For the second consecutive year, I’ve been chosen to coach the New England 16-and-under team at the United States Tennis Association’s prestigious intersectional competition in Shreveport, Louisiana. It is with great pride that I accept this position.

Squads from the sixteen sections of the United States face off in a team competition that includes singles, doubles, and mixed doubles play. Truly, the best 16-and-under players from across the United States will play in “the swamp” before going on to other national or sectional individual play.

What really makes this event special for us are our hosts. The four boys and the four girls who comprise the New England team stay for the week with two local families, who not only put the kids up and feed them, but come to matches and cheer for their visitors. Given the daytime temperatures in Shreveport, this is quite an achievement!

This year, the New England team includes four players from Massachusetts, three from Connecticut, and one from Maine. Our Connecticut natives include Elyse Hamlin of Fairfield and Bradley Orban of Milford.

The competition begins Sunday. Check back for another entry during the competition.

Ed Paige
Head Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach
Fairfield University

Blog Note: Ed Paige is the head coach of the Fairfield University men’s and women’s tennis teams. Under his guidance, both the men’s and women’s tennis teams captured the 2012 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) championship and advanced to the NCAA tournament. He coached the USTA New England team during the summer of 2011 as well.