Sunday, February 21, 2016

Cardona wins singles & doubles at 2016 WRT Mt Rainier Open

Alejandro Cardona was a double winner Sunday in Seattle at the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) 2016 Mt Rainier Open, as he won both singles and doubles. In singles, he came out cruising in the first game against Jake Bredenbeck, and although the second game was much closer, Cardona won in two straight, 15-3, 15-10.

In the doubles final, Cardona and Gerardo Franco needed a tie-breaker to defeat David Horn and Andree Parrilla, 15-9, 10-15, 11-6.

The Sonora Open - April 21-24 - is the next WRT event, but the WRT has partnered with the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) and will be live streaming the Pan American Championships from San Luis Potosi, Mexico on March 24-26, which will be the last few days of the tournament.

2016 WRT Mt Rainier Open
Seattle, Washington


Singles Final

1) Alejandro Cardona d. 2) Jake Bredenbeck, 15-3, 15-10

Doubles Final

2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco d. 1) David Horn & Andree Parrilla, 15-9, 10-15, 11-6

Follow the bouncing ball….

Longoria wins singles, Lambert & Rascon doubles at LPRT Winter Classic

Paola Longoria won her seventh title of the season Sunday at the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) 11th Annual Winter Classic in Overland Park, Kansas, as she defeated Frédérique Lambert, 11-2, 11-2, 11-4, in the final. It wasn’t Longoria’s most decisive win in a final this season, but it was convincing.

However, Lambert was a winner in Kansas, as she and Sofia Rascon won the LPRT Doubles event by defeating Alexandra Herrera and Monserrat Meija, 15-13, 15-4. It was the first doubles win of the season for Lambert and Rascon, who we believe were playing their first event together.

If you missed the finals you can watch them via the LPRT Livestream channel. The next LPRT event is the New Jersey Open in Warren, NJ March 4-6.

LPRT 11th Annual Winter Classic
February 19-21, 2015 - Overland Park, Kansas


Final (seedings) - Sunday

1) Paola Longoria d. 3) Frédérique Lambert, 11-2, 11-2, 11-4

LPRT Doubles - Final

1) Frédérique Lambert & Sofia Rascon d. 2) Alexandra Herrera & Monserrat Mejia, 15-13, 15-4

Follow the bouncing ball....

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Cardona & Bredenbeck will face off in 2016 WRT Mt Rainier Open Final

Top seeds Alejandro Cardona and Jake Bredenbeck will face off in the final of the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) 2016 Mt Rainier Open in Seattle Sunday, as they both won their respective semi-finals, although they also both came back from a game down in those semi-final matches to win in three games.

Cardona’s margin of victory was the smallest, as he beat Andree Parrilla by a single point in the tie-breaker, winning 9-15, 15-12, 11-10. Bredenbeck needed three games to defeat David Horn, 5-15, 15-9, 11-3.

Cardona and Bredenbeck could meet in the doubles final also, but both will have to win their respective doubles semi-final matches first.

Live streaming of the finals begins Sunday at noon Pacific time, and both the singles and doubles finals will be streamed live via the WRT website.

2016 WRT Mt Rainier Open
Seattle, Washington


Quarterfinals

1) Alejandro Cardona d. 8) Gerardo Franco, 15-3, 15-6
4) Andree Parrilla d. 5) Anthony Herrera, 15-8, 12-15, 11-7

3) David Horn d. 22) Sam Bredenbeck, 15-2, 15-4
2) Jake Bredenbeck d. 7) Christian Longoria, 8-15, 15-2, 11-4

Semi-finals

1) Alejandro Cardona d. 4) Andree Parrilla, 9-15, 15-12, 11-10
2) Jake Bredenbeck d. 3) David Horn, 5-15, 15-9, 11-3

Final

1) Alejandro Cardona v. 2) Jake Bredenbeck

Semi-finals

1) David Horn & Andree Parrilla v. 4) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck
2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco v. 3) Jordy Alonso & Christian Longoria

Follow the bouncing ball….

2016 LPRT 11th Annual Winter Classic - Semi-finals and Quarterfinals

Frédérique Lambert will have a chance to be a double winner Sunday at the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) 11th Annual Winter Classic in Overland Park, Kansas. But LPRT #1 Paola Longoria will be her opponent in the singles final, and in the doubles final Lambert and Sofia Rascon will face US Open finalists Alexandra Herrera and Monserrat Meija.

Lambert, the 3rd seed in singles, upset 2nd seed Rhonda Rajsich in the semi-finals, 13-11, 11-5, 11-7, to advance to her first final of the season.

Longoria advanced to the singles final by defeating Herrera in the semi-finals, 11-5, 11-2, 12-10. It was the second match in a row that Longoria was forced to extra points in the third game, as Masiel Rivera extended game three in their quarterfinal match before Longoria won 11-3, 11-2, 12-10.

Lambert might take some hope from that, although she’ll need to play closer with Longoria in the final than either Herrera or Rivera in their respective matches. She’ll need some hope to defeat Longoria, who’s unbeaten this season.

In doubles, Lambert and Rascon defeated Adriana Riveros and Masiel Rivera, 15-8, 15-12, in the semi-finals to get to the final with Herrera and Meija, who were winners over Rajsich and Carla Muñoz, 15-14, 7-15, 11-8.

In the breaker, Meija hit the most winners with 12, while Herrera and Muñoz had 9 each and Rajsich 6. However, Rajsich also made the fewest errors with 2, while Muñoz had the most at 5 with Herrera and Meija making 3 each. The winner/error difference favored Herrera and Meija, although they were also called for two penalty hinders.

Rajsich and Muñoz fought off two match points at 10-8, but couldn’t score themselves before the lefthander Herrera ended the match with a forehand pinch to the front left corner.

Watch the finals live Sunday via the LPRT Livestream channel from 11 AM Central on.

LPRT 11th Annual Winter Classic
February 19-21, 2015 - Overland Park, Kansas

Quarterfinals
(seedings) - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria d. 9) Masiel Rivera, 11-3, 11-2, 12-10
5) Alexandra Herrera d. 4) Sofia Rascon, 11-0, 11-6, 11-4

3) Frédérique Lambert d. 6) Jessica Parrilla, 11-5, 11-2, 11-5
2) Rhonda Rajsich d. 10) Adriana Riveros, 11-4, 11-1, 11-8

Semi-finals (seedings)

1) Paola Longoria d. 5) Alexandra Herrera, 11-5, 11-2, 12-10
3) Frédérique Lambert d. 2) Rhonda Rajsich, 13-11, 11-5, 11-7

Final (seedings) - Sunday

1) Paola Longoria v. 3) Frédérique Lambert - 11 AM Central

LPRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Frédérique Lambert & Sofia Rascon v. 5) Masiel Rivera & Adriana Riveros, 15-8, 15-12
2) Alexandra Herrera & Monserrat Mejia d. 3) Carlos Muñoz & Rhonda Rajsich, 15-14, 7-15, 11-8

Final - Sunday

1) Frédérique Lambert & Sofia Rascon v. 2) Alexandra Herrera & Monserrat Mejia - Noon Central

Follow the bouncing ball....

WRT 2016 Mt Rainier Open - Round of 32 & 16

Sam Bredenbeck is in the quarterfinals of the 2016 World Racquetball Tour (WRT) Mt Rainier Open in Seattle, which is his first quarterfinal ever. He upset 11th seed Danny Lavely, 9-15, 15-10, 11-8, in the first round, and then benefited from Sebastian Franco being a no show, as Leonardo Garcia got a forfeit win over Franco, and Bredenbeck easily beat Garcia in the Round of 16, 15-1, 15-10.

Bredenbeck will play 3rd seed David Horn in the quarters, as Horn beat Wally Bunn in the 16s, 15-3, 15-9. Another win for Bredenbeck and he could play his brother, 2nd seed Jake Bredenbeck, in the semi-finals, if Jake defeats 7th seed Christian Longoria in their quarterfinal match.

In other action, WRT #1 Alejandro Cardona advanced to the quarters with a comfortable win over Russel Cahill, 15-1, 15-8. Cardona will play Gerardo Franco in the quarters, as Franco won a tie-breaker against Francisco Troncoso, 15-3, 7-15, 11-0.

Live streaming will begin in the quarterfinals on Saturday morning at 10 AM Pacific time. The semi-finals are scheduled to start at 5 and 6 PM Saturday with the final on Sunday at noon. Play can be viewed via the WRT website.

