The Northern Arizona USTA 40+ 3.0 Women’s team traveled to Mobile, Alabama, to compete against the best in the country at USTA Nationals, and they made the most of every moment!
Representing Prescott, Flagstaff, and all of Northern Arizona, the team faced an incredibly challenging field, including the eventual national champions from Eastern, runner-up NorCal, and two other top-five finishers, Southern and Texas.
Despite the tough competition, Northern Arizona posted a win against every team they faced! Six players recorded at least one match victory, and Becky Thomas finished the tournament with a winning record.
Beyond the results, Nationals was an opportunity to compete at a higher level, learn from new challenges, build friendships, and represent our Northern Arizona tennis community on the national stage.
The team shared some thoughts about their unforgettable experience:
Ellen Radavich, Team Captain:
“What a thrill to take this team to nationals in Alabama! We worked tirelessly to prepare and saw some of the toughest competition we have ever faced. We left everything on the courts – and had a blast! We are so grateful for the support of both the Flagstaff and Prescott tennis communities!”
Vicki Penna, Co-Captain:
“Participating in Nationals with the amazing Prescott and Flagstaff women was exciting. Playing against people from all over the country was so much fun. Our team battled hard, every win happened in a 3rd set tie break. Getting that last point at 11-9 with Becky Thomas will always be a treasured memory.”
Becky Thomas:
“The exposure to the levels of play and how important it is to adjust your game in real-time was so beneficial. The puzzle on the court was a constant push and pull. What an amazing experience!”
Kelly Ruelas:
“Nationals was a great experience! We met some new friends and got closer with our team. We learned more about tennis and pushed ourselves harder than before. I am so glad we got to go and we will continue to grow from everything we have learned. Thanks for supporting myself and our team!”
Kim Conley:
“I loved every minute that I was competing at USTA Nationals! Stepping onto the court against some of the highest-level players I’ve faced was an incredible challenge that gave me a fresh perspective on my game. I had to figure out how to adapt to new styles and pull together moments from so many different lessons over the last year to rise up and meet the standard of competition I was facing. I had so much fun with that process and challenge. I’m walking away with great takeaways and a huge spark of motivation to keep working to get to new levels.”
More Than a National Tournament
From hard-fought third-set tiebreaks to new friendships and valuable lessons, this team showed what Northern Arizona tennis is all about: dedication, sportsmanship, teamwork, and a love for the game.
A huge thank-you to everyone in the Prescott and Flagstaff tennis communities who supported this team’s journey to Nationals. Your encouragement helped make this opportunity possible.
Congratulations, ladies! You traveled, you trained, and you triumphed. Northern Arizona is proud of you! Please click the button below to view photos from the event.
Event Photos!