Morning Star Staff
The Vernon Tennis Association (VTA) took silver at the Miele Team Tennis Provincial Championships last weekend in Whistler.
The Vernon Tennis Association (VTA) actually never lost a round, but defaulted to Victoria in the final due to an injury replacement.
Vernon won the final doubles match, but because of an injury replacement during that match, they lost the championship to Victoria by default. (Under Tennis BC rules, a team is unable to replace a player, even due to injury, during a match that has already started.)
James Cotter had to replace Loren Guenette who tore a calf muscle. The team was leading with Guenette and went on to win with Cotter.
Joe McFadden, who captained the team and organized the Whistler trip, could not go because of work commitments. Alain Brunelle took over as captain.
Each round consisted of two doubles matches and one singles match against each of the other four teams.
VTA held off New Westminster 2-1, shut down Whistler and False Creek 3-0 and edged the Vancouver Tennis Association 2-1.
Vernon was also represented by Alain Brunelle, Gary Edwards, Riku Komiya and Minsoo Han.
The VTA team beat Salmon Arm, Kalamalka Club (Coldstream) and the Kelowna entry to qualify for provincials. John Widing helped VTA in some matches, but also missed Whistler.
Komiya is an exchange student at Fulton from Japan, while Han was born in Korea but has settled in Vernon after living in Australia. he also attends Fulton.
Meanwhile, the 104th annual Okanagan Valley Labour Day Tennis Championships go this weekend at the Kalamalka Country Club. There are singles and doubles matches.