2016 WRT Mt Rainier Open
Seattle, Washington

Round of 32


1) Alejandro Cardona - BYE
16) Russel Cahill d. 17) Matthew Porter, 11-15, 15-10, 11-2

9) Francisco Troncoso d. 24) Mourad Ettaki, 15-6, 15-4
8) Gerardo Franco d. 25) Esteban Martinez, 15-4, 15-5

5) Anthony Herrera d. 28) Luis Pesqueira, forfeit
21) Andrew Conti d. 12) Alexi David Cocco Hayes, 15-8, 15-8

20) Hiroshi Shimizu d. 13) Jake Birnel, 15-13, 13-15, 11-4
4) Andree Parrilla - BYE

3) David Horn - BYE
14) Wally Bunn d. 19) Loupe Chavez, 15-2, 15-12

22) Sam Bredenbeck d. 11) Danny Lavely, 9-15, 15-10, 11-8
27) Leonardo Garcia d. 6) Sebastian Franco, forfeit

7) Christian Longoria d. 26) John Chow, 15-3, 15-7
10) Jordy Alonso d. 23) Tolga Gesli, 15-3, 15-10

15) Rich Carver d. 18) A. C. Bates, 15-5, 9-15, 11-2
2) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE

Round of 16

1) Alejandro Cardona d. 16) Russel Cahill, 15-1, 15-8,
8) Gerardo Franco d. 9) Francisco Troncoso, 15-3, 7-15, 11-0

5) Anthony Herrera d. 21) Andrew Conti, 15-7, 15-7
4) Andree Parrilla d. 20) Hiroshi Shimizu, 15-6, 15-5

3) David Horn d. 14) Wally Bunn, 15-3, 15-9
22) Sam Bredenbeck d. 27) Leonardo Garcia, 15-1, 15-0

7) Christian Longoria d. 10) Jordy Alonso, 15-3, 15-9
2) Jake Bredenbeck d. 15) Rich Carver, 15-2, 15-10

Quarterfinals

1) Alejandro Cardona v. 8) Gerardo Franco
4) Andree Parrilla v. 5) Anthony Herrera

3) David Horn v. 22) Sam Bredenbeck
2) Jake Bredenbeck v. 7) Christian Longoria

Doubles - Quarterfinals

1) David Horn & Andree Parrilla d. 8) Rich Carver & Andrew Conti, 15-4, 15-5
4) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck d. 5) Esteban Martinez & Francisco Troncoso

3) Jordy Alonso & Christian Longoria d. 6) Danny Lavely & Hiroshi Shimizu
2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco d. 7) Alexi David Cocco Hayes & Matthew Porter

Semi-finals

1) David Horn & Andree Parrilla v. 4) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck
2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco v. 3) Jordy Alonso & Christian Longoria

Follow the bouncing ball….

Friday, February 19, 2016

2016 LPRT Winter Classic - Rounds of 32 & 16

Two upsets in the Round of 16 at the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) 11th Annual Winter Classic in Overland Park, Kansas. But neither was a big upset. 10th seed Adriana Riveros defeated 7th seed Carla Muñoz, 11-8, 11-5, 12-10, and 9th seed Masiel Rivera beat 8th seed Adrienne Haynes, 14-12, 11-7, 11-9.

Furthermore, Rivera and Riveros teamed up in doubles, and as the 5th seed knocked off 4th seeds Jessica Parrilla and Cecilia Pratt, 15-14, 15-8. They'll play top seeds Frédérique Lambert and Sofia Rascon in the semi-finals, as Lambert and Rascon defeated sisters Gabrielle Shnurman and Hannah Shnurman, 15-7, 15-8.

Fifteenth seed Jordan Cooperrider came closest to a big upset in singles, as she was won the first game against 2nd seed Rhonda Rajsich, and as a point away from being up 2-1 in games after fighting back in game three from 10-5 down to lead 11-10. But the veteran Rajsich did not break, as she fought back and won game three 13-11, and game four 11-9.

The action continues Saturday morning with the quarterfinals beginning at 10 AM central, and the semi-finals from 4 PM central. Watch the action live via the LPRT Livestream channel.

LPRT 11th Annual Winter Classic
February 19-21, 2015 - Overland Park, Kansas

Round of 16
(seedings)

1) Paola Longoria d. 16) Jennifer Saunders, 11-3, 11-4, 11-2
9) Masiel Rivera d. 8) Adrienne Haynes, 14-12, 11-7, 11-9

5) Alexandra Herrera d. 12) Monserrat Mejia, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8, 11-5
4) Sofia Rascon d. 13) Cecilia Pratt, 11-0, 11-7, 11-6

3) Frédérique Lambert d. 19) Danielle Drury, 11-1, 11-8, 11-9
6) Jessica Parrilla d. 11) T. J. Baumbaugh, 11-1, 11-2, 11-1

10) Adriana Riveros d. 7) Carlos Muñoz, 11-8, 11-5, 12-10
2) Rhonda Rajsich d. 15) Jordan Cooperrider, 5-11, 11-6, 13-11, 11-9

Quarterfinals (seedings) - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria v. 9) Masiel Rivera - 11 AM
4) Sofia Rascon v. 5) Alexandra Herrera - 11 AM

3) Frédérique Lambert v. 6) Jessica Parrilla - 10 AM
2) Rhonda Rajsich v. 10) Adriana Riveros - 10 AM

Round of 32 (seedings)

1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Jennifer Saunders d. 17) Gabrielle Shnurman, 11-3, 11-4, 11-5

9) Masiel Rivera - BYE
8) Adrienne Haynes - BYE

5) Alexandra Herrera - BYE
12) Monserrat Mejia - BYE

13) Cecilia Pratt - BYE
4) Sofia Rascon - BYE

3) Frédérique Lambert - BYE
19) Danielle Drury d. 14) Laura Brandt, 11-8, 11-7, 11-4

11) T. J. Baumbaugh - BYE
6) Jessica Parrilla - BYE

7) Carlos Muñoz - BYE
10) Adriana Riveros - BYE

15) Jordan Cooperrider d. 18) Michèle Morissette, 11-9, 11-8, 11-5
2) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE

LPRT Doubles - Quarterfinals

1) Frédérique Lambert & Sofia Rascon d. 8) Gabrielle Shnurman & Hannah Shnurman, 15-7, 15-8
5) Masiel Rivera & Adriana Riveros d. 4) Jessica Parrilla & Cecilia Pratt, 15-14, 15-8

3) Carlos Muñoz & Rhonda Rajsich d. 6) T. J. Baumbaugh & Adrienne Haynes, 15-5, 15-9
2) Alexandra Herrera & Monserrat Mejia d. 7) Danielle Drury & Jennifer Saunders, 15-8, 15-8

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Frédérique Lambert & Sofia Rascon v. 5) Masiel Rivera & Adriana Riveros - 7 PM
2) Alexandra Herrera & Monserrat Mejia v. 3) Carlos Muñoz & Rhonda Rajsich - 6 PM

Follow the bouncing ball....

WRT 2016 Mt Rainier Open - Round of 32

The 2016 World Racquetball Tour (WRT) season kicks off in Seattle, where the Washington Athletic Club will play host to the Mt Rainier Open. WRT #1 Alejandro Cardona is the top seed with Jake Bredenbeck 2nd seed, David Horn 3rd seed, and Andree Parrilla 4th seed.

Other players of interest are Anthony Herrera, seeded 5th, Sebastian Franco seeded 6th, and 7th seed Christian Longoria, as well as Danny Lavely, 11th seed, and veteran Hiroshi Shimizu, who’s the 20 seed, and could play Parrilla in the Round of 16.

Lavely and Shimizu are doubles partners and will face the young Mexican team of Longoria and Jordy Alonso in the first round.

Live streaming will begin in the quarterfinals on Saturday morning at 10 AM Pacific time. The semi-finals are scheduled to start at 5 and 6 PM Saturday with the final on Sunday at noon. Play can be viewed via the WRT website.

2016 WRT Mt Rainier Open
Seattle, Washington

Round of 32


1) Alejandro Cardona - BYE
16) Russel Cahill v. 17) Matthew Porter

9) Francisco Troncoso v. 24) Mourad Ettaki
8) Gerardo Franco v. 25) Esteban Martinez

5) Anthony Herrera d. 28) Luis Pesqueira, forfeit
12) Alexi David Cocco Hayes v. 21) Andrew Conti

13) Jake Birnel v. 20) Hiroshi Shimizu
4) Andree Parrilla - BYE

3) David Horn - BYE
14) Wally Bunn v. 19) Loupe Chavez

11) Danny Lavely v. 22) Sam Bredenbeck
6) Sebastian Franco d. 27) Joel Lawrence, forfeit

7) Christian Longoria v. 26) John Chow
10) Jordy Alonso v. 23) Tolga Gesli

15) Rich Carver v. 18) A. C. Bates
2) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE

Doubles - Quarterfinals

1) David Horn & Andree Parrilla v. 8) Rich Carver & Andrew Conti
4) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck v. 5) Esteban Martinez & Francisco Troncoso

3) Jordy Alonso & Christian Longoria v. 6) Danny Lavely & Hiroshi Shimizu
2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco v. 7) Alexi David Cocco Hayes & Matthew Porter

Follow the bouncing ball….

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

2016 LPRT Winter Classic Preview

The Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) is back in action this weekend with the 11th Annual Winter Classic in Overland Park, Kansas. The draw is smaller that usual, but three of the top four LPRT players will be in action, including IRT #1 Paola Longoria, #3 Rhonda Rajsich, and #4 Frédérique Lambert. Longoria is undefeated this season, but both Rajsich and Lambert have won games against her, so she won’t be winning easily in Kansas.

They’ll also play doubles in Kansas, but with some of the top players missing, and Longoria not playing doubles, the field will be wide open. Lambert and Sofia Rascon are the top seeds in doubles with US Open finalists Alexandra Herrera and Monserrat Mejia as 2nd seeds.

Also in the doubles draw is Rhonda Rajsich, who’s playing with Carlos Muñoz, as well as current Canadian Women’s Doubles Champions Danielle Drury and Jennifer Saunders, who’ll be in tough off the bat against Herrera and Meija.

The action starts Friday, and the Round of 16 can be seen live via the LPRT Livestream channel from 3 PM central time.

