USTA Missouri Valley

08/25/2026

Joplin High School is hosting the Joplin Interstate Championships, a 32-team tournament starting on Friday. This is the fifth year of a tournament that was the brainchild of Ben Coltharp, Joplin High School girls’ and boys’ tennis head coach.

Read more about this tournament bringing girls’ high school teams from Missouri, Arkansas and Illinois together: https://www.usta.com/en/home/stay-current/missourivalley/missouri/joplin-interstate-championships-high-school-girls-tennis-tournament.html

08/24/2026

It's that time of year again! 🎾🎉 Big things are happening in New York City and you'd be surprised just how many familiar faces are in attendance!

Some of the highlights include:
🎾 Two players
🎾 Six officials
🎾 One wheelchair coach
🎾 One racquet stringer
🎾 Nineteen 35 X 35 President's Impact Award winners
🎾 One Champion of Equality
🎾 Two SuperSport winners
And there are so many more (some to be announced and some known)!

All of the local connections can be found on our US Open Connections page here which will be updated throughout the tournament: https://www.usta.com/en/home/stay-current/missourivalley/usta-missouri-valley-faces-at-the-2026-us-open.html

08/24/2026

Debbie Zrubek and her 55 & Over 8.0 women’s team out of Wichita punched their ticket to nationals last month!

The hard work over the years has paid off for this tight-knit group who came out on top in a very competitive draw.

Read the article on the team here: https://www.usta.com/en/home/stay-current/missourivalley/kansas/team-zrubek-wichita-league-national-championships.html

08/23/2026

Don't miss out on these play opportunities with deadlines this week!

Juniors:
🎾 Level 3 Closed: Junior Cup Team Championship (August 26)

Adults:
🎾 Level 4 Open: 18+ NTRP & Open (August 29)

Find/Register for these tournaments and more here: https://playtennis.usta.com/tournaments

08/22/2026

We're still cruisin' along Route 66! 🚗

Between Springfield, Missouri and Oklahoma there are multiple stops in USTA Missouri Valley some of which have tennis ties and some that don't... yet 😉

We've got TWO tennis ties along Route 66 today:
🎾 Carthage, Missouri: Ever wanted to play tennis in a cave? The Carthage Cave Courts, maintained by Underground Racquets, are tucked into a huge limestone cave that used to be a mine. Two private full-size tennis courts are located 60 feet underground.
🎾 Joplin, Missouri: The city of Joplin — and its high school tennis complex — was leveled during a May 22, 2011 EF-5 tornado. In the aftermath of the devastation, the USTA donated $100,000 to help rebuild the Joplin High School tennis courts. The USTA also recruited the involvement of its members and other organizations to assist in relief efforts.

The full Route 66 article can be found here: https://www.usta.com/en/home/stay-current/missourivalley/route-66-highway-centennial-anniversary-tennis-highlights.html

08/21/2026

Connie Bennett and her 65 & Over 7.0 women’s team will be representing USTA Heart of America and USTA Missouri Valley at nationals for the first time since 2022!

Learn more about the 92-year-old captain and her team here: https://www.usta.com/en/home/stay-current/missourivalley/heartofamerica/captain-connie-bennett-league-nationals.html

08/21/2026

It's that time of year again 👀 We have a new USTA Missouri Valley Hall of Fame class coming in and it's time to drop some clues about who will have the honor of being inducted. Can you guess who this inductee is based on the following riddle? 🤔 (Keep your guesses in mind, but shhhh no spoilers please!)

Oh, boy, where do we begin?
Perhaps the place that drew him in
Born in the city, then off he’d roam
But as a teen, OKC became home

Didn’t start tennis right away
Then at 18, played nearly every day
Five to six times a week for years on end
And the game became a lifelong friend

Keep those guesses in mind, but again please no spoilers! The official announcement will be coming in a few weeks.

08/20/2026

The last Flex League season of 2026 is quickly approaching! Are you registered?

Join our fall season of USTA Flex Leagues to meet new players in your area while playing friendly, competitive matches. This is a great opportunity to play when and where suits you!

The fall season for USTA Missouri Valley starts September 14.

Download the USTA Flex app to get started!

08/20/2026

We're very excited for these courts to open on August 29! This is one of many USTA Tennis Venue Services projects being completed in USTA Missouri Valley! 🎉

Brand new tennis courts are opening soon at CiCo Park. 🎾

“This all started with a strategic facility plan that was kind of finalized in 2014.”

⬇️

08/20/2026

Larry Newton has spent around 40 years volunteering in the Nebraska tennis community and continues to find new ways to increase play opportunities.

Most recently he helped create a summer pilot program with Omaha-area high schools.

Read the Q&A with Newton here: https://www.usta.com/en/home/stay-current/missourivalley/nebraska/larry-newton-omaha-summer-pilot-program-high-schools.html