Previewing 2018 USTA League Nationals - The top men's 18 & Over 4.5 teams

Most sections and areas are now playing their USTA League regular seasons, some have even completed them and had local or state/district playoffs.  So it seems like a good time to take a look at who the top teams are and who may be vying to make it to Sectionals and Nationals.

The metric I'll be using is the top-8 average for each team using my Estimated Dynamic NTRP Ratings and for these lists include the top-40 teams and ties.  And to keep a little intrigue and anonymity, I'll be listing the area for the teams but not the team names.  Contact me if you are interested in a report with the team specifics and more details.

The 18 & over 4.0 women and men have been previewed, as have the 3.5 women and men, and 3.0 women and men, and the 4.5 women, now the 4.5 men.

Rank	Location	Average
1	MISSOURI VALLEY / NEBRASKA	4.62
2	FLORIDA / REGION_3 / HILLSBOROUGH	4.58
3	MID ATLANTIC / WASHINGTON D.C.	4.57
4	MIDWEST / WESTERN MICHIGAN	4.56
4	FLORIDA / REGION_2 / DUVAL	4.56
6	MISSOURI VALLEY / ST. LOUIS / St. Louis Local Leagues	4.55
7	SOUTHERN / NORTH CAROLINA / NC - CENTRAL CAROLINA	4.54
7	MIDWEST / WESTERN MICHIGAN	4.54
7	SO. CALIFORNIA / SAN FERNANDO VALLEY	4.54
7	NO. CALIFORNIA / MA	4.54
11	MID ATLANTIC / MARYLAND / MONTGOMERY COUNTY	4.53
11	TEXAS / SAN ANTONIO	4.53
13	TEXAS / AUSTIN	4.52
13	NO. CALIFORNIA / LP	4.52
15	NO. CALIFORNIA / FA	4.51
15	MIDDLE STATES / ALLEGHENY MNTN.	4.51
17	SOUTHERN / NORTH CAROLINA / NC - ENO RIVER (Dur)	4.50
17	SO. CALIFORNIA / SO.CALIFORNIA / BEACH CITIES	4.50
17	SOUTHERN / SOUTH CAROLINA / SC - LEXINGTON-LATA	4.50
20	SO. CALIFORNIA / SO.CALIFORNIA / SAN GABRIEL VALLEY	4.49
20	NO. CALIFORNIA / SF	4.49
20	SOUTHERN / GEORGIA / GA - ATLANTA - 2018	4.49
20	SOUTHERN / GEORGIA / GA - ATLANTA - 2018	4.49
20	SOUTHERN / GEORGIA / GA - ATLANTA - 2018	4.49
20	TEXAS / AUSTIN	4.49
26	SOUTHERN / NORTH CAROLINA / NC - METRO (Chl)	4.48
26	FLORIDA / REGION_3 / HILLSBOROUGH	4.48
26	FLORIDA / REGION_8 / SOUTH MIAMI/DADE	4.48
26	TEXAS / SAN ANTONIO	4.48
26	FLORIDA / REGION_8 / SOUTH MIAMI/DADE	4.48
26	SOUTHERN / NORTH CAROLINA / NC - ENO RIVER (Dur)	4.48
26	NO. CALIFORNIA / SB	4.48
26	SOUTHERN / ARKANSAS / AR - NORTHEAST - JONESBORO	4.48
26	SOUTHERN / NORTH CAROLINA / NC - METRO (Chl)	4.48
26	NO. CALIFORNIA / MP	4.48
26	NO. CALIFORNIA / EB	4.48
26	NORTHERN / NORTHERN / TWIN CITIES - 2018	4.48
38	PACIFIC NW / EASTERN WASHINGTON	4.47
38	MIDDLE STATES / NEW JERSEY	4.47
38	NO. CALIFORNIA / NS	4.47
38	TEXAS / AUSTIN	4.47
38	NO. CALIFORNIA / EB	4.47
38	MISSOURI VALLEY / OKLAHOMA / OKLAHOMA CITY	4.47
38	MISSOURI VALLEY / IOWA	4.47
38	TEXAS / VALLEY	4.47

One Missouri Valley team has separated a bit from the rest, but then the teams are pretty tightly grouped from a number of different sections.

If you are interested in a report like the above with even more information for your local league flight or to scout any level of playoffs, a flight report will fit the bill.  Not only will you get the top-8 average for each team, but the overall average and a summary showing how each team has played their courts so you can see if they are stronger/weaker in singles vs doubles and if they tend to stack or not.  Contact me if interested.