LPRT 11th Annual Winter Classic
February 19-21, 2015 - Overland Park, Kansas

Round of 16
(seedings)

1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Jennifer Saunders v. 17) Gabrielle Shnurman

9) Masiel Rivera - BYE
8) Adrienne Haynes - BYE

5) Alexandra Herrera - BYE
12) Monserrat Mejia - BYE

13) Cecilia Pratt - BYE
4) Sofia Rascon - BYE

3) Frédérique Lambert - BYE
14) Laura Brandt v. 19) Danielle Drury

11) T. J. Baumbaugh - BYE
6) Jessica Parrilla - BYE

7) Carlos Muñoz - BYE
10) Adriana Riveros - BYE

15) Jordan Cooperrider v. 18) Michèle Morissette
2) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE

LPRT Doubles - Quarterfinals

1) Frédérique Lambert & Sofia Rascon v. 8) Gabrielle Shnurman & Hannah Shnurman
4) Jessica Parrilla & Cecilia Pratt v. 5) Masiel Rivera & Adriana Riveros

3) Carlos Muñoz & Rhonda Rajsich v. 6) T. J. Baumbaugh & Adrienne Haynes
2) Alexandra Herrera & Monserrat Mejia v. 7) Danielle Drury & Jennifer Saunders

Follow the bouncing ball....

Monday, February 15, 2016

2016 Campeonato Nacional Mexicano de Racquetbol Selectivo Finals

After several surprises at the Campeonato Nacional Mexicano de Racquetbol Selectivo tournament in Chihuahua, Mexico there were none at all on Sunday, as Paola Longoria won Women’s Singles and Women’s Doubles with Samantha Salas, Alvaro Beltran and Javier Moreno took Men’s Doubles and Daniel De La Rosa won Men’s Singles.

In the Women’s Singles final, Longoria beat Salas, 15-6, 15-4, and in the Women’s Doubles final they teamed up to defeat Susana Acosta and Jessica Maldonado, 15-4, 15-10.

De La Rosa beat surprise finalist Javier Mar, 15-13, 15-8, for the Men’s Open title, and then the veteran team of Beltran and Moreno saw off the surprise finalists Rodrigo Montoya and Andree Parrilla, 15-5, 15-2.

Cameonato Nacional Selectivo
Chihuahua, Mexico - February 10-14, 2016

Women's Open


Final

1) Paola Longoria d. 2) Samantha Salas Solis, 15-6, 15-4

Women's Open Doubles

Final

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis d. 3) Susana Acosta & Jessica Maldonado, 15-4, 15-10

Men's Open

Final

2) Daniel De La Rosa d. 5) Javier Mar, 15-13, 15-8

Men's Open Doubles

Final

1) Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno d. 18) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla, 15-5, 15-2

Follow the bouncing ball….

Carson & Rajsich win USA Racquetball Singles Qualifying Divisions

USA Racquetball changed its National Team selection process this season, and part of that change was to include a singles division at the National Doubles Championships, which concluded Sunday in Tempe, Arizona, with Rocky Carson and Rhonda Rajsich winning the Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles divisions, respectively, and putting themselves in the lead in the standings to make the 2016-17 USA Racquetball National Team in singles.

Carson faced Jose Rojas in the Men’s Singles final, and they went to a tie-breaker, with Carson winning 15-8, 3-15, 11-8. Rajsich defeated Sharon Jackson in the Women’s Singles final, 15-13, 15-5. Thus, Carson and Rajsich earned 30 points (100 points weighted by 0.3) towards qualifying for the National Team for 2016-17.

The other team selection events are the 2016 US Open, weighted 0.2 and the USA National Singles Championships in May, weighted 0.5.

The odd competition in the trio is the US Open, as that is not a USA only player competition and both Men’s and Women’s Singles have two serves in that competition, while this weekend in Tempe the international rules were used, including only one serve, so one could argue that the results from the US Open and the other two competitions (assuming National Singles is run the same as this weekend’s tournament was) aren’t completely compatible.

That said, the current men’s standings have Carson ahead with 42 points, Jose Rojas 2nd with 30 points, his younger brother Marco Rojas is 3rd with 24 points, and Jose Diaz is 4th with 20 points.

Rajsich tops the women’s standings with 46 points, Jackson is 2nd with 25 points, Sheryl Lotts is 3rd with 20 points, one ahead of Cheryl Gudinas in 4th on 19 points.

The top four players in the point standings from the three competitions will qualify for spots on the 2016-17 USA National Team.

The men’s final could easily have gone the other way, as Rojas led 14-8 in game one, and had a set up in the front court that he made an error on, and did not get another game point after that, as Carson ran seven straight points to win 15-14.

Game one took 30 min, but game two went by only 11 min, as Rojas rolled through it, winning 15-2, and setting up a third game tie-breaker.

In the breaker, the early advantage was Rojas’s, as he went up 5-1. But the veteran Carson held tough, and tied it at 5-5, and then went on to win 11-8, outscoring Rojas 10-3 after being down 5-1.

In making his comeback, Carson stepped up his serving, including two aces and a service winner. Carson closed out the match on his first match point with a drive serve to the left side that bounced twice before Rojas could get to it: ace.

The finalists in Men’s and Women’s Doubles qualified for the USA National Team on Saturday. So, 2016 USA Racquetball Men’s Doubles Champions Jake Bredenbeck and Diaz, as well as their opponents Jansen Allen and Carson are on the team, as are the 2016 USA Racquetball Women’s Doubles Champions Aimee Ruiz and Janel Tisinger and their opponents Rajsich and Lotts.

The 2016 USA Racquetball National Singles Championships will be in Denver, Colorado from May 25-29. If you missed any of the action from Tempe, you can watch it via the USA Racquetball Livestream channel.

2016 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships
Tempe, Arizona
US National Team Divisions


Men’s Singles - Final

2) Rocky Carson d. 1) Jose Rojas, 15-8, 3-15, 11-8

Women's Singles - Final

1) Rhonda Rajsich d. 2) Sharon Jackson, 15-13, 15-5

2016-17 USA Racquetball National Team Selection Points Standings

Men’s Singles

1) Rocky Carson - 42
2) Jose Rojas - 30
3) Marco Rojas - 24
4) Jose Diaz - 20
5) Jansen Allen - 15
6) Jake Bredenbeck - 11
6) David Horn - 11
8) Mauricio Zelada - 9
8) Anthony Herrera - 9

Women's Singles

1) Rhonda Rajsich - 46
2) Sharon Jackson - 25
3) Sheryl Lotts - 20
4) Cheryl Gudinas - 19
5) Michelle Key - 15
6) Da’monique Davis - 11
7) Jackie Paraiso - 9
7) Kelani Bailey - 9

Follow the bouncing ball....

Saturday, February 13, 2016

2016 Campeonato Nacional Mexicano de Racquetbol Selectivo

Another major upset at the Campeonato Nacional Mexicano de Racquetbol Selectivo tournament in Chihuahua, Mexico, as 5th seed Javier Mar defeated #1 seed Alvaro Beltran in the semi-finals, 2-15, 15-8, 11-5, to advance to Sunday’s final against Daniel De La Rosa, who was a winner over Alejandro Landa, 15-6, 9-15, 11-7, in the other semi-final of Men’s Singles.

Then in Men’s Doubles, 18th seeds Rodrigo Montoya and Andree Parrilla continued to cause trouble for higher seeds, as they beat 3rd seeds Eduardo Garay and Mar in the semi-finals, 15-12, 11-15, 11-10, to reach the final, where they will play Beltran and Javier Moreno, who were winners against Landa and Alejandro Cardona, 12-15, 15-6, 11-6.

Nothing so surprising has happened in women’s play, as top seed Paola Longoria will face her doubles partner Samantha Salas in the Women’s Singles final, and they are also in the Women’s Doubles final.

In singles, Longoria beat Jessica Parrilla, 15-4, 15-6, in the semi-final, and Salas defeated Susana Acosta, 15-3, 15-8. In doubles, Longoria and Salas advanced to the final with a win over 4th seeds Jessica Parrilla and Monserrat Mejia, 15-8, 15-4. They will play 3rd seeds Susana Acosta and Jessica Maldonado in the final, as Acosta and Maldonado defeated 7th seeds Sofia Rascon and Lucia Gonzalez, 7-15, 15-12, 11-5, in the semi-finals.

Cameonato Nacional Selectivo
Chihuahua, Mexico - February 10-14, 2016

Women's Open


Semi-finals

1) Paola Longoria d. 5) Jessica Parrilla, 15-4, 15-6
2) Samantha Salas Solis d. 3) Susana Acosta, 15-3, 15-8

Final

1) Paola Longoria v. 2) Samantha Salas Solis

Women's Open Doubles

Semi-finals

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis d. 4) Jessica Parrilla & Monserrat Mejia, 15-8, 15-4
3) Susana Acosta & Jessica Maldonado d. 7) Sofia Rascon & Lucia Gonzalez, 7-15, 15-12, 11-5

Final

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis v. 3) Susana Acosta & Jessica Maldonado

Men's Open

Quarterfinals

1) Alvaro Beltran d. 25) Ruben Estrada, 15-7, 15-9
5) Javier Mar d. 4) Javier Moreno, 15-8, 15-10

6) Alejandro Landa d. 14) Alejandro Cardona, 15-4, 15-10
2) Daniel De La Rosa d. 26) Ramon Yañez, 15-8, 15-13

Semi-finals

5) Javier Mar d. 1) Alvaro Beltran, 2-15, 15-8, 11-5
2) Daniel De La Rosa d. 6) Alejandro Landa, 15-6, 9-15, 11-7

Final

2) Daniel De La Rosa v. 5) Javier Mar

Men's Open Doubles

Quarterfinals

1) Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno d. 9) Jaime Martell & Luis Felipe Muñoz, 15-9, 15-8
12) Alejandro Cardona & Alejandro Landa d. 13) Ruben Estrada & David Ortega, 15-5, 15-7

3) Eduardo Garay & Javier Mar d. 11) Rodrigo Garay & Ramon Yañez, 15-14, 6-15, 11-8
18) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla d. 7) Ricardo Ortega & Miguel Peream, forfeit

Semi-finals

1) Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno d. 12) Alejandro Cardona & Alejandro Landa, 12-15, 15-6, 11-6
18) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla d. 3) Eduardo Garay & Javier Mar, 15-12, 11-15, 11-10

Final

1) Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno v. 18) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla

Follow the bouncing ball….

