IRT - Waselenchuk wins 2011 Ektelon Nationals

Kane Waselenchuk completed the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Sunday by winning the Ektelon National Singles Championship in Fullerton, Calif. Waselenchuk defeated Rocky Carson in the final, 11-(-1), 11-1, 11-7 in final. Waslenchuk won 12 of the 13 IRT events he entered this season, losing only by default due to illness at the New York City Pro-Am.

In the semi-finals, Waselenchuk defeated Chris Crowther, 11-6, 11-1, 11-3, in what was Crowther's second career Grand Slam semi-final, while Carson beat Ben Croft, 11-1, 11-6, 8-11, 12-10.

2011 Ektelon National Singles Championships
Finals

Kane Waselenchuk d. Rocky Carson, 11-(-1), 11-1, 11-7

Semi-finals

Kane Waselenchuk d. Chris Crowther, 11-6, 11-1, 11-3
Rocky Carson d. Ben Croft, 11-1, 11-6, 8-11, 12-10

Follow the bouncing ball....

Green and Saunders repeat as Canadian Champions

Mike Green and Jennifer Saunders successfully defended their Canadian titles Saturday at the 2011 Canadian National Racquetball Championships in Antigonish and Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia.

Green played a very strong match, and defeated 2nd seed Vincent Gagnon, 15-4, 15-6. Afterwards Green said felt he played "awesome" as he wasn't "hesitant to bring my weapons," which Green had felt he had been in the semi-finals on Friday when he'd had to play a tie-breaker against Tim Landeryou.

According to Green, he had a good "mix of intensity and consistency" during the match.

Green drove served throughout the match, and driving the ball is one of his primary weapons. It created a big lead in game one at 5-1 and 11-2 before Green won 15-4. But in game two it was close until the middle of the game, when Green led 8-6. Green then went on a seven point run to close out the second game, winning 15-6.

Green's win is the 7th of his career tying him with Lindsay Myers for 2nd most all time behind only Sherman Greenfeld with 10.

Saunders defeated 2nd seed Frédérique Lambert, 15-11, 15-7. Saunders used a variety of serves against her opponent, including drive serves, half lob, and lob nick serves, a Saunders specialty.

Saunders was ahead in both games, but in game one Lambert did tie it at 11-11, and it looked like an upset may be in the making. However, Saunders got the serve back, closed out game one and never looked back.

Saunders felt she played "very solid" but had to "fight my nerves" all match. Asked why she was nervous, Saunders said "because this title is so important to me. The honour of winning a national title is very important to me."

Saunders now has won five singles titles, including the last three. When Saunders was younger, "one would have been a dream," she said. "When I won in 2002 I didn't appreciate how hard it was. I take them one at at time now."

2011 Canadian National Racquetball Championships
Antigonish & Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia
Results Summary

Men's

Final - Mike Green d. Vincent Gagnon, 15-4, 15-6

3rd Place - Kris Odegard d. Tim Landeryou, 15-8, 15-4
5th Place - Pedro Castro d. Corey Osborne, default injury
7th Place - Colin Mohr d. James Landeryou, 15-13, 10-15, 11-7
9th Place - Nathaniel Husulak d. Lee Connell, 15-9, 15-5
11th Place - Francis Guillemette d. Barret Husulak, 15-12, 15-1

Women's

Final - Jennifer Saunders d. Frédérique Lambert, 15-11, 15-7

3rd Place - Josée Grand'Maître d. Brandi Jacobson Prentice, 15-6, 14-16, 11-8
5th Place - Christine Richardson d. Brigitte Richard, 15-10, 15-3

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - 2011 Ektelon Nationals QFs

The quarter finals are underway at the International Racquetball Tour's (IRT's) last event of the 2010-2011 season, and the first winners are Chris Crowther and Rocky Carson.

Crowther defeated Tony Carson, 3-11, 12-10, 11-9, 12-10, while Rocky Carson beat Shane Vanderson, 11-2, 11-8, 11-7.

Action is being webcast via the IRT Network.com. The quarter finals are continuing Friday evening, with the semi-finals Saturday, and final on Sunday at 2 PM PDT.

2011 Ektelon National Singles Championships
Quarter finals

Kane Waselenchuk vs. Taylor Knoth
Chris Crowther d. Tony Carson, 3-11, 12-10, 11-9, 12-10

Ben Croft d. Andy Hawthorne, 11-1, 11-6, 13-11
Rocky Carson d. Shane Vanderson, 11-2, 11-8, 11-7

Semi-finals

Chris Crowther vs. Kane Waselenchuk or Taylor Knoth - Saturday 7:30 PM PDT
Rocky Carson vs. Ben Croft - Saturday 3:30 PM PDT

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - 2011 Ektelon Nationals 32s & 16s - UPDATED

The International Racquetball Tour's (IRT's) last event of the 2010-2011 season is underway, as the first two rounds of the 2011 Ektelon National Singles Championships were played Thursday.

