July 29, 1999

Columbia, Mo. - For the second year in a row, the United States Tennis Association/ Missouri Valley Section (USTA/MV) announced that Missouri head tennis coach Blake Starkey will coach the Midwest's top ranked youth players at the Intersectional Team Championships. The players will compete in a team format, taking on top ranked players from around the country. The weeklong tournament will be held in San Rafael, Calif., Aug. 3-6. Starkey will coach six 18 year olds, preparing them for the upcoming national tournament.

"(Starkey) did a fabulous job for us last summer," Youth Tennis Coordinator Jill Bachochin said. Bachochin was in charge of selecting the coach for the championships.

The USTA/MV is a not-for-profit organization "which promotes tennis as a means of healthy recreation and fosters sportsmanship and fair play by promoting tournaments, events, and activities." The Missouri Valley Section represents the states of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and parts of Illinois. It is made up of seven districts with the sectional office located in Kansas City, Mo.