Final IRT Rankings for 2012-13

Kane Waselenchuk finished #1 on the season ending International Racquetball Tour (IRT) rankings for the 8th time, which is the most ever and two ahead of Cliff Swain's six #1 finishes. Waselenchuk did so with nine tournament wins during the 2012-13 IRT season.

Rocky Carson, a three time winner on tour this season, finished #2 for the third consecutive season. Carson's been in the top 10 for 14 seasons, which is third most all time behind Swain (with 20) and Jason Mannino (15).

Alvaro Beltran is #3, which ties his highest season ending ranking. He was 3rd in 2007-08 also.

Jose Rojas finished #4, which was up one position from earlier in the month, but a semi-final finish in the season ending Ektelon Nationals put Rojas ahead of Chris Crowther, who finished #5.

Ben Croft, Tony Carson and Shane Vanderson finished 6th, 7th and 8th, respectively. Vanderson didn't play all of the events, but performed well enough to finish in the top 10 for a tenth consecutive season.

Daniel De La Rosa finished in the top 10 for the first time, as he is #9. That's one position ahead of where he was prior to the Ektelon Nationals.

Mexican veteran southpaw Javier Moreno rounds out the top 10 in 10th, and with three Mexicans - Beltran, De La Rosa, and Moreno - and a Canadian (Waselenchuk) this is the first time four non-Americans (only 6 six Americans) are in the IRT's season ending top 10.

The IRT seems more international than ever.

The 2013-14 IRT season will kick off in September with the Novasors Kansas City Open September 12-15.

IRT Rankings - May 24, 2013

Rank - Player - Country - Points

1 Kane WASELENCHUK (Canada) 4022
2 Rocky CARSON (USA) 3454
3 Alvaro BELTRAN (Mexico) 2470
4 Jose ROJAS (USA) 1972
5 Chris CROWTHER (USA) 1892

6 Ben CROFT (USA) 1846
7 Tony CARSON (USA) 1482
8 Shane VANDERSON (USA) 1276
9 Daniel DE LA ROSA (Mexico) 1123
10 Javier MORENO (Mexico) 1063

11 Alex ACKERMANN (USA) 974
12 Andy HAWTHORNE (USA) 966
13 Marco ROJAS (USA) 930
14 Jose DIAZ (USA) 845
15 Alejandro LANDA (Mexico) 800

16 Anthony HERRERA (USA) 776
17 Jansen ALLEN (USA) 729
18 Brad SCHOPIERAY (USA) 647
19 Nick MONTALBANO (USA) 610
20 David HORN (USA) 533

Follow the bouncing ball....

Final LPRT rankings for 2012-13

Paola Longoria's is the #1 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) player in the 2012-13 season ending rankings as a result of her undefeated season. Rhonda Rajsich finished #2 with Samantha Salas #3 and Susana Acosta #4.

This marks the first time that three of the top four women's pro racquetball players are Mexican, or simply not American, at season's end.

In all, five players in the season ending top 10 are Americans and five aren't, which ties the most non-Americans (or fewest American depending on your perspective) in a season ending women's pro top 10. In addition to Longoria, Salas and Acosta, Cristina Amaya of Ecuador is #9 and Maria Jose Vargas of Bolivia is #10.

There were also five in the top 10 in 2010-11 (Longoria, Salas, Acosta, Amaya and Jennifer Saunders).

Vargas's ranking at #10 is a career high, and not only her first season ending top 10 but her first top 10 at any point in her young career. Vargas is also the first ever Bolivian player in the top 10.

Grace Hughes at 7th is also in the top 10 season ending rankings for the first time.

The next LPRT event is the Suncoast Open - an out of season shootout, so no ranking points will be awarded for it - on June 27-30, 2013 in Sarasota, Florida.

LPRT Rankings - May 20, 2013
Season Ending Rankings

Rank - Name - Country - Points

1 Paola Longoria (Mexico) 2140.00
2 Rhonda Rajsich (USA) 1320.00
3 Samantha Salas (Mexico) 718.50
4 Susy Acosta (Mexico) 594.00
5 Cheryl Gudinas (USA) 549.50

6 Adrienne Fisher (USA) 435.75
7 Grace Hughes (USA) 413.50
8 Kerri Wachtel (USA) 348.75
9 Cristina Amaya (Colombia) 339.75
10 Maria Jose Vargas (Bolivia) 321.75

11 Krystal Csuk (USA) 319.00
12 Da'monique Davis (USA) 318.75
13 Jennifer Saunders (Canada) 294.50
14 T.J. Baumbaugh (USA) 255.75
15 Jackie Paraiso (USA) 227.00

16 Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) 152.50
17 Hailey Miller (USA) 150.75
18 Sheryl Lotts (USA) 139.75
19 Linda Scales (USA) 133.50
20 Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) 117.00

Follow the bouncing ball....

