USA Racquetball Singles Championships - First Rounds

Play began Thursday in the US Team Qualifying divisions in Houston, Texas at the 42nd USA Racquetball National Singles Championships, and everything's gone according to form. However, last year's champions - Rocky Carson and Cheryl Gudinas Holmes - have yet to play.

Carson's Round of 16 match is scheduled for Friday, while everyone else played Thursday. All the higher seeds won setting up some interesting quarter final matches.

In the quarters, Jack Huczek will take on Jose Rojas in a battle of previous junior phenom versus current junior phenom, respectively. Also of interest will be John Ellis versus Shane Vanderson and Chris Crowther taking on Andy Hawthorne. Ruben Gonzalez awaits the winner of the match between Carson and Daniel Case.

In women's play, the top three seeds had byes in the first round, where National Doubles Champion Aimee Ruiz held off US Junior Team member Aubrey O'brien, 15-9, 12-15, 11-0. It was an upset by the seedings, but Ruiz does not play a lot of tournaments, so her ranking doesn't accurately reflect her ability.

Also an upset by the seedings, Da'monique Davis beat Janel Tisinger, 15-6, 9-15, 11-4.

2009 USA Racquetball National Singles
Men's Singles US team Qualifying
Round of 32:
Shannon Kohl d. Rafael Filippini, 13-15, 15-5, 11-6
Allan Crockett d. Stacey Young, 15-4, 15-2
Mike Orr d. Jacob Hutkins, 15-9, 15-3
Jason Sylvester d. Jonathan Doyle, 15-13, 15-10
Tyler Otto d. Dustin Webster, 15-10, 15-9
Daniel Case d. Jansen Allen, 15-13, 15-14

Round of 16:
Jack Huczek d. Tyler Otto, 15-3, 15-4
Shane Vanderson d. Jason Sylvester, 15-10, 15-7
Chris Crowther d. Mike Orr, 15-10, 15-5
Andy Hawthorne d. Allan Crockett, 15-8, 15-6
John Ellis d. Shannon Kohl, 15-7, 15-3
Jose Rojas d. Anthony Herrera, 14-15, 15-1, 11-7
Ruben Gonzalez d. Patric Mascorro, 12,6,7 [sic]
Rocky Carson vs Daniel Case - Friday

Quarter finals
Jack Huczek vs. Jose Rojas
Shane Vanderson vs. John Ellis
Chris Crowther vs. Andy Hawthorne
Ruben Gonzalez vs. either Rocky Carson or Daniel Case

Women's Singles US team Qualifying
Round of 16
Adrienne Fisher d. Keely Franks, 14-15, 15-10, 11-4
Kerri Wachtel d. Sharon Jackson, 15-5, 15-11
Da'monique Davis d. Janel Tisinger, 15-6, 9-15, 11-4
Aimee Ruiz d. Aubrey O'brien, 15-9, 12-15, 11-0
Liz Alvarado d. Jo Shattuck, 13-15, 15-3, 11-10

Quarter finals:
Kerri Wachtel vs Adrienne Fisher
Rhonda Rajsich vs Da'monique Davis
Aimee Ruiz vs Kristen Bellows
Cheryl Gudinas Holmes vs Liz Alvarado

Follow the bouncing ball....