USTA League 18 & Over Mixed Nationals Day 2 Update

Day 2 of 18 & Over Mixed Nationals in Mobile is complete and we know the semi-finalists.

It appears all matches were played using full scoring formats, thanks to getting most if not all the matches in yesterday despite some rain due to using modified Fast Four scoring to shorten the matches a bit.

At the 6.0 level, there were four 4-0 teams, Caribbean, Texas, Florida, and Southern, so no tie-breakers or controversy.  Although tie-breakers were used for seeding the teams and Florida got the #3 seed over Southern on fewer games lost despite Southern having a sets record of 21-8 vs 19-8 for Florida.  But those are the tie-breakers being used.

The 7.0 level had two 4-0 teams, then a 5-way tie for two spots at 3-1.  The teams advancing were SoCal, Middle States, Texas, and Southern.  Midwest and PNW lost out having won one fewer court so a pretty straight-forward tie-breaker.

At the 8.0 level, there were three 4-0 teams in Missouri Valley, Texas, and Florida, and New England was tied with PNW at 3-1 but won one more court to got the #4 spot.

The 9.0 level was a little more interesting.  There was one 4-0 team in Missouri Valley, but then five 3-1 teams for three spots.  Texas and Southern separated themselves with 10-2 records on courts so took seeds #2 and #3, but then one team needed to be picked from Mid-Atlantic, Northern, and SoCal.  The former two were 9-3 on courts and Mid-Atlantic lost two fewer courts, so they got the spot.  SoCal got left out at 8-4 on courts.

But a deeper look reveals that Texas, Mid-Atlantic, and Northern all played New England, who didn't win a court the entire weekend going 0-12.  So those teams benefited from an easy opponent that SoCal didn't.  A deeper look yet shows that each of those three teams also benefited from New England defaulting a court each match.  SoCal obviously didn't have the benefit of that advantage and had to play each of their courts.  I do not know why the New England was allowed to field a team with a roster of 5, but they very well may have lost the defaulted court had it been played anyway given they were a weaker team.  But this shows that strength of schedule very well could have played a role in who was able to advance.

The 10.0 level, four teams finished 3-1 and all advanced, Southern, Florida, Midwest, and NorCal.  We almost had a 2-2 team make the semis, but alas not.

So the finals are set, and the weather should be fine tomorrow.  Good luck to all!