Ruiz & Tisinger, Bredenbeck & Diaz win USA Racquetball Doubles Championships

Aimee Ruiz and Janel Tisinger won their 3rd USA Women’s Doubles title in four years Saturday at the USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships in Tempe, Arizona, but it was by the narrowest of margins possible, as only a single point separated them and Rhonda Rajsich and Sheryl Lotts. After splitting the first two games 15-12 each - Ruiz and Tisinger winning the first and Rajsich and Lotts the second, Ruiz and Tisinger squeaked out the tie-breaker, 11-10.

It looked like Ruiz and Tisinger would win in two straight games, as they were ahead for most of game two, leading 8-2 and 12-9. But Lotts and Rajsich scored six straight points to win game two and force a tie-breaker.

Lotts and Rajsich’s scoring streak continued in the breaker, as they took a 7-0 lead, and it looked like Rajsich would win the title for second consecutive year; she won it last year with Kim Waselenchuk.

However, Rajsich was forced into skipping a shot that gave the serve back to Ruiz and Tisinger, who proceeded to score eight straight points, to go from 0-7 down to 8-7 up. Perhaps the shot of the match came during that streak, when a ball came out of the back right corner that Tisinger turned on and hit a flat backhand pinch shot to the front left corner.

From that point, the teams went back and forth. Rajsich tied it at 8-8 with a backhand reverse pinch, and Lotts put them ahead, 9-8, with a drive z to Tisinger on the right side that wasn’t returned. Ruiz’s shot of the match came on the next rally, when she hit a side-side-front shot that died in the front right corner.

A Tisinger kill shot get them the serve back, and Ruiz tied it at 9-9 with a touch shot in the front court. Lotts and Tisinger traded winning pinch shots, with Tisinger’s making the score 10-9. Lotts hit another winner - a cross court shot - to get the serve back, and keep the match going.

Rajsich tied the score at 10-10 with a backhand down the line, but they couldn’t get the match winning point, as Tisinger hit two winners. Then it was Rajsich’s turn to stave off elimination with a cross court shot.

But on the next rally, Lotts skipped a forehand shot that gave Ruiz and Tisinger their 11th point, and a ticket to Cali, Colombia for the 2016 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships this July, when Ruiz will try to win her 3rd World Championship in Women’s Doubles, but first with Tisinger.

It was a long match. Game one was 30 min, game two 24 min and game three was 19 min. In game three, Rajsich made the most winners with eight, followed by Tisinger with six. Lotts and Ruiz both hit five winners each. But perhaps significantly, Lotts and Rajsich each made three errors, while Ruiz and Tisinger only made three errors combined (two by Tisinger and one by Ruiz).

Joining them on Team USA should be Jake Bredenbeck and Jose Diaz, who won their first USA Racquetball Doubles title by defeating Jansen Allen and Rocky Carson in two close games, 15-14, 15-11. Allen was going for his second consecutive title, and third overall, and Carson was trying to win his ninth. But they will have to wait for another year to add to their championship trophy case, as the young team of Bredenbeck and Diaz denied them this year.

Carson and Rajsich will both have a chance for titles Sunday, as each are in their respective singles finals. Carson plays Jose Rojas in the Men’s Singles final, after he defeated Diaz, 15-7, 15-10, and Rojas beat his brother Marco, 15-9, 15-6.

Rajsich was a comfortable winner against Cheryl Gudinas, 15-4, 15-4, and will face Sharon Jackson in the final, after Jackson won a tie-breaker against Sheryl Lotts, 15-11, 14-15, 11-8.

The singles finals will be Sunday Play continues Saturday, and you can watch them live from Tempe via the USA Racquetball website.

2016 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships
Tempe, Arizona
US National Team Divisions

Men's Doubles


Final - Saturday

3) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz d. 1) Jansen Allen & Rocky Carson, 15-14, 15-11

3rd place - Saturday

5) Anthony Herrera & David Horn d. 2) Marco Rojas & Jose Rojas, forfeit

Women's Doubles

Final - Saturday

1) Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger d. 2) Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts, 15-12, 12-15, 11-10

3rd place - Saturday

5) Da’monique Davis & Jacqueline Paraiso d. 3) Danielle Key & Michelle Key, 15-11, 15-10

Men’s Singles

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Jose Rojas d. 5) Marco Rojas, 15-9, 15-6
2) Rocky Carson d. 6) Jose Diaz, 15-7, 15-10

Final - Sunday

1) Jose Rojas v. 2) Rocky Carson - 1:15 PM MST

Women's Singles

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Rhonda Rajsich d. 4) Cheryl Gudinas, 15-4, 15-4
2) Sharon Jackson d. 6) Sheryl Lotts, 15-11, 14-15, 11-8

Final - Saturday

1) Rhonda Rajsich v. 2) Sharon Jackson - 12:05 PM MST

Follow the bouncing ball....

2016 Campeonato Nacional Mexicano de Racquetbol Selectivo - Friday

The upsets continue at the Campeonato Nacional Mexicano de Racquetbol Selectivo tournament in Chihuahua, Mexico. Most significant happened in Men’s Doubles, as 18th seeds Rodrigo Montoya and Andree Parrilla knocked off the 2nd seeds Daniel De La Rosa and Edson Martinez, 5-15, 15-13, 11-5.

Two other big winners in Chihuahua are Ramon Yañez and Ruben Estrada, who were seeded 26th and 25th respectively, in Men’s Singles, but have both reached the quarterfinals. Yañez defeated Alan Palomino, 15-10, 15-1, in the Round of 16, to set up a match with De La Rosa in the quarters, as De La Rosa defeated Eduardo Garay in the 16s in three games, 3-15, 15-9, 11-6.

Estrada upset 9th seed Erick Sandoval in the 16s, 11-5, 15-6, 11-9, and will play top seed Alvaro Beltran in the quarters. Beltran was a straight game winner over Rodrigo Garay, 15-7, 15-9.

Perhaps the most hotly contested quarterfinal in Men’s Singles will be a battle of Alejandros, as Alejandro Landa will play Alejandro Cardona. In the 16s, Landa defeated another Alejandro, Alejandro Romo, 15-5, 15-7, while Cardona beat Jaime Martell, 15-6, 15-12. An added element to that match is that Landa and Cardona are doubles partners in this event, and have reached the quarterfinals in that.

In women’s play, it was not a good day for Alexandra Herrera, as the young lefthander lost in both singles and doubles. In a match of two lefties, Susana Acosta beat Herrera in Women’s Singles, 7-15, 15-4, 11-7, and in Women’s Doubles Herrera and Ximena Gonzalez were the 2nd seeds, but were upset by 7th seeds Sofia Rascon and Lucia Gonzalez, 15-13, 12-15, 11-7.

In Women’s Singles, top seed Paola Longoria easily won her match in the quarterfinals against Jessica Maldonado, 15-4, 15-2, and will play another Jessica in the semi-finals. That will be Jessica Parrilla, who was an upset winner against Lucia Gonzalez, 15-12, 15-12, in the 4/5 seed match.

Cameonato Nacional Selectivo
Chihuahua, Mexico - February 10-14, 2016

Women's Open


Quarterfinals

1) Paola Longoria d. 8) Jessica Maldonado, 15-4, 15-2
5) Jessica Parrilla d. 4) Lucia Gonzalez, 15-12, 15-12

3) Susana Acosta d. 11) Alexandra Herrera, 7-15, 15-4, 11-7
2) Samantha Salas Solis d. 7) Sofia Rascon, 15-11, 15-5

Semi-finals

1) Paola Longoria v. 5) Jessica Parrilla
2) Samantha Salas Solis v. 3) Susana Acosta

Women's Open Doubles

Quarterfinals


1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis d. 8) Nancy Enriquez & Daniela Molina, 15-5, 15-7
4) Jessica Parrilla & Monserrat Mejia d. 5) Sofia Gasca & Karen Segovia, 15-2, 15-2

3) Susana Acosta & Jessica Maldonado d. 6) Denisse Maldonado & Karina Hamilton, 15-5, 15-3
7) Sofia Rascon & Lucia Gonzalez d. 2) Ximena Gonzalez & Alexandra Herrera, 15-13, 12-15, 11-7

Semi-finals

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis v. 4) Jessica Parrilla & Monserrat Mejia
3) Susana Acosta & Jessica Maldonado v. 7) Sofia Rascon & Lucia Gonzalez

Men's Open

Round of 16

1) Alvaro Beltran d. 16) Rodrigo Garay, 15-7, 15-9
25) Ruben Estrada d. 9) Erick Sandoval, 11-15, 15-6, 11-9

5) Javier Mar d. 21) Christian Longoria, 15-3, 12-15, 11-5
4) Javier Moreno d. 20) Liam Evangelista, 15-6, 15-3

14) Alejandro Cardona d. 30) Jaime Martell, 15-6, 15-12
6) Alejandro Landa d. 22) Alejandro Romo, 15-5, 15-7

26) Ramon Yañez d. 23) Alan Palomino, 15-10, 15-1
2) Daniel De La Rosa d. 15) Eduarto Garay, 3-15, 15-9, 11-6

Quarterfinals

1) Alvaro Beltran v. 25) Ruben Estrada
4) Javier Moreno v. 5) Javier Mar

6) Alejandro Landa v. 14) Alejandro Cardona
2) Daniel De La Rosa v. 26) Ramon Yañez

Men's Open Doubles

Round of 16

1) Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno d. 17) Eduardo Portillo & Rodrigo Rodriguez, 15-5, 15-8
9) Jaime Martell & Luis Felipe Muñoz d. 8) Alan Marquez & Jaime Maldonado, 15-4, 15-5

12) Alejandro Cardona & Alejandro Landa d. 5) Christian Longoria & Jordy Alonso, 15-12, 15-4
13) Ruben Estrada & David Ortega d. 4) Cesar Barragan & Alan Palomino, 15-6, 15-7

3) Eduardo Garay & Javier Mar d. 14) Salvador Ortiz Jr. & Juan Pablo Portillo, 15-11, 15-8
11) Rodrigo Garay & Ramon Yañez d. 6) Javier Estrada & Alan Natera, 14-15, 15-9, 11-9

7) Ricardo Ortega & Miguel Perea d. 10) Mario Hidalgo & Mario Zamora, forfeit
18) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla d. 2) Daniel De La Rosa & Edson Martinez, 5-15, 15-13, 11-5

Quarterfinals

1) Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno v. 9) Jaime Martell & Luis Felipe Muñoz
12) Alejandro Cardona & Alejandro Landa v. 13) Ruben Estrada & David Ortega

3) Eduardo Garay & Javier Mar v. 11) Rodrigo Garay & Ramon Yañez
7) Ricardo Ortega & Miguel Perea v. 18) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla

Follow the bouncing ball….

