For a group of women who haven’t even been playing tennis together for a year, some of whom have very casual experience, the DeDeucers have gotten pretty far.

The 3.0-level team, which is based at the Midcoast Recreation Center in Rockport, is headed to the USA League Tennis championships in Tucson, Ariz.

The round-robin style tournament starts Thursday, Sept. 18 and finishes Sept. 21.

The MRC team opens Sept. 19 with a tough matchup against the Southern section winner.

Friday afternoon the DeDeucers will take on the New York state champs, and Saturday they’ll face the Pacific Northwest winner.

The top team in each of the four flights advances to the semifinals.

The U.S. Tennis Association, which runs all levels of the competition, defines a 3.0 player as “fairly consistent when hitting medium-paced shorts, but … not comfortable with all strokes and lack execution when trying for directional control, depth, or power. Your most common doubles formation is one-up, one-back.”

The DeDeucers are one of two Maine teams headed for national tournaments. A Portland-based team qualified for the 4.5-level men’s championships, which are being held Oct. 9-12 in Tucson.

The DeDeucers advanced to the national level thanks to two wins at lower-level tournaments. They won the regional tournament (made up of Maine and western Massachusetts) in early August, and then the New England sectional a few weeks later.

Team members are captain Marnie Read, Deb Merchant, Martha Derbyshire, Amy Fischer, Julia Olivas, Ann Feeney, Diane Daiger, Janna Hymes-Bianchi, Laurie Smith, Lisa Morgan, Betsy Kingsley, Johanna Lindsey, Sue Sulzer, Sy Horton, and Gay McCarron.

Tim Burns is the team’s coach. He suggested last spring the women form a 3.0-level team, and the group went 10-0 this summer playing against in-state competition.

“We’re solid as a group of people,” Read said. “We like each other. That’s the other great thing about this. It’s another chance for us to spend a weekend together. We have an absolute ball.”

Sulzer is the longtime coach of the defending Class B state champion Camden Hills girls tennis team, and Kingsley coaches the girls team at Georges Valley High in Thomaston. Everyone has mostly high school and club experience.

Despite the lack of official experience, the team has thrived due to depth.

“All of our doubles teams are interchangeable,” Read said. “We’re very, very even.”

The team is unsure of the competition it will face in Tucson, but everyone should be at the same skill level.

“It’s not like there’s more talent the further you get,” Read said. “There are smarter players and more experienced players … but it’s not like we’re going to run into a Jennifer Capriati.”

One thing is for sure: the DeDeucers will have to adjust to the weather in the southwest.

“We’re going to get there early to adapt,” Read said. “It’s going to be dry and hot, and we have to make sure we’re hydrated and rested.”

The team is planning a spaghetti supper Sunday from 4-8 p.m. to raise funds for the trip to Tucson. Tickets are $20 per person or $35 per family. For more information call the recreation center at 236-9400.