World Racquetball Tour - Sonora Open

Polo Gutierrez won the Sonora Open - a World Racquetball Tour (WRT) event - on the weekend in Hermosillo, Mexico. He defeated Sebastian Franco in the final.

Gutierrez beat Anthony Herrera in one semi-final, 14-15, 15-6, 11-3, while Franco defeated Alejandro Cardona in the other.

The next WRT will be the Vina del Mar Open in Chile, June 5-9. Then they will be in Flagstaff, Arizona for the Flagstaff Open June 20-23.

Sonora Open
Hermosillo, Mexico

Quarter finals

Polo Gutierrez d. David Horn, 15-9, 15-6
Anthony Herrera d. Felipe Camacho, 15-3, 15-4

Alejandro Cardona d. Erick Sandoval, 15-7, 15-8
Sebastian Franco d. Gilberto Mejia, 15-6, 15-8

Semi-finals

Polo Gutierrez d. Anthony Herrera, 14-15, 15-6, 11-3
Sebastian Franco d. Alejandro Cardona

Final

Polo Gutierrez d. Sebastian Franco

Follow the bouncing ball….

Green & Saunders are Canadian Champions once again

Defending Champions Jennifer Saunders and Mike Green successfully defended their titles on Saturday at the 2013 Canadian Racquetball Championships in Langley, B.C. Both did so in two straight games, but the games were very competitive.

On the men's side, Green defeated 2nd seed Tim Landeryou, 15-10, 15-8, while Saunders beat Josée Grand'Maître, 15-6, 16-14.

Landeryou was undefeated in Canada this season, including a win Green at the last Canadian National Team Selection Event in February, but Green got the better of him on Saturday. Green was ahead early in game one at 7-3, but Landeryou dug in and was only down by one at 10-9, before Green closed it out.

In games two, they were tied at 4-4, when Green took the next four points to lead 8-4. However, after a timeout Landeryou got the serve back and scored three straight points to close the gap at 8-7.

However, Landeryou stalled there, and Green got two more points to get 10-7. Landeryou called another timeout, but that was not as successful as the first, as Landeryou could only score one more point the rest of the way as Green went on to win, 15-8, taking the match in two straight games.

The win completes an undefeated week for Green, who also won the Men's Open Doubles title with Coby Iwaasa earlier in the week.

Green's won four consecutive singles titles and nine overall. This is the fifth year he's won both the singles and doubles title. Green previously did so in 2010 and 2011 both with Kris Odegard as his partner in doubles and in 2004 and 2006, when Brian Istace was his doubles partner each time.

On the women's side, Saunders won game one comfortably against Grand'Maître, who is her doubles partner and the two won their 9th doubles title together earlier in the week.

But in game two, Grand'Maître came out strong using a variety of serves and making great shots during the rallies. The players were tied at 5-5, and then Grand'Maître pulled ahead and led 10-8, and she got to 14 first at 14-10.

Grand'maître served for the game at 14-10 and 14-12, but couldn't manage to find the winning point, as Saunders caught up at 14-14, and then went ahead 15-14 and won it on her first match point.

The victory is Saunders's seventh and ties her for most Canadian Women's Singles titles with Heather Stupp. Her combined total of 16 Canadian Singles and Doubles titles is second only to Grand'Maître, who has 17.

The 2013 Canadian National Racquetball Championships concluded Saturday May 25 in Langley, B.C. at Newlands Golf and Country Club.

2013 Canadian Racquetball Championships
Langley, B.C.
(seeding)

Men's Open Singles

Final

(1) Mike Green d. (2) Tim Landeryou, 15-10, 15-8

3rd Place - (4) Coby Iwaasa d. (3) Nathaniel Husulak, 15-11, 15-7

5th Place - (9) Pedro Castro d. (6) Corey Osborne, 16-14, 15-10

7th Place - (5) James Landeryou d. (10) Kurtis Cullen, Forfeit

9th Place - (8) Samuel Murray d. (7) Eric Desrochers, 15-8, 15-10

11th Place - (12) Troy Brooks d. (14) Sebastian Juteau, 15-6, 22-20

Women's Open Singles

Final

(1) Jennifer Saunders d. (2) Josée Grand'Maître, 15-6, 16-14

3rd Place - (3) Christine Richardson d. (4) Linda Ellerington, 15-10, 15-1

5th Place - (5) Michele Morissette d. (6) Valerie Fallu, Forfeit

7th Place - (8) Brigitte Richard d. (7) Nadia Verilli, 15-10, 5-15, 11-5

Follow the bouncing ball….

Top men's and women's seeds to face off for Canadian titles

Mike Green will have a chance to win his 9th Canadian Men's Open title on Saturday at the 2013 Canadian Racquetball Championships in Langley, B.C., although he was hard pressed to get there by the junior phenom Coby Iwaasa, who forced Green to tie-breaker before Green won, 15-3, 13-15, 11-2.

