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

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