Friday, February 12, 2016

2016 USA Racquetball Doubles Championships - Friday

Aimee Ruiz and Janel Tisinger will have a chance to win their 3rd USA Women’s Doubles title in four years Saturday at the USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships in Tempe, Arizona, as they defeated Da’monique Davis and Jackie Paraiso, 15-4, 15-7, in the semi-finals on Friday.

Their opponents in the final are Rhonda Rajsich and Sheryl Lotts, who beat sisters Danielle and Michelle Key, 15-4, 15-4, in the other semi. Rajsich is one of the defending champions, as she won the title last year with Kim Waselenchuk, which was their second win, as their first came in 2012.

In Men’s Doubles, Jose Rojas’s run of titles ends at two, as he and brother Marco lost in the semi-finals to Jake Bredenbeck and Jose Diaz, 15-5, 15-7. In perhaps a touch of irony, the two men Jose Rojas has won doubles with the last two years - Jansen Allen and Rocky Carson - have teamed up, and they will play Bredenbeck and Diaz in the final, as the beat Anthony Herrera and David Horn, 15-9, 15-3, in the other semi-final.

If Carson wins, it will be his 9th title. He’s won six times with Jack Huczek, and once with Ben Croft and Rojas. Allen has won twice before. He won with Tony Carson (no relation to Rocky) and with Rojas.

Singles Play

In Women’s Singles, one semi-final is a contest between two veterans and one is between two young players. On the top of the draw, Rajsich will play Cheryl Gudinas, while on the bottom of the draw, Sharon Jackson will face Sheryl Lotts.

In the quarterfinals, Lotts was the upset winner over 3rd seed Michelle Key, 15-8, 15-7, while the other matches were won by the higher seed. Jackson played the closest match, as she narrowly defeated Jackie Paraiso, 15-12, 15-14. Lotts and Jackson were both Intercollegiate Champions. Jackson won twice, in 2012, and 2010, while Lotts won the title in 2009.

Jose Diaz was the upset winner in Men’s Singles, as he defeated Jansen Allen, 15-14, 13-15, 11-7, to move on to the semi-finals, where he face 2nd seed Rocky Carson, who was a 15-3, 15-10, winner over Jake Bredenebeck.

Jose Rojas needed at tie-breaker to win his quarterfinal match against David Horn, 15-8, 8-15, 11-6, and will play either his brother Marco or Mauricio Zelada.

Play continues Saturday, and you can watch some of the action live from Tempe via the USA Racquetball website.

2016 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships
Tempe, Arizona
US National Team Divisions

Men's Doubles


Semi-finals - Friday

1) Jansen Allen & Rocky Carson d. 5) Anthony Herrera & David Horn, 15-9, 15-3
3) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz d. 2) Marco Rojas & Jose Rojas, 15-5, 15-7

Final - Saturday

1) Jansen Allen & Rocky Carson v. 3) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz

Women's Doubles

Semi-finals - Friday

1) Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger d. 5) Da’monique Davis & Jacqueline Paraiso, 15-4, 15-7
2) Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts d. 3) Danielle Key & Michelle Key, 15-4, 15-4

Final - Saturday

1) Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger v. 2) Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts

Men’s Singles

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Jose Rojas d. 8) David Horn, 15-8, 8-15, 11-6
4) Mauricio Zelada v. 5) Marco Rojas

6) Jose Diaz d. 3) Jansen Allen, 15-14, 13-15, 11-7
2) Rocky Carson d. 7) Jake Bredenbeck, 15-3, 15-10

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Jose Rojas v. 4) Mauricio Zelada or 5) Marco Rojas
2) Rocky Carson v. 6) Jose Diaz

Women's Singles

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Rhonda Rajsich d. 8) Kelani Bailey, 15-8, 15-5
4) Cheryl Gudinas d. 5) Da’monique Davis, 15-14, 15-7

6) Sheryl Lotts d. 3) Michelle Key, 15-8, 15-7
2) Sharon Jackson d. 10) Jacqueline Paraiso, 15-12, 15-14

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Rhonda Rajsich v. 4) Cheryl Gudinas
2) Sharon Jackson v. 6) Sheryl Lotts

Follow the bouncing ball....

2016 Campeonato Nacional Mexicano de Racquetbol Selectivo - Thursday

Two upsets of note on day one of the Campeonato Nacional Mexicano de Racquetbol Selectivo tournament in Chihuahua, Mexico. The biggest was by Jaime Martell, who was seeded low at 30th, but knocked off 3rd seed Edson Martinez, 14-15, 15-3, 11-10. You’d think that would give Martell a good path forward, but he’ll play Alejandro Cardona, the #1 player on the World Racquetball Tour (WRT), but only the 14th seed in Chihuahua. In the Round of 64, Cardona beat 19th seed Jordy Alonso, 15-4, 15-12.

Also in the 64s, 26th seed Ramon Yañez upset 7th seed Andree Parrilla, 15-11, 15-10. The win puts Yañez up against 23rd seed Alan Palomino, who was also an upset winner over 10th seed Cesar Barragan, 15-9, 8-15, 11-2.

In Men’s Doubles, the notable result was a win for 18th seeds Rodrigo Montoya and Andree Parrilla over 15th seeds Erick Sandoval and Pedro Gonzalez, 15-8, 14-15, 11-4. That’s notable, because Montoya and Parrilla are seeded lower than we would have thought they should be, so they will play 2nd seeds Daniel De La Rosa and Edson Martinez in the Round of 16, which is a match that we’re sure De La Rosa and Martinez were surely hoping would not happen so early in the tournament.

Only one upset in women’s play in Chihuahua, but it’s not a surprising one, as Alexandra Herrera was seeded 11th, but beat 6th seed Ximena Gonzalez, 15-10, 15-14, to set up a quarterfinal match with Susana Acosta, a winner over Abril Sacristán, 15-3, 15-3.

Women’s Doubles matches begin on Friday in Chihuahua.

Cameonato Nacional Selectivo
Chihuahua, Mexico - February 10-14, 2016

Women's Open

Round of 16


1) Paola Longoria d. 16) Denisse Maldonado, 15-4, 15-2
8) Jessica Maldonado d. 9) Nancy Enriquez, 15-13, 15-14

5) Jessica Parrilla d. 12) Sofia Gasca, 15-6, 15-7
4) Lucia Gonzalez d. 13) Karen Segovia, 15-8, 15-0

3) Susana Acosta d. Abril Sacristán, 15-3, 15-3
11) Alexandra Herrera d. 6) Ximena Gonzalez, 15-10, 15-14

7) Sofia Rascon d. 10) Vanessa Gutierrez, 15-8, 15-8
2) Samantha Salas Solis d. 15) Lizelbhy Villasensor, 15-5, 15-3

Quarterfinals

1) Paola Longoria v. 8) Jessica Maldonado
4) Lucia Gonzalez v. 5) Jessica Parrilla

3) Susana Acosta v. 11) Alexandra Herrera
2) Samantha Salas Solis v. 7) Sofia Rascon

Women's Open Doubles

Quarterfinals


1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis v. 8) Nancy Enriquez & Daniela Molina
4) Jessica Parrilla & Monserrat Mejia v. 5) Sofia Gasca & Karen Segovia

3) Susana Acosta & Jessica Maldonado v. 6) Denisse Maldonado & Karina Hamilton
2) Ximena Gonzalez & Alexandra Herrera v. 7) Sofia Rascon & Lucia Gonzalez

Men's Open

Round of 64


1) Alvaro Beltran - BYE
32) Salvador Ortiz Jr. d. 33) Jaime Maldonado, 15-5, 15-3

17) Alan Natera - BYE
16) Rodrigo Garay - BYE

9) Erick Sandoval - BYE
24) Hector Urquidi Enriquez d. 41) Miguel Medina, 15-3, 15-14

25) Ruben Estrada d. 40) Hugo Martinez, 15-6, 15-8
8) Juan Loreto - BYE

5) Javier Mar - BYE
28) Alfonso Luna d. 37) Luis Felipe Muñoz, 15-8, 15-12

21) Christian Longoria - BYE
12) Rafael Ochoa - BYE

13) Ricardo Perez - BYE
20) Liam Evangelista - BYE

36) Mauel Garcia d. 29) Daniel Herrera Maldonado, 15-8, 15-4
4) Javier Moreno - BYE

