IRF - World Junior Championships - Girl's Semi-finals

Could Bolivia sweep the gold medals in girl's singles at the 24th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in Canoga Park, California? They have a chance to do so Saturday, and are assured of one gold, as both girls in the U18 final are Bolivian.

One of those Bolivian players has been there before, as Maria Jose Vargas was the U18 silver medalist last year. She's assured of at least silver this year, as she defeated Aisling Hickey of Ireland in the semi-finals, 15-7, 15-8.

Vargas will play her team-mate Adriana Riveros in the U18 final, as Riveros defeated American Kelani Bailey in the other semi, 12-15, 15-3, 11-5.

If Bolivia do sweep the gold medals, then Natalia Mendez will have two gold medals, as she's in both the U14 and U16 finals.

The Girl's U16 final will be between top seed Ximena Gonzalez of Mexico and 6th seeded Mendez. Gonzalez had the tougher semi-final though, as she needed a tie-breaker to defeat Maria Renee Rodriguez of Guatemala, and even then only won by a single point, 15-12, 11-15, 11-10. In the other semi, Mendez defeated Canadian Michèle Morissette, 15-11, 15-4.

In Girl's U14, Mendez is the top seed, and she defeated American Erika Manilla, 15-5, 15-4, in one semi-final, and second seed Diana Aguilar of Mexico beat Costa Rican Melania Sauma, 15-1, 15-2, in the other.

The finals are Saturday morning and some of them will be viewable on line via the IRF website.

24th IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
Canoga Park, California

Girl's U18 - Semi-finals

4. Maria Jose Vargas (Bolivia) d. 8. Aisling Hickey (Ireland), 15-7, 15-8
2. Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) d. 3. Kelani Bailey (USA), 12-15, 15-3, 11-5

Girl's U18 - Final

2. Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) v. 4. Maria Jose Vargas (Bolivia)

Girl's U16 - Semi-finals

1. Ximena Gonzalez (Mexico) d. 5. Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 15-12, 11-15, 11-10
6. Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) d. 10. Michèle Morissette (Canada), 15-11, 15-4

Girl's U16 - Final

1. Ximena Gonzalez (Mexico) v. 6. Natalia Mendez (Bolivia)

Girl's U14 - Semi-finals

1. Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) d. 4. Erika Manilla (USA), 15-5, 15-4
2. Diana Aguilar (Mexico) d. 3. Melania Sauma (Costa Rica), 15-1, 15-2

Girl's U14 - Final

1. Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) v. 2. Diana Aguilar (Mexico)

Follow the bouncing ball....