly said. "The two-event concept was a benefit to both."

It also was a headache for Mercer and his staff.

"We went through growing pains," he said. "But I think we got through it OK."

The clay court championships didn't have as large a field of collegians as Mercer would like, and the default of both players in the same semifinal bracket was a disappointment. Mercer rescheduled a number of matches to accommodate the players and was forced to switch the women's final from Sunday to Saturday because of a player's travel plans.

"Overall, I'd say it was a successful beginning," Mercer said. "This is what I've been working for the past six years."

Mixing it up

The Glen Creek Tennis Club won its second consecutive title in the 6th annual Western Pennsylvania Inter-Club Junior Mixed Doubles Championships at Butler Country Club. Greensburg Racquet Club finished second.

Each of the 12 clubs in the field entered an 18-under and 12-under mixed doubles team.

Glen Creek's Dan Gal and Jessica Lauritzen formed the 18-under team and Chris Brett and Liz Yetiskul were the 12-under duo.

Greensburg's 18-unders were Mark Gross and Michaela Kissell and the 12-unders were David Mattock and Joelle Kissell.

Wildwood Country Club's Jack Connolly and Yetiskul won the Sportsmanship Award and Fox Chapel Racquet Club's Tony Papas and Michaela Kissell received the Extra Effort Award.

"I'd like this event to become so popular we can't host it at Butler CC and have to move it to North Park and make it an all-day tennis carnival. That's my dream," said Whitney Snyder, the founder and tournament director. "I'd like to see more summer programs from all parts of Pittsburgh in this tournament, bringing all different walks of life together."

What would it take to expand the event?

"The enthusiasm of the individual pro at each program," Snyder said. "I sent out 30 invitations this year and got 12 responses."

The event has grown from eight teams the first four years to 12 the past two.

"I want to make this a real home run event," he said. "I'd say we've hit a double so far."

For more details and information, call Whitney Snyder, 724-686-5985.

Net results

Gary Schwartz, 52, won the open division and the 35s division of the USTA-sponsored CitiParks Holiday Classic at Schenley Park. Schwartz (Pittsburgh) defeated Leo Sweeney (Pittsburgh) in the final of the open division, 6-4, 6-3, and Mike Odrey (New Kensington) in the 35s, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-3.

Campus courts

Mandee Craft, a recent graduate and four-year member of Geneva's tennis team, was named the school's women's coach. She replaces Janet DiTullio, who resigned following the 2001 season.

What's happening

The Pittsburgh Parks Championships will be at the Schenley Park courts, Aug. 4-12, because the restoration of the Frick Park courts in Regent Square isn't expected to be completed until late this summer. A firmer red clay is being installed to replace the American brown clay and only two of the six courts has been resurfaced. The Pittsburgh Parks Championships, an open tournament for men and women, will run concurrently with the CitiParks Championships that will have senior divisions for 35s, 45s, 55s, 65s and 75s. Entry deadline for both tournaments is July 28. For more details, call Jim Rudolph, 412-244-4188.