INDIAN WELLS, CALIF. -- The women's tennis team from Columbia Basin Racquet Club in Richland, representing the USTA Pacific Northwest Section, captured the national title Sunday at the USTA League 3.5 Senior National Championships at the Indian Wells (Calif.) Tennis Garden.

The team is captained by Judith Baston and features Khuelien Dretke, Debbie Berkowitz, Kathy Mehlenbacher, Jan Hanami, Elaine Grace Chapman, Loretta Gohd, Rebecca Gardner, Judy Stromberg and Cyd Bothum.

The CBRC team defeated a team from Walnut Creek, Calif., 2-1 in the championship match. Earlier in the day, the Richland team defeated a team from Fairfax, Va., 2-1 in the semifinals. They advanced this far by winning their round-robin flight contested Friday and Saturday.

The top four teams in order of finish are: Pacific Northwest, Northern California, Mid-Atlantic and Intermountain.

This year's USTA League 3.5 Senior Championship drew the top 34 teams (17 men's and 17 women's) from throughout the nation.

This year marks the 32nd anniversary of USTA League. Since its inception in 1980, it has grown from 13,000 participants in its first year, to over 835,000 players across the nation today, making it the world's largest recreational tennis league.

The USTA League was established to provide adult recreational tennis players throughout the country with the opportunity to compete against players of similar ability levels. Players participate on teams in a league format, which is administered by the USTA through its 17 Sections. The league groups players by using six National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP) levels, ranging from 2.5 (entry) to 5.0 (advanced).

The USTA League is open to any USTA member 18 years of age or older. It features Adult and Mixed Doubles divisions, as well as a Senior Division (age 50 or older) and a Super Senior Division (age 60 or older).