Green's opponent will be 2nd seed Tim Landeryou, who defeated Green at the last Canadian National Team Selection Event in February, as Landeryou beat Nathanial Husulak of Saskatoon, 15-10, 15-8.

Green was dominant in the first game against Iwaasa, going out to a 12-0 lead with his powerful drive serve. Iwaasa eked out a few points before the game ended, but it was never close.

Game two was a different story, as Iwaasa, who at 16 is the U18 and U16 Canadian Junior Champion as well as U16 World Junior Champion, took a 6-1 lead on Green. But the veteran worked his way into the game, and held the lead late at 13-11.

They went back and forth at that point before Iwaasa scored three straight points to win it 15-13. The last point came on a backhand kill shot that Iwaasa hit at about 3/4 speed.

In the tie-breaker, the Champion reasserted himself and like game one took a big lead going up 4-0, when Iwaasa called a time-out. But Green scored two more points before Iwaasa got his first, making the score 6-1.

Green again scored two points to make the score 8-1, and then Iwaasa got his second and final point of the match as Green went on to win it 11-2, making the final point on a down the line pass on the left side of the court that Iwaasa dived for by didn't reach. He appealed for a hinder, but the lines people agreed with the referee that it was no hinder, and Green was through to the final.

Women's Division

Defending Champion and #1 seed Jennifer Saunders took one more step towards successfully defending her title Friday, as she defeated 4th seed Linda Ellerington, 15-4, 15-2.

In the final on Saturday, Saunders's opponent will be her doubles partner Josée Grand'Maître, who had to come back from one game down to beat 3rd seed Christine Richardson, 3-15, 15-10, 11-3. Saunders and Grand'Maître won their 9th doubles title together earlier in the week.

Saunders had a solid match against Ellerington, as she hit both lob serves and drive serves, and followed those up with solid shots that Ellerington - a former National Team player - had few answers for.

The Grand'Maître-Richardson match was a different story as Richardson began on fire winning game one with ease. But as the match wore on her powerful shots that were winners early started to be hit higher allowing Grand'Maître opportunities to play them off the back wall.

Grand'Maître found her rhythm and used a variety of serves to keep Richardson off balance. By the middle of game two, Grand'Maître clearly had the momentum and the veteran didn't let it go as she forced a tie-breaking game and won that going away.

The 2013 Canadian National Racquetball Championships concludes Saturday May 25 in Langley, B.C. at Newlands Golf and Country Club.

You can watch the final live via the web at SportsCanada.tv.

2013 Canadian Racquetball Championships
Langley, B.C.
(seeding)

Men's Open Singles

Semi-finals - Friday

(1) Mike Green d. (4) Coby Iwaasa, 15-3, 13-15, 11-2
(2) Tim Landeryou d. (3) Nathaniel Husulak, 15-10, 15-8

Final - Saturday

(1) Mike Green v. (2) Tim Landeryou - 2 PM PDT

Women's Open Singles

Semi-finals - Friday

(1) Jennifer Saunders d. (4) Linda Ellerington, 15-4, 15-2
(2) Josée Grand'Maître d. (3) Christine Richardson, 3-15, 15-10, 11-3

Final - Saturday

(1) Jennifer Saunders v. (2) Josée Grand'Maître - 1 PM PDT

Follow the bouncing ball….

Top four men's & women's seeds through to semis at Canadian Nationals

The top four men's seeds all won their respective quarter-final matches on Thursday to reach the semi-finals of the 2013 Canadian Racquetball Championships in Langley, B.C., but 2nd seed Tim Landeryou was given a major scare as Kurtis Cullen forced him to a tie-breaker before Landeryou won it, 15-5, 11-15, 12-10.

The other three top seeds all won their matches in two straight. Men's #1 seed Mike Green defeated Pedro Castro, 15-9, 15-4. He'll face Coby Iwaasa, who was a winner over James Landeryou, 15-2, 15-5, in what will be a battle of doubles partners, as Green and Iwaasa won the Men's Open Doubles title on Tuesday.

Finally, Nathanial Husulak defeated former Canadian Champion and 6th seed Corey Osborne, 15-11, 15-4. Husulak will face Tim Landeryou in the semis on Friday.

In the Landeryou-Cullen match, it was Cullen who had the lead in the tie-breaker at 6-1. But Landeryou didn't quit and pecked away at the lead to tie the game at 7-7, and then take the lead at 8-7.

Cullen, who used his powerful drive serve throughout the match, pulled back ahead at 9-8, only to see Landeryou respond with two points of his own to get to match point at 10-9.