Play in the main round is beginning in the Round of 32, where there have been few upsets. The biggest one was Taylor Knoth's defeat of 8th seed Charlie Pratt, 11-7, 11-5, 2-11, 10-12, 11-4. Next up for Knoth is Anthony Herrera, who was a straight game winner against Brad Schopieray, 11-9, 11-8, 11-8.

Knoth put up another upset in the 16s, as he defeated Herrera, 11-7, 11-4, 5-11, 11-8, and will face top seed Kane Waselenchuk in the quarter finals. Waselenchuk was a winner over Andres Herrera, 11-2, 11-2, 11-8, in the 16s.

But the big upset in the 16s was Tony Carson's defeat of Jose Rojas, 11-5, 8-11, 2-11, 12-10, 11-7. He'll play Chris Crowther in the quarters, as Crowther beat David Horn, 11-7, 11-5, 11-9, in the 16s.

Action is being webcast via the IRT Network.com. The quarter finals are slated for Friday, semi-finals Saturday, and final on Sunday at 2 PM PDT.

2011 Ektelon National Singles Championships
Round of 32

Kane Waselenchuk d. Jansen Allen, 11-1, 11-8, 11-0
Andres Herrera d. Mike Orr, 6-11, 6-11, 11-1, 11-8, 12-10

Anthony Herrera d. Brad Schopieray, 11-9, 11-8, 11-8
Taylor Knoth d. Charles Pratt, 11-7, 11-5, 2-11, 10-12, 11-4

Jose Rojas d. Alex Ackermann, 6-11, 9-11, 11-0, 11-4, 11-3
Tony Carson d. Ryan Meyer, 11-7, 11-5, 11-2

David Horn d. Alejandro Herrera, WBF - No Show
Chris Crowther d. Mike Harmon, 11-5, 11-3, 11-2

Ben Croft d. Ruben Gonzalez, 12-14, 11-9, 11-2, 11-8
Javier Moreno d. Arthur Schmeiser, 11-6, 11-0, 10-12, 11-0

Felipe Munoz d. Juan Herrera, 11-5, 9-11, 11-4, 11-3
Andy Hawthorne d. Polo Gutierrez, 11-7, 11-4, 11-9

Shane Vanderson d. Cliff Swain, 11-13, 11-9, 11-9, 11-6
Alvaro Beltran d. Erik Leetch, 7-11, 11-0, 11-4, 11-2

Daniel De La Rosa d. Alejandro Landa, 11-5, 11-4, 9-11, 1-11, 12-10
Rocky Carson d. Jose Diaz, 11-9, 11-2, 11-0

Round of 16

Kane Waselenchuk d. Andres Herrera, 11-2, 11-2, 11-8
Taylor Knoth d. Anthony Herrera, 11-7, 11-4, 5-11, 11-8

Tony Carson d. Jose Rojas, 11-5, 8-11, 2-11, 12-10, 11-7
Chris Crowther d. David Horn, 11-7, 11-5, 11-9

Ben Croft d. Javier Moreno
Andy Hawthorne d. Felipe Munoz, 11-7, 11-7, 11-1

Shane Vanderson d. Alvaro Beltran, 11-4, 11-4, 6-11, 11-3
Rocky Carson d. Daniel De La Rosa, 11-4, 11-9, 6-11, 11-3

Quarter finals

Kane Waselenchuk v. Taylor Knoth
Chris Crowther v. Tony Carson

Ben Croft v. Andy Hawthorne
Rocky Carson v. Shane Vanderson

Follow the bouncing ball....

Seven is wild at Canadian National Racquetball Championships

Mike Green won his seventh Canadian doubles title and Jennifer Saunders and Josée Grand'Maître won their seventh Canadian doubles title together on Tuesday at the 2011 Canadian National Racquetball Championships in Antigonish and Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia.

Green and Kris Odegard successfully defended the title they won last year with a straight game victory over Corey Osborne and Francis Guillemette, 15-9, 15-6. Green and Odegard started well in game one, as they took an early 4-0 lead. But Osborne and Guillemette got back on track and took a lead in the middle of game one at 8-6. However, Green and Odegard changed serving strategies using more lob serves and better angles, and that worked as they only allowed their opponents only one more point in winning the first game, 15-9.

