Oktoberfest/Tennis...Love/Love!

Festive was the definite mood at the Club tonight, with not only great tennis on hand, but a great night of food and friends with our Oktoberfest appetizer challenge. Hey...it really wasn't an Oktoberfest themed...but it was a great way to share some awesome apps (I am not talking iPhone here!) with friends and watch some great tennis at the same time. Singles matches started the evening. First off was the conclusion of the Mens A singles match between Club pro Robert Nuscher and Junior Bannis. I have heard of a rain delays before but this was crazy...nonetheless they started where they left off at 3-3/duece in the third set. From there...the Pro prevailed by taking the third set 6-3. Big hitting Christian Nelthropp started off a little slow but really picked it and beat Carlos "Roddick in the HOUSE" Rojas, 6-4, 6-0. Mens B #1 seed Julian DePersio beat Max...uhm....whats his name....whatever...by a score of 6-2, 6-3. Max retrieved a lot of balls today, but Julien was just too solid on his groundies. Gabrielle Armstrong played a good game against #1 seed Jackie Holt but Jackie proved too strong in the end and took the match 6-4, 6-2. Solid play by Jackie, but she could have intimidated Gabby by announcing before the match, "if we are going to be battling on the court together, you will NOT call me Mrs. Holt!" Nothing like SCOLDING your opponent before the match! A battle of wills on court 1 with Natalie Nelson taking on Julie Miellur. Great hitting and placement by Julie, but Natalie would just not go away. Julie takes the first set 6-4...but Natalie got one ball back after another and took the second set in a tiebrake. Third set, here we go...drama included. A medical time out was called by Natalie for...cramping toes?! Come on! This is like the Mens A players stopping play due to sprinkles! All kidding aside, cramping is a painful...Natalie took some time off to hydrate but ended up in too much pain. She retires with Julie up 4-1 in the third. Both Natalie and Julie had mixed matches to continue...how on earth was this going to play out?! With Max "whats his name" doing some big trash talking to #1 seeds Debbie and yours truly...everyone wondered if Natalie was going to be able to continue her mixed. After some time off, hearing plenty of cramping cures from the peanut gallery, and hydrating, Natalie and Max return to court 1 to take on Debbie and myself. Max held serve to start the match...but on the first point of Debbies serve, I poached and smacked a volley which hits Natalie! Natalie winces in pain...but it ends up not being from being hit...but rather from the cramping that started again. In severe pain, Natalie was THIS CLOSE to defaulting. I offer to help massage her calve which resulted in me being beat upon from Natalie because it "hurt so good" (name the singer!). With screams of "harder!" and "oh yeah, right there!" I was totally confused but happy to help out. More massage and Heineken therapy to Natalie, and she is ready to continue. Default avoided! Match play continues but the #1 seeds prove to strong and we win 6-2, 6-0. Truthfully, I may have been energized because...well...I am not sure, but I think I may have had sex. If not...it was the most action I have had in a while, so...thanks Natalie! Other not so physical matches were completed as well with iron woman Julie Miellur and Andy Felman taking out the new "it couple" of the tournament, Jeri Ferrante and Mario Aiello by a score of 6-4, 6-3. "Poodle" Heckman and the "Motta-vator" defeated big serving Flavia Logie and "what did he just say" Carlo Rojas by a score of 6-3, 6-3. Laura Croney and Robert Nuscher took it to Debbie Schreiber and Dan Lawrence. Kudos to Laura for returning to St. Croix tennis and to Deb Schreiber for playing up to the A's. Speaking of playing up, the final match of the evening was a thriller between newcomer Dave Solusky and Barbara Robbins and Stevie Spencer and Greg James. Barbara and Stevie playing up and having a great time at it. This was a great, well played match. Dave and Barbara took the first set but Greg and Stevie fight back hard and win it in a thrilling three set match by a score of 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. This was ONE FUN NIGHT OF TENNIS...don't miss out on the fun and join us tomorrow and this weekend for the conclusion of the first week.

By the way...are you doing anything tomorrow night, Natalie?