3) Edson Martinez - BYE
30) Jaime Martell d. 35) Alan Marquez, 15-2, 15-11

14) Alejandro Cardona - BYE
19) Jordy Alonso - BYE

11) Rodolfo Esparza - BYE
22) Alejandro Romo - BYE

38) Javier Estrada d. 27) Mario Zamora, 15-7, 15-5
6) Alejandro Landa - BYE

7) Andree Parrilla - BYE
26) Ramon Yañez d. 39) Pedro Gonzalez, 15-10, 14-15, 11-3

23) Alan Palomino - BYE
10) Cesar Barragan - BYE

15) Eduarto Garay - BYE
18) Gerardo Franco - BYE

31) Juan Pablo Portillo d. 34) Adrian Palomino, 15-11, 13-15, 11-1
2) Daniel De La Rosa - BYE

Round of 32

1) Alvaro Beltran d. 32) Salvador Ortiz Jr., 15-6, 15-6
16) Rodrigo Garay d. 17) Alan Natera, 15-5, 15-12

9) Erick Sandoval d. 24) Hector Urquidi Enriquez, 15-4, 15-8
25) Ruben Estrada d. 8) Juan Loreto, 15-10, 15-9

5) Javier Mar v. 28) Alfonso Luna, 15-5, 15-7
21) Christian Longoria d. 12) Rafael Ochoa, 15-1, 15-12

20) Liam Evangelista d. 13) Ricardo Perez, 15-5, 15-10
4) Javier Moreno v. 36) Mauel Garcia, 15-13, 15-4

30) Jaime Martell d. 3) Edson Martinez, 14-15, 15-3, 11-10
14) Alejandro Cardona d. 19) Jordy Alonso, 15-4, 15-12

22) Alejandro Romo d. 11) Rodolfo Esparza, 15-13, 15-13
6) Alejandro Landa d. 38) Javier Estrada, 15-7, 15-4

26) Ramon Yañez d. 7) Andree Parrilla, 15-11, 15-10
23) Alan Palomino d. 10) Cesar Barragan, 15-9, 8-15, 11-2

15) Eduarto Garay d. 18) Gerardo Franco, 15-12, 15-11
2) Daniel De La Rosa d. 31) Juan Pablo Portillo, 15-3, 15-4

Men's Open Doubles

Round of 32


1) Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno - BYE
17) Eduardo Portillo & Rodrigo Rodriguez d. 16) Alejandro Romo & Ruben Martinez, 15-14, 15-11

8) Alan Marquez & Jaime Maldonado - BYE
9) Jaime Martell & Luis Felipe Muñoz - BYE

5) Christian Longoria & Jordy Alonso - BYE
12) Alejandro Cardona & Alejandro Landa - BYE

13) Ruben Estrada & David Ortega - BYE
4) Cesar Barragan & Alan Palomino - BYE

3) Eduardo Garay & Javier Mar - BYE
14) Salvador Ortiz Jr. & Juan Pablo Portillo - BYE

11) Rodrigo Garay & Ramon Yañez - BYE
6) Javier Estrada & Alan Natera - BYE

7) Ricardo Ortega & Miguel Perea - BYE
10) Mario Hidalgo & Mario Zamora - BYE

18) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla d. 15) Erick Sandoval & Pedro Gonzalez, 15-8, 14-15, 11-4
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Edson Martinez - BYE

Round of 16

1) Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno v. 17) Eduardo Portillo & Rodrigo Rodriguez
8) Alan Marquez & Jaime Maldonado v. 9) Jaime Martell & Luis Felipe Muñoz

5) Christian Longoria & Jordy Alonso v. 12) Alejandro Cardona & Alejandro Landa
4) Cesar Barragan & Alan Palomino v. 13) Ruben Estrada & David Ortega

3) Eduardo Garay & Javier Mar v. 14) Salvador Ortiz Jr. & Juan Pablo Portillo
6) Javier Estrada & Alan Natera v. 11) Rodrigo Garay & Ramon Yañez

7) Ricardo Ortega & Miguel Perea v. 10) Mario Hidalgo & Mario Zamora
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Edson Martinez v. 18) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla

Follow the bouncing ball….

2016 USA Racquetball Doubles Championships - Day One

Jackie Paraiso, former US Champion and World Champion in Women’s Doubles, was a double winner on Thursday at the USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships in Tempe, Arizona, as she had two upset wins. In singles, Paraiso, seeded 10th, defeated 7th seed Adrienne Haynes, 15-14, 15-12, while in doubles Paraiso teamed up with Da’monique Davis to beat Cheryl Gudinas and Sharon Jackson, 15-5, 8-15, 11-6.

Those were the only two upsets on day one of competition, although there were a couple of other close matches, as 6th seed Sheryl Lotts narrowly defeated 11th seed Janel Tisinger, 15-14, 15-13, and in Men’s Singles David Horn defeated his doubles partner Anthony Herrera, 14-15, 15-5, 11-8.

But Horn and Herrera were successful in doubles, as they defeated Charlie Pratt and Tony Carson, 15-6, 15-14.

Play continues Friday, and you can watch some of the action live from Tempe via the USA Racquetball website.

2016 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships
Tempe, Arizona
US National Team Divisions

Men's Doubles

Quarter finals - Thursday


1) Jansen Allen & Rocky Carson - BYE
5) Anthony Herrera & David Horn d. 4) Charlie Pratt & Tony Carson, 15-6, 15-14

3) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz d. 6) Tom Durham & Brian Pineda, 15-6, 15-3
2) Marco Rojas & Jose Rojas d. 7) Carlos Bravo & Joe Young, 15-5, 15-8

Semi-finals - Friday

1) Jansen Allen & Rocky Carson v. 5) Anthony Herrera & David Horn
2) Marco Rojas & Jose Rojas v. 3) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz

Women's Doubles

Quarterfinals - Thursday


1) Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger - BYE
5) Da’monique Davis & Jacqueline Paraiso d. 4) Cheryl Gudinas & Sharon Jackson, 15-5, 8-15, 11-6

3) Danielle Key & Michelle Key d. 6) Kelani Bailey & Adrienne Haynes, 15-7, 15-10
2) Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts d. 7) Miriam McCloskey & Fran Transfiguracion, 15-2, 15-6

Semi-finals - Friday

1) Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger v. 5) Da’monique Davis & Jacqueline Paraiso
2) Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts v. 3) Danielle Key & Michelle Key

Men’s Singles

Round of 16 - Thursday


1) Jose Rojas - BYE
8) David Horn d. 9) Anthony Herrera, 14-15, 15-5, 11-8

5) Marco Rojas - BYE
4) Mauricio Zelada - BYE

3) Jansen Allen - BYE
6) Jose Diaz - BYE

7) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE
2) Rocky Carson - BYE

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Jose Rojas v. 8) David Horn
4) Mauricio Zelada v. 5) Marco Rojas

3) Jansen Allen v. 6) Jose Diaz
2) Rocky Carson v. 7) Jake Bredenbeck

Women's Singles

Round of 16 - Thursday


1) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
8) Kelani Bailey d. 9) Briana Jacquet, 15-6, 15-3

5) Da’monique Davis - BYE
4) Cheryl Gudinas - BYE

3) Michelle Key - BYE
6) Sheryl Lotts d. 11) Janel Tisinger, 15-14, 15-13

10) Jacqueline Paraiso d. 7) Adrienne Haynes, 15-14, 15-12
2) Sharon Jackson - BYE

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Rhonda Rajsich v. 8) Kelani Bailey
4) Cheryl Gudinas v. 5) Da’monique Davis

3) Michelle Key v. 6) Sheryl Lotts
2) Sharon Jackson v. 10) Jacqueline Paraiso

Follow the bouncing ball....

Thursday, February 11, 2016

2016 Campeonato Nacional Mexicano de Racquetbol Selectivo - Preview

The top Mexican racquetball players have gathered in Chihuahua for the chance to represent their country in international competitions this year, as the Campeonato Nacional Mexicano de Racquetbol Selectivo begins today. First thing to note is the size of the draws.

There are a full 16 players in Women’s Singles, so 8 teams in Women’s Doubles, and 41 players in Men’s Singles with 18 teams in Men’s Doubles. Contrast that with what’s going on at the 2016 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships in Tempe, Arizona and at last weekend’s Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event in Grande Prairie, Alberta.

In Tempe, 11 players are in Women’s Singles and 7 teams in Women’s Doubles, which are similar to the Mexican numbers, but there were only 7 Canadian players in Grande Prairie. But only 9 American men are in Men’s Singles with 7 teams in Men’s Doubles. Twenty two Canadians were Men’s Open last weekend.

The differences in numbers are substantial, and speak to the number of players being developed in the respective countries. There are still high quality players in the USA and Canada, but fewer than in Mexico, which is also starting to be reflected on the respective men’s and women’s pro tours.

This trend has been happening for some time, but when the Mexico and USA events happen on the same weekend, the contrast is stark.