Game two was close early, but Green and Odegard went on a run to 8-4, causing Osborne and Guillemette to call a time out. It worked as Osborne and Guillemette got the serve back, but they could only score one more point before Green and Odegard put together another run of points, and went on to win comfortably, 15-6.

In the 3rd place match, François Viens and Vincent Gagnon defeated brothers Tim and James Landeryou. 15-5, 15-3.

Green also won four straight from 2004 to 2007, when the first was with Tom O'brien and the other three with Brian Istace. Green also won in 2000 with Mike Ceresia. The title was the 2nd doubles title for Odegard, who won last year with Green.

In women's play, Saunders and Grand'Maître beat defending champions Brandi Jacobson Prentice and Frédérique Lambert, 15-3, 12-15, 11-3, in the title deciding match. Saunders and Grand'Maître started well with good serves and strong serve returns. They served several times into the middle of the court to try to put their left-handed and right-handed opponents, Jacobson Prentice and Lambert, respectively, off balance.

Jacobson and Lambert did play better in game two, which they won, but it seemed only a matter of time before the veterans once again took the doubles title that has been theirs six times previously.

2011 Canadian National Racquetball Championships
Antigonish & Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia
Results Summary

Men's Doubles

Final
Mike Green & Kris Odegard d. Corey Osborne & Francis Guillemette, 15-9, 15-6

3rd Place
François Viens & Vincent Gagnon d. James Landeryou & Tim Landeryou, 15-5, 15-3

5th Place
Barret Husulak & Nathaniel Husulak d. Conrad Cole & Pedro Castro, 15-10, 15-3

7th Place
Joshua Keil & Lee Connell d. Colin Mohr & Kurtis Cullen, 15-2, 15-10

Women's Open Doubles

Final - Jennifer Saunders & Josée Grand'Maître d. Brandi Jacobson Prentice & Frederique Lambert, 15-3, 12-15, 11-3

Final Standings

1st - Jennifer Saunders & Josée Grand'Maître
2nd - Brandi Jacobson Prentice & Frederique Lambert
3rd - Brigitte Richard & Christine Richardson
4th - Jennifer Hogan & Murielle Boivin
5th - Michèle Morissette & Valerie Fallu

Follow the bouncing ball....

Huczek retires effective immediately

A reliable source close to The Racquetball Blog has informed us that Jack Huczek is retiring effective immediately and he will not be present in Fullerton for the Ektelon National Singles Championships. A check of the entrants for that event reveals that Huczek is not among them.

More details are to come, so we're not sure if this means Huczek's retiring completely from racquetball, including playing for the US Team. If so, that would have significant implications for the US Team's chances at this year's Pan Am Games.

The Racquetball Blog will bring more details of this development as they become available.

Follow the bouncing ball....

Why Longoria Should Be #1

We're awaiting the release of the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization's (WPRO's) season ending rankings, but via Twitter it has been announced that Rhonda Rajsich finished the season as #1 ahead of Paola Longoria.

Here at The Racquetball Blog offices that announcement was met with a collective "what? Seriously?"

We're in disbelief here because it seems clear to us that Longoria had the better season. She won 5 WPRO events to Rajsich's 4, and Longoria was in the final of every event she entered. Rajsich had a very good year, but she did lose in the quarters of the Texas Open and the semis of the Puget Sound Challenge. Thus, Longoria made the finals 100% of the time while Rajsich did it 80% of the time.

The key seems to be that Longoria missed one event - that Puget Sound Challenge, which without Longoria there you'd have thought would be Rajsich's to win, but she didn't. Longoria's absence from the Puget Sound Challenge was for a good reason, as she was receiving a national sport award from the President of Mexico.

We can understand having your ranking system reward players for being at the tournaments, but to not finish #1 because you missed one event, when it seems clear you've got the best record, makes the system seem too harsh on player's who do miss events.

Alternative System

The Racquetball Blog tracks player's performances over the season and across seasons, and our internal ranking system gives players points according to the round that they lost in. For example, a quarter final loss mean 8 points, as there were 8 players alive in that round; a loss in the 32s means 32 points; a loss in the finals means 2 points; the winner gets 1 point.

Fewer points are better in this system, and you sum up the points across events and divide by the number of events to get a mean point total for each player.

Using this system, Longoria is #1 as she has 1.44 points, and Rajsich #2 with 2.40 points. Samantha Salas is 3rd with 4.70 points, and then Christie Huczek is 4th with 5.00 points.

Huczek being 4th highlights that this system doesn't favor people who play more tournaments, as Huczek played only four events, finishing in the semis three times and quarters once. Again, we understand that you want to have an incentive for players doing so. It wouldn't be good for an organization to have its year end #1 be a player who only came out to one event even if the player won that event. That would be case in this system.

