WPRO - Christmas Classic 16s

Higher seeds have continued to carry the day in Arlington, Virgina at the Christmas Classic, the fourth main event of the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) season. The top four seeds all had relatively easy matches in the Round of 16.

Number 1 Rhonda Rajsich only gave up 6 points in defeating Laura Brandt, winning 11-0, 11-1, 11-5. In a trans-Pacific battle, #2 Paola Longoria of Mexico defeated Maiko Sato of Japan, 11-6, 11-4, 11-6.

Third seed Cheryl Gudinas beat US Junior Team member Aubrey O'brien, 11-5, 11-4, 11-4, while fourth seed Kerri Wachtel ousted Doreen Fowler, 11-3, 11-1, 11-6.

One more Round of 16 match is still to be completed with Jo Shattuck and T.J. Baumbaugh competing for the last quarter final spot and an opportunity to play Rajsich on Saturday.

Both the quarter finals and semi-finals will be played Saturday with the final to come on Sunday.

2009 Christmas Classic - Arlington, Virginia
Round of 16

1 Rhonda Rajsich d. 16 Laura Brandt, 11-0, 11-1, 11-5
8 Jo Shattuck vs. 9 T.J. Baumbaugh

5 Kristen Bellows d. 12 Vivian Gomez, 6-11, 11-0, 11-4, 11-6
4 Kerri Wachtel d. 13 Doreen Fowler, 11-3, 11-1, 11-6

3 Cheryl Gudinas d. 14 Aubrey O'Brien, 11-5, 11-4, 11-4
6 Adrienne Fisher d. 11 Keely Franks, 11-13, 15-13, 11-2, 11-7

7 Jennifer Saunders d. 10 Krystal Csuk, 13-15, 11-8, 11-6, 11-5
2 Paola Longoria d. 15 Maiko Sato, 11-6, 11-4, 11-6

Quarter finals
1 Rhonda Rajsich vs. 8 Jo Shattuck or 9 T.J. Baumbaugh
4 Kerri Wachtel vs. 5 Kristen Bellows

3 Cheryl Gudinas vs. 6 Adrienne Fisher
2 Paola Longoria vs. 7 Jennifer Saunders

Follow the bouncing ball....

WPRO - Christmas Classic 1st Round Results

Round one has been completed at the Christmas Classic in Arlington, Virginia, and there were no upsets. This is the fourth main event of the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) season.

No upsets but several close matches, including 22nd seed Ashley Loyd pushing 11th seed Keely Franks to a fifth game tie-breaker that Franks won by the slimmest of margins, taking the match 11-4, 2-11, 11-1, 1-11, 11-9. Franks will next play Adrienne Fisher.

The two most convincing wins so far are Doreen Fowler's victory over Sarah Warhaftig, 11-0, 11-6, 11-2, and Aubrey O'brien's win against Dolly Watson, which went 11-1, 11-3, 11-3.

O'brien will play 3rd seed Cheryl Gudinas and Fowler 4th seed Kerri Wachtel in the Round of 16 later on Friday.

The Round of 16 will begin early Friday evening.

2009 Christmas Classic - Arlington, Virginia
First Round

8 Jo Shattuck d. 25 Etsuko Noda, 1-11, 9-11, 11-4, 11-8 [sic]
9 T.J. Baumbaugh d. 24 Paula Truman, 11-7, 11-7, 11-0
10 Krystal Csuk d. 23 Ana Nunez, 13-11, 11-13, 11-3, 9-11, 11-1

11 Keely Franks d. 22 Ashley Loyd, 11-4, 2-11, 11-1, 1-11, 11-9
12 Vivian Gomez d. 21 Yolanda Jordan, 11-4, 11-5, 4-11, 11-9
13 Doreen Fowler d. 22 Sarah Warhaftig, 11-0, 11-6, 11-2

14 Aubrey O'Brien d. 19 Dolly Watson, 11-1, 11-3, 11-3
15 Maiko Sato d. 18 Karen Morton, 12-10, 9-11, 11-5, 11-6
16 Laura Brandt d. 17 Danielle Emerson, 11-8, 11-4, 11-2

Round of 16

1 Rhonda Rajsich vs. 16 Laura Brandt
8 Jo Shattuck vs. 9 T.J. Baumbaugh

5 Kristen Bellows vs. 12 Vivian Gomez
4 Kerri Wachtel vs. 13 Doreen Fowler

3 Cheryl Gudinas vs. 14 Aubrey O'Brien
6 Adrienne Fisher vs. 11 Keely Franks

7 Jennifer Saunders vs. 10 Krystal Csuk
2 Paola Longoria vs. 15 Maiko Sato

Follow the bouncing ball....

WPRO - Christmas Classic DRAW

We've now got the official draw for the Chrismas Classic - the fourth main event of the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) season that will start tomorrow in Arlington, Virginia. WPRO #1 Rhonda Rajsich has won two of the three events this season with #2 Paola Longoria winning the other. They are joined by twenty three other players in Virginia.

There will be two rounds on Friday, two on Saturday and then the final on Sunday.

2009 Christmas Classic - Arlington, Virginia
First Round

8 Jo Shattuck vs. 25 Etsuko Noda
9 T.J. Baumbaugh vs. 24 Paula Truman
10 Krystal Csuk vs. 23 Ana Nunez

11 Keely Franks vs. 22 Ashley Loyd
12 Vivian Gomez vs. 21 Yolanda Jordan
13 Doreen Fowler vs. 22 Sarah Warhaftig

14 Aubrey O'Brien vs. 19 Dolly Watson
15 Maiko Sato vs. 18 Karen Morton
16 Laura Brandt vs. 17 Danielle Emerson

Round of 16

1 Rhonda Rajsich vs. 16 Laura Brandt or 17 Danielle Emerson
8 Jo Shattuck or Etsuko Noda vs. 9 T.J. Baumbaugh or Paula Truman

5 Kristen Bellows vs. 12 Vivian Gomez or 21 Yolanda Jordan
4 Kerri Wachtel vs. 13 Doreen Fowler or 20 Sarah Warhaftig

3 Cheryl Gudinas vs. 14 Aubrey O'Brien or 19 Dolly Watson
6 Adrienne Fisher vs. 11 Keely Franks or 22 Ashley Loyd

7 Jennifer Saunders vs. 10 Krystal Csuk or 23 Ana Nunez
2 Paola Longoria vs. 15 Maiko Sato or 18 Karen Morton

Follow the bouncing ball....