Lucy Nutting and Jaclyn Williamson Rule in DC Open Women’s PCQ

November 17, 2017
Chevy Chase, MD

By Erin Nicholson Ortiz, Tournament Director

November 17 was a crisp, clear, sunny day for the DC Open. Not nearly as hot as last year's 78-degree beach weather, but better for paddle. With a condensed draw of 16 teams, players were in the hunt for Region III PCQ points. 

In the end, two Philly/Delaware teams beat out local MD and VA teams in the semis. Karin Kochis and Cindy Prendergast held off Del Owen and Cathy White in one semi in a battle of wits, deftly placed overheads and "never say die" patience, taking it 6-4, 6-7, 6-3. In the other semi, Lucy Nutting and Jaclyn Williamson used some serious firepower off the ground to defeat Stella Ip and Erin Nicholson Ortiz 6-4, 6-3.

The finals pitted nationally ranked partners Kochis and Williamson against each other.  The crowd was intrigued by how that would play out, and they were not disappointed. Kochis and Prendergast took command in the first set, and were ahead in the second, but Nutting and Williamson would not back down. Power returns, unrecoverable overheads to the crease, and excellent volleys gave them the second set. In the third, the teams traded blows and used deep lobs to steal the net away from each other time and again. It was hard to predict the outcome, but in the end, Nutting and Williamson prevailed 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 to win the big prizes: homemade pecan pie and shiatsu massage shoulder/neck wraps. They definitely earned them.

In the Quarterfinal Reprieve, Debbie Holtschneider and Sue Pijawka held off Kristin Mumford and Lisa Murray 6-4,1-6, 6-0 to claim 5th place.
The teams of Julie Maner /Chandra Soucek and Angie Fink/Ellen Markowitz finished tied for 7th/8th.

Robin Newman and Barbara Miles took home awesome Viking backpacks for winning the Consolation over Kym Kochis and Colleen Sedgwick 6-2, 6-2.

In the Consolation Reprieve, two local teams from the host facility, the Chevy Chase Club, met in the finals.  Samantha Cronic and Victoria Knopes were victorious against Hadley Cooper and Caroline Curtin Connell.

Many thanks to Chevy Chase Club Director of Racquets, Guga Goncalves, and Head Platform Tennis Professional, Alex Dove, for running a flawless event.