So you have to be wary of small numbers of events in this system. Aimee Ruiz is 6th with this ranking system, but she was only in two events (making the quarter finals in each). (Note: four players were in all 10 WPRO events this season: Rajsich, Salas, Susana Acosta and Jennifer Saunders)

Understand that Rajsich and Longoria have been the dominant WPRO players over the last three seasons. Collectively, they have won 24 of 27 WPRO events with Longoria winning 14 and Rajsich 10, and the other three events going to Samantha Salas, Cheryl Gudinas, and Kristen Bellows.

Thus, Rajsich and Longoria are the class of the WPRO right now, but from The Racquetball Blog's perspective Longoria has the better record, including this season.

She should be #1.

Alternative WPRO Rankings by The Racquetball Blog
Rank | Name | Mean Points | Events | Total Points

1. Paola Longoria - 1.44 pts, 9 events, 13 total pts
2. Rhonda Rajsich - 2.40, 10, 24
3. Samantha Salas - 4.70, 10, 47
4. Christie Huczek - 5.00, 4, 20
5. Cheryl Gudinas - 7.50, 8, 60

6. Aimee Ruiz - 8.00, 2, 16
7. Kerri Wachtel - 8.67, 9, 78
8. Adrienne Fisher - 11.11, 9, 100
9. Susana Acosta - 11.20, 10, 112
10. Angela Grisar - 12.00, 8, 96

11. Jennifer Saunders - 12.40, 10, 124
12. Cristina Amaya - 13.33, 9, 120
13. Nancy Enriquez - 14.29, 7, 100
14. Krystal Csuk - 16.00, 9, 144
14. Aubrey O'Brien - 16.00, 3, 48
14. Claudina Garcia - 16.00, 3, 48
14. Jackie Paraiso - 16.00, 2, 32

Follow the bouncing ball....

Longoria wins WPRO Ektelon World Championships

Paola Longoria was dominate in her victory over Rhonda Rajsich, 11-1, 11-4, 11-9, in the final of the 2011 LA Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) Ektelon World Championship in New Orleans on Sunday, which ends the 2010-2011 WPRO season. Rajsich was less than 14 points ahead of Longoria in the rankings, so this victory should be enough to put Longoria back on top, which would be the 3rd consecutive season Longoria has finished with the #1 ranking.

Longoria drove serve throughout the match, but not many drive Z serves to Rajsich's forehand that Kerri Wachtel used effectively against Rajsich in yesterday's semi-finals. Longoria's drive serves kept Rajsich off balance, and then Longoria killed the balls that Rajsich left up.

Neither of the first two games were close, but in game three Rajsich started well, and led 3-1. Longoria came back and went ahead at 8-4. But Rajsich, who seemed to be looking for an effective serve all match, began lobbing to the left - Longoria's backhand and was able to close the gap to 8-7.

Longoria called a time out, got the serve back, and lob served for the first time in the match. Longoria's lobs went to the left - Rajsich's backhand, and Longoria made it 9-7. But Rajsich recovered, and tied the game at 9-9.

The play went back and forth at 9-9 for several serves, including an avoidable call against Longoria off a Rajsich serve return that hit Longoria after the ball came across into the middle of the court - well out from the left corner, where Longoria had driven the ball.

But in the end it was all just a matter of time, as Longoria closed it out on two consecutive three shot rallies.

Longoria and Rajsich met in eight finals during the 2010-2011 WPRO season, and they each won four times.

2011 LA WPRO Ektelon World Championships

Final

Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 11-1, 11-4, 11-9

Follow the bouncing ball....

WPRO - Ektelon World Championships - Longoria into final

Appropriately, it'll be #1 and #2 in the final of the last event of the 2010-2011 Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) season, as #1 Rhonda Rajsich will play #2 Paola Longoria in the final of the 2011 LA Ektelon World Championship in New Orleans on Sunday.

In Saturday's second semi-final, Rajsich defeated 4th seed Kerri Wachtel, 11-4, 7-11, 11-5, 11-8. It was a match that demonstrated the importance of serving, as Rajsich "served lights out" as Wachtel said afterwards. Wachtel felt she played fine when she could get a rally going, but that just wasn't often enough.

Throughout the match, Rajsich drove serve, often drive Zs to the left, Wachtel's backhand. But Rajsich used a mix of serves that effectively kept Wachtel off balance.

In the second game, which Wachtel won, she hit drive Z serves to Rajsich's forehand, which was effective. Then late in that game Wachtel switched to kiss lob serves to Rajsich's backhand and finished off the game. Wachtel returned to these serves in game four as she was trying to force a fifth game. It almost worked, as Wachtel erased a 7-3 deficit to pull even at 7-7. She got to 9-8, but then Rajsich finished the job and won the match in four games.

