The Suffolk/Harbourview Lobsters and Riverfront Jazz tennis teams, based in North Suffolk, recently competed at the 3.5 and 3.0 World Team Tennis (WTT) National Qualifier in Raleigh, N.C. The local WTT league director, Nick O’Hara, Jr., and his wife Raquel, attended the event, and felt both teams played well against very strong competition at the 3.0 and 3.5 levels.

This was the first WTT National Competition for many of the players, and the first WTT national tennis tournament that players from Suffolk have ever participated in. The 4.0 team from Riverfront/Harbourview was unable to attend due to injuries and other commitments.

All of the players enjoyed the WTT team concept and camaraderie. WTT tennis has a fun and exciting format, teams consist of 4-10 players, who play women’s and men’s doubles, singles, and two mixed doubles matches

Players on the Lobsters are Christine Parrish (captain), Susan and Richard Brayshaw, and Gabe Thompson. The Jazz players are Mary Frances Balsamo (captain), Cary and Tim Kelly, Vickie Megahed, and Dave Piland.

Participants atthis national event, were not only from Suffolk, but also Smithfield, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, and Hampton.

Tennis players interested in participating in upcoming World Team Tennis leagues, can log on to wtt.com, select rec leagues, join a league, select Virginia from the states participating, and click on Chesapeake-Suffolk fall league, which is currently signing up players at the 3.0 and 3.5 levels. The league director, O’Hara, Jr., is a former college tennis player at William and Mary and Kempsville high school standout.