Longoria wins 2012 SCS Title & Escrow WPRO Tournament

Paola Longoria continued her unbeaten streak in the 2011-12 Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) season with a win over Rhonda Rajsich in the final of the SCS Title and Escrow Pro-Am in Herndon, Virginia, winning 7-11, 3-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8.

Neither player drove serve very much, choosing instead to use half Z serves. Longoria hit them to Rajsich's forehand while Rajsich hit them backhanded to Longoria's backhand. Although they did use other serves, but those were what they relied on.

After winning the first two games, Rajsich looked good to complete the upset in game three, as she was up 5-1. However, Longoria came back to lead 8-7. But Rajsich took the next two points to get the lead back at 9-8.

However, Longoria pushed it to 10-8 with the 10th point coming on a skipped overhead return by Rajsich on that half Z to her forehand, and then Longoria closed it out to force game four, winning 11-8.

Longoria led all the way in game four, although Rajsich made it close late when she drew within one trailing 8-7. The game point was another skipped serve return by Rajsich, as Longoria won 11-7.

In game five, Longoria looked like she was going to close it out easily, as she quickly grabbed a 6-0 lead. But Rajsich is a fighter - she dove more than 20 times during the match - and she fought back again to tie the game at 8-8. Rajsich's 7th and 8th points were the result of skips by Longoria, who may have been feeling the pressure.

However, in the end it was the #1 player who once again came out on top, defeating the #2 player 11-8 in the fifth game.

This is the last WPRO Tier 1 event of the season, but they will play a Tier 3 event later this month in Fullerton at the USA Racquetball Ektelon Nationals May 23-27.

WPRO 2012 SCS Title and Escrow Pro-Am - Herndon, Virginia 


Final

Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 7-11, 3-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8

Follow the bouncing ball....