Earlier Longoria had a convincing victory over Samantha Salas, winning in three straight games, 11-3, 11-5, 11-3.

You can see the final from New Orleans via the IRT Network. Also, The Racquetball Blog is tweeting results as they happen, so follow us on Twitter.

The final will be Sunday at noon CDT.

2011 LA WPRO Ektelon World Championships
Semi-finals

Rhonda Rajsich d. Kerri Wachtel, 11-4, 7-11, 11-5, 11-8
Paola Longoria d. Samantha Salas, 11-3, 11-5, 11-3

Final

Rhonda Rajsich v. Paola Longoria - Noon CDT Sunday

Follow the bouncing ball....

WPRO - Ektelon World Championships - QFs

Samantha Salas defeated Christie Huczek in the first quarter final match at the 2011 LA Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) Ektelon World Championship. The match went back and forth, but Salas never trailed the former WPRO #1, and eventually won it in five games, 11-2, 7-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-2.

Salas will face fellow Mexican Paola Longoria in the semi-finals later on Saturday as Longoria defeated Angela Grisar, 11-0, 11-1, 11-3, in the quarters.

The top seeds are also through to the semis on the other side of the draw, as top seed Rhonda Rajsich will play 4th seed Kerri Wachtel in the other semi-final. Rajsich quickly defeated Krystal Csuk, 11-2, 11-1, 11-0, in their quarter final match.

But Wachtel had a more difficult time with 5th seed Adrienne Fisher, as they needed a tie-breaker before deciding the match in Wachtel's favor, 7-11, 11-4, 9-11, 11-8, 11-5. After they split the first two games of the match, Fisher took a 10-4 lead in game three. But Wachtel didn't surrender the game easily, as she narrowed the gap to 10-9, although Fisher did win game three 11-9 to take a 2-1 advantage.

However, Wachtel gained some momentum from that late comeback in game three and took a 5-1 lead in game four. Fisher took her turn coming back, and they were tied at 7-7 and 8-8. But that was as many points as Fisher would get as Wachtel closed out game four, 11-8, to force a fifth and deciding game.

In that fifth game, Wachtel again got the early lead at 5-1. Fisher closed it to 5-3, but that was a close as she'd be as Wachtel pushed the score to 9-3 and then won it 11-5.

Wachtel used a variety of serves, including a backhand lob down the left side - to Fisher's backhand. Early on Fisher was drive serving effectively, but went away from that strategy, which may have been a strategic mistake.

You can see the action from New Orleans via the IRT Network. Also, The Racquetball Blog is tweeting results as they happen, so follow us on Twitter.

The final will be Sunday at noon CDT.

2011 LA WPRO Ektelon World Championships
Quarter finals

Rhonda Rajsich d. Krystal Csuk, 11-2, 11-1, 11-0
Kerri Wachtel d. Adrienne Fisher, 7-11, 11-4, 9-11, 11-8, 11-5

Samantha Salas d. Christie Huczek, 11-2, 7-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-2
Paola Longoria d. Angela Grisar, 11-0, 11-1, 11-3

Semi-finals

Rhonda Rajsich v. Kerri Wachtel - 8 PM Saturday
Paola Longoria v. Samantha Salas - 6 PM Saturday

Follow the bouncing ball....

WPRO - Ektelon World Championships - 16s

Christie Huczek is through to the quarter finals in New Orleans at the 2011 LA Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) Ektelon World Championship, as she defeated Jennifer Saunders, 11-6, 11-2, 11-6, in an all Canadian match. A former #1 WPRO player, Huczek's playing only her 4th event of the season, and has made the semi-finals in each of her pervious three appearances.

Samantha Salas will try to prevent Huczek from getting to the semis this weekend, as Salas will meet Huczek in the quarters on Saturday, following her win over Sharon Jackson in the Round of 16, 11-1, 11-2, 12-10.

On the top side of the draw, the 4th and 5th seeds will meet in the quarter finals, as 4th seed Kerri Wachtel defeated Miako Sato, 5-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-4, and 5th seed Adrienne Fisher beat T.J. Baumbaugh in three straight games, 12-10, 11-3, 11-3.

The top two seeds, Rhonda Rajsich and Paola Longoria, won their Round of 16 matches comfortably Friday. Rajsich defeated Linda Scales, 11-6, 11-9, 11-6, and Longoria beat Laura Brandt, 11-1, 11-5, 11-1.