Cameonato Nacional Selectivo
Chihuahua, Mexico - February 10-14, 2016

Women's Open

Round of 16


Paola Longoria v. Denisse Maldonado
Jessica Maldonado v. Nancy Enriquez

Jessica Parrilla v. Sofia Gasca
Lucia Gonzalez v. Karen Segovia

Susana Acosta v. Abril Sacristán
Ximena Gonzalez v. Alexandra Herrera

Sofia Rascon v. Vanessa Gutierrez
Samantha Salas Solis v. Lizelbhy Villasensor

Women's Open Doubles

Quarterfinals


Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis v. Nancy Enriquez & Daniela Molina
Jessica Parrilla & Monserrat Mejia v. Sofia Gasca & Karen Segovia

Susana Acosta & Jessica Maldonado v. Denisse Maldonado & Karina Hamilton
Ximena Gonzalez & Alexandra Herrera v. Sofia Rascon & Lucia Gonzalez

Men's Open

Round of 64


1) Alvaro Beltran - BYE
32) Salvador Ortiz Jr. d. 33) Jaime Maldonado, 15-5, 15-3

17) Alan Natera - BYE
16) Rodrigo Garay - BYE

9) Erick Sandoval - BYE
24) Hector Urquidi Enriquez d. 41) Miguel Medina, 15-3, 15-14

25) Ruben Estrada d. 40) Hugo Martinez, 15-6, 15-8
8) Juan Loreto - BYE

5) Javier Mar - BYE
28) Alfonso Luna d. 37) Luis Felipe Muñoz, 15-8, 15-12

21) Christian Longoria - BYE
12) Rafael Ochoa - BYE

13) Ricardo Perez - BYE
20) Liam Evangelista - BYE

29) Daniel Herrera Maldonado v. 36) Mauel Garcia
4) Javier Moreno - BYE

3) Edson Martinez - BYE
30) Jaime Martell d. 35) Alan Marquez, 15-2, 15-11

14) Alejandro Cardona - BYE
19) Jordy Alonso - BYE

11) Rodolfo Esparza - BYE
22) Alejandro Romo - BYE

38) Javier Estrada d. 27) Mario Zamora, 15-7, 15-5
6) Alejandro Landa - BYE

7) Andree Parrilla - BYE
26) Ramon Yañez d. 39) Pedro Gonzalez, 15-10, 14-15, 11-3

23) Alan Palomino - BYE
10) Cesar Barragan - BYE

15) Eduarto Garay - BYE
18) Gerardo Franco - BYE

31) Juan Pablo Portillo d. 34) Adrian Palomino, 15-11, 13-15, 11-1
2) Daniel De La Rosa - BYE

Round of 32

1) Alvaro Beltran v. 32) Salvador Ortiz Jr.
16) Rodrigo Garay v. 17) Alan Natera

9) Erick Sandoval v. 24) Hector Urquidi Enriquez
8) Juan Loreto v. 25) Ruben Estrada

5) Javier Mar v. 28) Alfonso Luna or 37) Luis Felipe Muñoz
12) Rafael Ochoa v. 21) Christian Longoria

13) Ricardo Perez v. 20) Liam Evangelista
4) Javier Moreno v. 29) Daniel Herrera Maldonado or 36) Mauel Garcia

3) Edson Martinez v. 30) Jaime Martell
14) Alejandro Cardona v. 19) Jordy Alonso

11) Rodolfo Esparza v. 22) Alejandro Romo
6) Alejandro Landa v. 27) Mario Zamora or 38) Javier Estrada

7) Andree Parrilla v. 26) Ramon Yañez or 39) Pedro Gonzalez
10) Cesar Barragan v. 23) Alan Palomino

15) Eduarto Garay v. 18) Gerardo Franco
2) Daniel De La Rosa v. 31) Juan Pablo Portillo ror 34) Adrian Palomino

Men's Open Doubles

Round of 16


1) Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno - BYE
16) Alejandro Romo & Ruben Martinez v. 17) Eduardo Portillo & Rodrigo Rodriguez

8) Alan Marquez & Jaime Maldonado - BYE
9) Jaime Martell & Luis Felipe Muñoz - BYE

5) Christian Longoria & Jordy Alonso - BYE
12) Alejandro Cardona & Alejandro Landa - BYE

13) Ruben Estrada & David Ortega - BYE
4) Cesar Barragan & Alan Palomino - BYE

3) Eduardo Garay & Javier Mar - BYE
14) Salvador Ortiz Jr. & Juan Pablo Portillo - BYE

11) Rodrigo Garay & Ramon Yañez - BYE
6) Javier Estrada & Alan Natera - BYE

7) Ricardo Ortega & Miguel Perea - BYE
10) Mario Hidalgo & Mario Zamora - BYE

15) Erick Sandoval & Pedro Gonzalez v. 18) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Edson Martinez - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

2016 USA Racquetball Doubles Championships - Preview

The USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships begin this week at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, and there is a bit of twist to the event this season, as USA Racquetball has changed its process for US Team qualifying. There are now three events involved in qualifying in singles for the US Team: the US Open, National Singles and a singles division at National Doubles. Thus, some of the top players are playing both singles and doubles in Tempe.

The result is a stronger field at the USA National Doubles Championship than has generally been seen in the last few years, so there should be a lot great racquetball going on this week. The doubles finals are on Saturday, and the singles finals are Sunday.

Jansen Allen won Men’s Doubles last year Jose Rojas, and they went on to win gold at the 2015 Pan American Games, but they have parted ways, as Rojas is playing with his brother Marco, and Allen is playing with Rocky Carson. Allen and Carson are the #1 seeds with the Rojas brothers #2.

Tony Carson - no relation to Rocky - also won National Doubles in the past with Allen, and this year he’s playing with Charlie Pratt. They are seeded 4th, and will play 5th seeds Anthony Herrera and David Horn in the quarterfinals.

Jake Bredenbeck and Jose Diaz are the other team with a serious shot at the title, as they were runners up at the 2015 US Open.

On the women’s side, the top seeds are last year’s runners up Aimee Ruiz and Janel Tisinger, as only half of the defending champions are participating this year. Rhonda Rajsich and Kim Waselenchuk won last year, but only Rajsich is in the field this year. won the women's title. Rajsich is playing with Sheryl Lotts and they are seeded 2nd.

Other threats for the title are the Key sisters - Danielle and Michelle, who were runners up 2013 and finished 3rd last year, as well as 4th seeds Cheryl Gudinas and Sharon Jackson, 5th seeds Da’monique Davis and Jacqueline Paraiso, and 6th seeds Kelani Bailey and Adrienne Haynes.

Singles Play

Doubles partners may be playing each other in singles, as the Rojas brothers are both on the top half of the draw with Allen and Carson on the bottom half. Carson is the 2nd seed and his first match will be against Jake Bredenbeck, which won’t be an easy one, but if he wins he’ll play the winner of 3rd seeded Allen and Jose Diaz. If Bredenebck and Diaz upset the 2nd and 3rd seeds there will also be a doubles partners showdown.

One partners showdown is assured as David Horn and Anthony Herrera play each other first with the winner to face top seed Jose Rojas in the quarterfinals.

Rhonda Rajsich is the top seed in Women’s Singles, and will play the winner of 8th seed Kelani Bailey and 9th seed Briana Jacquet. The other first round matches could be good ones also, as 6th seed Sheryl Lotts faces 11th seed Janel Tisinger, and 7th seed Adrienne Haynes will be up against 10th seed Jacqueline Paraiso.

Sharon Jackson is the 2nd seed, so she’ll play the winner of Haynes and Paraiso with 3rd seed Michelle Key taking on the winner of Lotts and Tisinger.

You can watch some of the action live from Tempe via the USA Racquetball website.

2016 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships
Tempe, Arizona
US National Team Divisions

Men's Doubles

Quarter finals - Thursday


1) Jansen Allen & Rocky Carson - BYE
4) Charlie Pratt & Tony Carson v. 5) Anthony Herrera & David Horn

3) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz v. 6) Tom Durham & Brian Pineda
2) Marco Rojas & Jose Rojas v. 7) Carlos Bravo & Joe Young

Women's Doubles

Quarterfinals - Thursday


1) Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger - BYE
4) Cheryl Gudinas & Sharon Jackson v. 5) Da’monique Davis & Jacqueline Paraiso

3) Danielle Key & Michelle Key v. 6) Kelani Bailey & Adrienne Haynes
2) Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts v. 7) Miriam McCloskey & Fran Transfiguracion

Men’s Singles

Round of 16 - Thursday


1) Jose Rojas - BYE
8) David Horn v. 9) Anthony Herrera

5) Marco Rojas - BYE
4) Mauricio Zelada - BYE

3) Jansen Allen - BYE
6) Jose Diaz - BYE

7) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE
2) Rocky Carson - BYE

Women's Singles

Round of 16 - Thursday


1) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
8) Kelani Bailey v. 9) Briana Jacquet

5) Da’monique Davis - BYE
4) Cheryl Gudinas - BYE

3) Michelle Key - BYE
6) Sheryl Lotts v. 11) Janel Tisinger

7) Adrienne Haynes v. 10) Jacqueline Paraiso
2) Sharon Jackson - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball....

Monday, February 8, 2016

Landeryou & Saunders win Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event

Tim Landeryou was a surprise winner Sunday at the second Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event of the season in Grande Prairie, Alberta, as he upset Canadian #1 Mike Green, 12-15, 15-10, 11-5. In the semi-finals, Landeryou defeated Canadian #2 Samuel Murray, so he will move ahead of Murray in the rankings.

Green's now lost to both Landeryou and Murray, who won the first selection event in November by defeating Green in the final. If either player defeats Green at the Canadian National Championships, they would take the #1 ranking from Green, who has held it since 2011.

Saunders defeated Michèle Morissette, 15-7, 15-9, to win the Women's title. They were close early in both games, and Morissette held the lead early in game two. But after being tied at 5-5 in each game, Saunders took over, scoring five unanswered points to lead 10-5.

In game one after 10-5, Morissette never got closer than five points, although they were stuck on 12-7 for nine rallies before Saunders broke the deadlock and made it 13-7 by forcing Morissette into a forehand skip shot.

In game two, Morissette got within three at 11-8, and within four at 13-9, but not closer. Saunders got her first match point by rolling out a backhand, and then won it when Morissette skipped her backhand serve return pinch shot.

