Tennis league is all about fun
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Tennis, anyone? Not too early to ask: Spring is just 47 days away and the East Hills Summer Tennis League is setting its schedule of competitive matches in singles, doubles and mixed doubles.
"In February, we contact last year's players to see if they're returning," explained Ed Gerstenhaber, league president. "We'll fill in the rosters with people on the waiting list and new players and finalize things by March. The sooner people let us know they're interested, the better chance they have of playing."
The league formed in 1969 to give members a chance to play competitive tennis in a league, meet others and, above all, have fun. The season starts May 1 and runs through mid-August. Then a round-robin tournament begins and runs through the end of September.
"During the season, opponents phone one another to schedule the time and place of their meet," said Mr. Gerstenhaber, 65, of Murrysville. "Our members play all over the eastern suburbs, depending on where they live and work."
Most play on public courts, but others play on private courts such as the Racquet Club in Monroeville and the Tennis Center in East Liberty, he said.
Players in each of the league's divisions are ranked by ability. A schedule of division play is set at the beginning of each season and, over a 16-week period, each member plays every member once. At the end of the season, the winners of each division move up a rank, while those who came in last move down a rank.
Members pay an annual $25 fee, which includes admission to the league picnic and the annual awards banquet, traditionally held at the Holiday Inn in Monroeville. For the past couple of years, the tournament and picnic have been held at Monroeville Community Park.
The minimum age to join is 18. There is no maximum age. If a parent wants to play one of their children, the child must be at least 16 years old. During the course of the season, singles play 15 times, doubles play eight to 10 times, and those who play both singles and doubles could play a total of 25 different matches.
First Published February 2, 2012 4:55 am