The #1 WPRO ranking will go to either Rajsich or Longoria after this tournament. It's just a matter of who does better in the Big Easy.

The quarter finals begin at 11 AM EDT Saturday, and can be seen live via the IRT Network. Also, The Racquetball Blog is tweeting results as they happen, so follow us on Twitter.

The semi-finals will be played later on Saturday and the final on Sunday at noon EDT.

2011 LA WPRO Ektelon World Championships
Round of 16

Rhonda Rajsich d. Linda Scales, 11-6, 11-9, 11-6
Krystal Csuk d. Cristina Amaya, 11-9, 11-8, 5-11, 11-8

Adrienne Fisher d. T. J. Baumbaugh, 12-10, 11-3, 11-3
Kerri Wachtel d. Maiko Sato, 5-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-4

Samantha Salas d. Sharon Jackson, 11-1, 11-2, 12-10
Christie Huczek d. Jennifer Saunders, 11-6, 11-2, 11-6

Angela Grisar d. Susy Acosta, 11-9, 11-6, 12-10
Paola Longoria d. Laura Brandt, 11-1, 11-5, 11-1

Quarter finals

Rhonda Rajsich v. Krystal Csuk
Kerri Wachtel v. Adrienne Fisher

Samantha Salas v. Christie Huczek
Paola Longoria v. Angela Grisar

Follow the bouncing ball....

WPRO - Ektelon World Championships - Early Results

The preliminary round of the 2011 LA Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) Ektelon World Championship in New Orleans is complete, and there were two five game matches and two upsets. Maiko Sato of Japan upset Keely Franks with one of the oddest scorelines you'll ever see: 11-9, 12-10, 0-11, 1-11, 12-10. Sato won the match, yet Franks outscored her by 15 points!

In the other five game match, Linda Scales defeated Mexican Jessica Parrilla, 6-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-5, 11-4, while Sharon Jackson upset Da'monique Davis in three straight games, 11-6, 11-5, 11-4.

Play has begun in the Round of 16 and some of the matches will be streamed live over the IRT Network. The quarter finals and semi-finals will be played on Saturday and the final on Sunday at noon EDT.

2011 LA WPRO Ektelon World Championships
Preliminary Round

Q: Linda Scales d. Jessica Parrilla, 6-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-5, 11-4
Q: Laura Brandt d. Danielle Emerson, 11-1, 11-5, 2-11, 11-2
Q: Sharon Jackson d. Da'monique Davis, 11-6, 11-5, 11-4

Q: T.J. Baumbaugh d. Beth Sacco, 11-0, 11-2, 11-1
Q: Maiko Sato d. Keely Franks, 11-9, 12-10, 0-11, 1-11, 12-10

Round of 16

Rhonda Rajsich v. Linda Scales
Cristina Amaya v. Krystal Csuk

Adrienne Fisher v. T. J. Baumbaugh
Kerri Wachtel v. Maiko Sato

Samantha Salas v. Sharon Jackson
Christie Huczek v. Jennifer Saunders

Susy Acosta v. Angela Grisar
Paola Longoria v. Laura Brandt

Follow the bouncing ball....

WPRO - Ektelon World Championships PREVIEW Draw revised

Some changes have been made to the draw for the 2011 LA WPRO Ektelon World Championship this weekend in New Orleans - the final tournament of the 2010-2011 Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) season.

Christie Huczek and Keely Franks have changed places from where they were originally, so Huczek will play Jennifer Saunders in the main round with the winner likely to play Samantha Salas in the quarter finals. This puts Huczek on the bottom of the draw rather than the top, as previously reported.

We're not sure why the WPRO is calling the first round a qualifying round rather than merely the Round of 32, which effectively it is. Doing it this way seems more confusing than clarifying.

Regardless, play begins Friday morning with the qualifying rounds, and continues with the Round of 16 later on Friday, the quarter finals and semi-finals on Saturday and the final on Sunday at noon EDT.

2011 LA WPRO Ektelon World Championships
Preliminary Round

Q: Linda Scales v. Jessica Parrilla
Q: Laura Brandt v. Danielle Emerson
Q: Da'monique Davis v. Sharon Jackson

Q: T.J. Baumbaugh v. Beth Sacco
Q: Keely Franks v. Maiko Sato

Round of 16

Rhonda Rajsich v. Q1
Cristina Amaya v. Krystal Csuk

Adrienne Fisher v. Q5
Kerri Wachtel v. Q4

Samantha Salas v. Q3
Christie Huczek v. Jennifer Saunders

Susy Acosta v. Angela Grisar
Paola Longoria v. Q2

Follow the bouncing ball....