In the men's final, Green started well, leading 4-0 and 9-4 in game one. But Landeryou kept working, and tied the game at 10-10. Green re-took the lead at 13-10, and held on to win 15-12.

Landeryou had beaten Green previously - back in 2013, but it's never good to let the favourite get a lead, because coming back will be that much more difficult. Early in game two, it didn't seem like Landeryou would comeback, as Green took a 6-1 advantage.

But Landeryou took a timeout, and when play resumed he got the serve back with a backhand return and proceeded to score eight unanswered points to lead 9-6. Green came back to tie it at 9-9, but after four backhand winners by Landeryou the score was 13-10. The game ended with Green making two unforced errors on his backhand, forcing a tie-breaker.

In game three, they were close early, and Green led at 4-2. From there Landeryou scored eight points, six on pinch shots, to lead 10-4. Landeryou skipped a backhand pinch shot on his first match point, but he won it with a forehand pinch shot on his second match point.

With their wins, Landeryou and Saunders solidified the likelihood that they will be selected for Team Canada to compete at the 2016 Pan American Championships in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, March 18-26.

Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event
February 5-7, 2016 - Grande Prairie, Albert

Men's Final


Tim Landeryou d. Mike Green, 12-15, 15-10, 11-5

3rd Place

Samuel Murray d. Pedro Castro, 15-6, 15-1

5th Place

Tommy Murray d. Nathaniel Husulak, 5-15, 15-5, 11-7

7th Place

Lee Connell d. Trevor Webb, 15-4, 15-1

9th Place

Nicolas Bousquet d. Mitch Brayley, 15-11, 15-11

Women's Final

Jennifer Saunders d. Michèle Morissette, 15-7, 15-9

3rd place

Valerie Fallu d. Christine Richardson, 15-5, 15-7

5th place

Alexis Iwaasa d. Danielle Drury, 13-15, 15-9, 11-9

Follow the bouncing ball….

Saturday, February 6, 2016

Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event - Semi-finals

They are down to the finals at the second Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event of the season in Grande Prairie, Alberta. Mike Green and Tim Landeryou will playoff for the Men's title with Jennifer Saunders and Michèle Morissette vying or the Women's title.

Frédérique Lambert, the #1 ranked Canadian woman, is not in Grande Prairie, as she will likely qualify for the team because of her ranking on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT). She's currently #4, and needs to finish in the top 8 to qualify for Team Canada.

Saunders is Canada's #2 player, and was expected to be in the final. But Morissette, the current Canadian U18 Junior Girl's Champion, reached the final with narrow victories over Christine Richardson, 15-13, 15-13, and Danielle Drury, 15-11, 13-15, 12-10.

In Men's Singles, Canadian #1 Mike Green defeated 4th seed Pedro Castro, 15-0, 15-12, and Green was perhaps trying to make a statement in game one, as he and Castro went tie-breaker in November at the first National Team Selection Event of the season. Green likely felt it shouldn't have been that close, and wanted to prove that this time around.

In November, Green lost in the final to Samuel Murray, but he won't have a chance to avenge that loss Sunday, as Murray lost in a tie-breaker to veteran Tim Landeryou, 10-15, 15-12, 11-9. Landeryou won the tie-breaker with perhaps the shot of the tournament, as he dove forward and hit a backhand pinch shot that rolled out of the front left corner.

The results of this tournament will be used as part of the selection process for Team Canada that will compete at the 2016 Pan American Championships in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Players are also working towards being selected to represent Canada at the 2016 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Cali, Colombia in July.

Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event
February 5-7, 2016 - Grande Prairie, Albert

Men's Final


Mike Green v. Tim Landeryou

Semi-finals

Mike Green d. Pedro Castro, 15-0, 15-12
Tim Landeryou d. Samuel Murray, 10-15, 15-12, 11-9

Quarterfinals

Mike Green d. Tommy Murray, 15-2, 15-0
Pedro Castro d. Trevor Webb, 15-8, 15-0

Tim Landeryou d. Nathaniel Husulak, 16-14, 15-12
Samuel Murray d. Lee Connell, 15-7, 15-1

Round of 16

Mike Green d. Jeff Buller, 15-6, 15-0
Tommy Murray d. Nicolas Bousquet, 15-5, 15-12

Trevor Webb d. James Landeryou, 15-5, 15-8
Pedro Castro d. Tanner Prentice, 15-7, 15-11

Tim Landeryou d. Mitch Brayley, 15-9, 15-11
Nathaniel Husulak d. Michael Leduc, 15-8, 15-4

Lee Connell d. Tanner Mattson, 15-4, 15-4
Samuel Murray d. Barret Husulak, 15-7, 15-5

First Round

Jeff Buller d. Graham Frattinger, 15-5, 15-9
Mitch Brayley d. Devin Halko, 15-0, 15-5
Barret Husulak d. Paul Albert, 15-11, 15-6

Women's Final

Jennifer Saunders v. Michèle Morissette

3rd place

Christine Richardson v. Valerie Fallu

5th place

Danielle Drury v. Alexis Iwaasa

Group play

Group 1


Jennifer Saunders d. Valerie Fallu, 16-14, 15-1
Valerie Fallu d. Alexis Iwaasa, 15-8, 15-10
Jennifer Saunders d. Alexis Iwaasa, 15-3, 15-9

Group 2

Michèle Morissette d. Christine Richardson, 15-13, 15-13
Danielle Drury d. Cassie Prentice, 15-5, 15-2

Michèle Morissette d. Cassie Prentice, 15-1, 15-5
Christine Richardson d. Danielle Drury, 15-8, 15-10

Christine Richardson d. Cassie Prentice, 15-1, 15-2
Michèle Morissette d. Danielle Drury, 15-11, 13-15, 12-10

Follow the bouncing ball….

Monday, February 1, 2016

Weekend Round Up - Jackson, Mercado, Cullen & Varadarajan win

Sharon Jackson won Women’s Open at the 2016 Mercedes-Benz of Cincinnati Pro-Am in Cincinnati, Ohio on the weekend by defeating Carla Muñoz, 15-7, 3-15, 11-9, in the final. In the semi-finals, Jackson defeated Adriana Riveros, and Muñoz beat Lucia Gonzalez, 15-13, 10-15, 11-9.

Also in Cincinnati, Mario Mercado won the Men’s Open division with a win over Mauricio Zelada, 15-10, 15-9, in the final. In the semi-finals, Mercado beat Christian Longoria, 15-10, 15-2, and Zelada defeated Troy Warigon, 15-12, 15-2.

In Brandon, Manitoba, Kurtis Cullen won Grumpy Garry’s Racquetball Extravaganza 2 - Still Grumpy, which is a Tier 5 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event - by defeating Lee Connell, 12-10, 11-5, 11-9, in the final. Cameron Wachs finished 3rd with a win over Samuel Morrissette, 12-10, 11-8, 11-9, and Pat Madill was 5th, defeating Jay Cadman, 11-4, 11-5, 5-11, 11-5.

A shout out to the 37 players in the Lanco Hills India Open Racquetball Championships in Hyderabad, India. Rajiv Varadarajan won the Men’s Open / Team Qualifying division by going undefeated through a five player round robin. Arun Baskaran narrowly came second by defeating Pavan Kumar Kora, 11-15, 15-10, 11-10 to finish with a 3-1 record with Kora at 2-2.

Upcoming events

Coming up this week is Racquetball Canada’s National Team Selection Event in Grande Prairie, Alberta. Then next week the 2016 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships happen in Tempe, Arizona, and the Campeonato Nacional Mexicano de Racquetbol Selectivo 2016 happens in Chihuahua, Mexico for the selection of the Mexican National Team.

The next professional racquetball events are the LPRT 2016 Winter Classic in Overland Park, Kansas, February 19-21. The next IRT Tier 1 event is the Shamrock Shootout Pro/Am in Lombard, Illinois, March 10-13. The World Racquetball Tour (WRT) will be in action February 18-21 at the Mt Rainier Open in Seattle.

2016 Mercedes-Benz of Cincinnati Pro-Am, January 29-31
Cincinnati, Ohio


Women’s Open Final

Sharon Jackson d. Carla Muñoz, 15-7, 3-15, 11-9

Semi-finals

Sharon Jackson d. Adriana Riveros
Carla Muñoz d. Lucia Gonzalez, 15-13, 10-15, 11-9

Quarterfinals

Sharon Jackson d. Natalie Domelle, 15-7, 15-4
Adriana Riveros Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-3, 15-11

Carla Muñoz d. Andrea Martinez Gonzalez, 15-6, 15-6
Lucia Gonzalez d. Sofia Soley, 4-15, 15-13, 11-1

Men’s Open Final

Mario Mercado d. Mauricio Zelada, 15-10, 15-9

Semi-finals

Mauricio Zelada d. Troy Warigon, 15-12, 15-2
Mario Mercado d. Christian Longoria, 15-10, 15-2

Grumpy Garry’s Racquetball Extravaganza 2: Still Grumpy - IRT Tier 5
Brandon, Manitoba - January 29-31, 2016


1st Place - Kurtis Cullen d. Lee Connell, 12-10, 11-5, 11-9
3rd Place - Cameron Wachs d. Samuel Morrissette, 12-10, 11-8, 11-9
5th Place - Pat Madill d. Jay Cadman, 11-4, 11-5, 5-11, 11-5

Lanco Hills India Open Racquetball Championships
Hyderabad, India - January 29-31, 2016

Men’s Open / Team Qualifying


1st - Rajiv Varadarajan
2nd - Arun Baskaran
3rd - Pavan Kumar Kora
4th - Srikaran Kandadai
5th - Joshua Fonseca

Follow the bouncing ball….