WPRO - Ektelon World Championships PREVIEW

The final tournament of the 2010-2011 Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) season goes this weekend in New Orleans. The 2011 LA WPRO Ektelon World Championship is a grand slam event, and the season ending #1 ranking is on the line.

Rhonda Rajsich is the current #1 player, having moved past Paola Longoria by defeating her last month in Stockton, Calif. But the margin is slim, so if Longoria does better than Rajsich this weekend, then she should be able to finish #1 for a third consecutive season.

If Rajsich does better than Longoria, then she'll finish #1 for the fourth time in her career, having done so the three seasons prior to Longoria's two season streak.

The tournament has a preliminary round and then a Round of 16. In the preliminary round is Christie Huczek, a former #1 player herself. If she wins her qualifying match, Huczek will play Adrienne Fisher, the 5th seed. Thus, Huczek's on the top of the draw and if she reaches the semi-finals, which she's done in each of the three tournaments she's played this season, Huczek could face Rajsich.

Missing from the draw is Cheryl Gudinas - WPRO's 4th ranked player. She's likely still suffering the ill effects of a foot injury. Thus, Kerri Wachtel is seeded 4th.

Samantha Salas is the 3rd seed, so there's a potential Mexican stand off in the semi-finals if she and Longoria both make it that far.

Play begins Friday morning with the qualifying rounds, and continues with the Round of 16 later on Friday, the quarter finals and semi-finals on Saturday and the final on Sunday at noon EDT.

2011 LA WPRO Ektelon World Championships
Preliminary Round

Q1: Linda Scales v. Jessica Parrilla
Q2: Laura Brandt v. Danielle Emerson
Q3: Da'monique Davis v. Sharon Jackson

Q4: T.J. Baumbaugh v. Maiko Sato
Q5: Beth Sacco v. Christie Huczek

Round of 16

Rhonda Rajsich v. Q1
Cristina Amaya v. Krystal Csuk

Adrienne Fisher v. Q5
Kerri Wachtel v. Q4

Samantha Salas v. Q3
Keely Franks v. Jennifer Saunders

Susy Acosta v. Angela Grisar
Paola Longoria v. Q2

Follow the bouncing ball....

WPRO - Rankings - Rajsich #1 once again

Rhonda Rajsich is the #1 player in the latest Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO's) rankings following her victory over former #1 Paola Longoria at the In-Shape tournament in Stockton, Calif. last month. But the difference is still small, so that this weekend's LA WPRO Ektelon World Championships in New Orleans will decide who finishes the season at #1.

Samantha Salas has also moved up. She's reached a career high at #3 ahead of Cheryl Gudinas, who dropped back to 4th. Behind Gudinas, Kerri Wachtel is probably safe at #5, but the rest of the top 10 is close.

Barely 100 points separate 6 from 10, as Adrienne Fisher sits on 405.95, Jennifer Saunders has 397.85, Susy Acosta 357.80, Cristina Amaya 340.58, and Krystal Csuk 302.70. The results in New Orleans could have a big impact on where those players finish the season.

In the next 10, Nancy Enriquez has moved up to 12th from 16th with T. J. Baumbaugh dropping back to 14th. Also, Da'monique Davis is again back in the top 20 at 17.

WPRO Rankings May 5, 2011
Rank Name Nationality Points

1 Rhonda Rajsich (USA) 1544.30
2 Paola Longoria (Mexico) 1530.53
3 Samantha Salas (Mexico) 836.20
4 Cheryl Gudinas (USA) 781.20
5 Kerri Wachtel (USA) 519.80
6 Adrienne Fisher (USA) 405.95
7 Jennifer Saunders (Canada) 397.85
8 Susy Acosta-Mendoza (Mexico) 357.80
9 Cristina Amaya (Colombia) 340.58
10 Krystal Csuk (USA) 302.70

11 Angela Grisar (Chile) 236.00
12 Nancy Enriquez (Mexico) 221.48
13 Christie Huczek (Canada) 214.00
14 T.J. Baumbaugh (USA) 203.00
15 Keely Franks (USA) 157.50
16 Jo Shattuck (USA) 156.80
17 Da'monique Davis (USA) 139.00
18 Claudine Garcia (Dominican Republic) 128.60
19 Aimee Ruiz (USA) 119.80
20 Anita Maldonaldo (USA) 105.50

Follow the bouncing ball....

Cullen & Lambert U18 Canadian Junior National Champions

Kurtis Cullen and Frédérique T. Lambert won the Boy's and Girl's 18 & under divisions, respectively, at the 2011 Canadian Junior National Racquetball Championships on Saturday in Burnaby, British Columbia. Lambert won her third consecutive U18 championships in her final year of juniors. Cullen was also in his last year of eligibility, as he turned 19 on Saturday, giving himself a unique birthday present.

Cullen also won 18 & under doubles with Kevin Caouette, becoming the first player to win both U18 singles and doubles since 2007 when Tommy Murray did so. The win was Caouette's second consecutive as he won U18 doubles last year with Jamie Slamko.

In the singles final, Cullen went tie-breaker with Coby Iwaasa before winning 15-11, 8-15, 11-5. Iwaasa was playing up not one but two ages groups, as he was in Boy's 14 singles as well, winning that final comfortably over Matthew Swaine, 15-4, 15-3.

Lambert's final victory against Valeri Fallu was also a comfortable win, 15-0, 15-2, which wasn't a surprise as Lambert has been a member of the senior Canadian team on four occasions including the recent Pan American Championships while Fallu's appearance in the final means she's made the Canadian junior team for the first time.

The finalists in the U18, U16, U14 Boy's and Girl's divisions qualified for the Canadian Junior National Team which will compete at the 2011 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) Junior World Championships in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic July 24-30.

2011 Canadian Junior National Racquetball Championships
Burnaby, British Columbia
Final Results

Boy's Singles

U18 - Kurtis Cullen d. Coby Iwaasa, 15-11, 8-15, 11-5
U16 - Ashton Duda d. Sami Harb, 15-5, 15-13
U14 - Coby Iwaasa d. Matthew Swaine, 15-4, 15-3

Boy's Doubles

U18 - Kurtis Cullen & Kevin Caouette d. Samuel Murray & Sébastien Juteau, 15-11, 15-6
U16 - Ashton Duda & Sami Harb d. Michael Leduc & Nicholas Bousquet, 15-9, 15-3
U14 - Connor Culhane & Nicholas Leung d. Chandon Yu & Matthew Swaine, 15-5, 15-11

Girl's Singles

U18 - Frédérique T. Lambert d. Valerie Fallu, 15-0, 15-2
U16 - Danielle Drury d. Zoe Hanson, 17-15, 15-12
U14 - Michèle Morissette d. Danielle Drury, 15-6, 15-4

Girl's Doubles

U18 - Valeri Fallu & Michelle Morissette d. Alexa Kuczynski & Brittany Nelson, 15-4, 15-8
U14 - Annie Fisher & Kira Brererton d. Callie Hunter & Celine Cook, 15-13, 15-11

Follow the bouncing ball....

WPRO - In Shape Sports Final - Rajsich beats Longoria, should become #1

The #1 ranking on the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) tour should change hands this week, as Rhonda Rajsich defeated Paola Longoria Sunday in the final of the In-Shape WPRO Championships presented by Ektelon in Stockton, California. Rajsich came from two games down to pull out the victory, 4-11, 8-11, 11-3, 11-5, 13-11.

Rajsich has now defeated Longoria in four of the seven times they have met in the finals of WPRO events this season.

2011 In-Shape WPRO Championships presented by Ektelon
Stockton, California

Final

Rhonda Rajsich d. Paola Longoria, 4-11, 8-11, 11-3, 11-5, 13-11

Follow the bouncing ball....

WPRO - In Shape Sports Final - Longoria & Rajsich for 7th time this season

The #1 ranking for the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) will be on the line Sunday when Paola Longoria and Rhonda Rajsich meet in the final of the In-Shape WPRO Championships presented by Ektelon. The two have meet in 6 of the 8 WPRO tournaments this season with Rajsich winning the first three meetings and Longoria winning the last three.

However, last week Rajsich defeated Longoria in Nicaragua en route to winning the Pan American Championships, so who wins Sunday is anyone's guess.

In Saturday's semi-finals, Longoria beat Adrienne Fisher, 11-3, 11-1, 11-1, while Rajsich defeated Samantha Salas, 11-9, 11-3, 11-0.

The IRT Network is webcasting the final from Stockton at noon PDT.

2011 In-Shape WPRO Championships presented by Ektelon

Semi-final

Paola Longoria d. Adrienne Fisher, 11-3, 11-1, 11-1
Rhonda Rajsich d. Samantha Salas, 11-9, 11-3, 11-0

Final

Paola Longoria vs. Rhonda Rajsich

Quarter finals

Paola Longoria d. Angela Grisar, 11-1, 11-2, 11-1
Adrienne Fisher d. Aimee Ruiz, 11-3, 12-10, 8-11, 11-3

Samantha Salas d. Susy Acosta, 6-11, 11-3, 11-3, 11-6
Rhonda Rajsich d. Cristina Amaya, 11-6, 4-11, 11-1, 11-6

Follow the bouncing ball....