But Cullen made two forehand pinch shots to get the serve back and then level the score at 10-10. But he couldn't get another point, as Landeryou made two winners to end the game and the match at 12-10.

Of the four remaining players, only Green has won the Canadian Championship previously, but he's done so eight times. Iwaasa is the current U18 Canadian Junior Champion (and U16 World Junior Champion) and Landeryou won both National Team Selection Events, including a win over Green in February.

It should all make for two exciting semi-finals on Friday.

Women's Division

In the women's division, the top four women's seeds are also through to the semi-finals, including defending Champion and #1 seed Jennifer Saunders defeated 8th seed Brigitte Richard, 15-3, 15-5, in the quarter-finals on Thursday.

Saunders will face 4th seed Linda Ellerington in the semis in what will be a repeat of the 2005 Nationals final, which Saunders won. Ellerington beat 5th seed Michele Morissette, 18-16, 7-15, 11-3, in the quarters.

On the other side of the draw, it'll be 2nd seed Josée Grand'Maître against 3rd seed Christine Richardson, as Grand'Maître defeated 7th Nadia Verilli, 15-6, 15-4, and Richardson beat 6th seed Valerie Fallu, 15-5, 15-6, in the quarter-finals Thursday.

The 2013 Canadian National Racquetball Championships continues Friday in Langley, B.C. at Newlands Golf and Country Club and concludes Saturday May 25.

You can watch some of the action on-line via the SportsCanada.tv website.

2013 Canadian Racquetball Championships
Langley, B.C.
(seeding)

Men's Open Singles

Round of 16 - Thursday

(1) Mike Green d. (16) Tommy Murray, 15-4, 15-4
(9) Pedro Castro d. (8) Samuel Murray, 15-13, 15-9

(5) James Landeryou d. (12) Troy Brooks, 15-4, 15-9
(4) Coby Iwaasa d. (13) Francis Guillemette, 15-13, 15-6

(3) Nathaniel Husulak d. (14) Sebastian Juteau, 15-4, 15-9
(6) Corey Osborne d. (22) Eric Urteaga, 15-7, 15-6

(10) Kurtis Cullen d. (7) Eric Desrochers, 15-8, 15-10
(2) Tim Landeryou d. (18) Tanner Mattson, 15-8, 15-6

Quarter-finals - Thursday night

(1) Mike Green d. (9) Pedro Castro, 15-9, 15-4
(4) Coby Iwaasa d. (5) James Landeryou, 15-2, 15-5

(3) Nathaniel Husulak d. (6) Corey Osborne, 15-11, 15-4
(2) Tim Landeryou d. (10) Kurtis Cullen, 15-5, 11-15, 12-10

Semi-finals - Friday

(1) Mike Green v. (4) Coby Iwaasa - 6 PM PDT
(2) Tim Landeryou v. (3) Nathaniel Husulak - 5 PM PDT

Women's Open Singles

Quarter finals - Thursday

(1) Jennifer Saunders d. (8) Brigitte Richard, 15-3, 15-5
(4) Linda Ellerington d. (5) Michele Morissette, 18-16, 7-15, 11-3

(3) Christine Richardson d. (6) Valerie Fallu, 15-5, 15-6
(2) Josée Grand'Maître d. (7) Nadia Verilli, 15-6, 15-4

Semi-finals - Friday

(1) Jennifer Saunders v. (4) Linda Ellerington - 4 PM PDT
(2) Josée Grand'Maître v. (3) Christine Richardson - 3 PM PDT

Follow the bouncing ball….

First singles results from the 2013 Canadian Racquetball Championships

There were two upsets on the first day of singles play at the 2013 Canadian Racquetball Championships in Langley, B.C. on Wednesday, and they both came in the men's competition.

Eric Urteaga, the 22nd seed, defeated 11th seed Lee Connell, 5-15, 15-13, 11-7. Urteaga, a former Canadian Junior Champion who hasn't been active for a few years, will now face former Canadian Champion and 6th seed Corey Osborne on Thursday in the Round of 16.

Tanner Mattson, the 18th seed, caused the other upset at he defeated 15th seed Hugo Laprise, 15-7, 12-15, 11-7. Mattson will next face 2nd seed Tim Landeryou on Thursday.

Landeryou could be regarded as the hottest men's player in Canada right now, as he won both of the Team Canada Selection Events, including a win over Mike Green, who's the #1 player in Canada.

Landeryou and Green, like most of the top seeds, had byes on Wednesday.

On the women's side, there were just two matches on Wednesday. Seventh seed Nadia Verilli beat 10th seed Cher Woodward, 15-3, 15-7, and 8th seed Brigitte Richard defeated 9th seed Alexis Iwaasa, 17-15, 15-1.

The 2013 Canadian National Racquetball Championships continues Thursday in Langley, B.C. at Newlands Golf and Country Club and runs through Saturday.

2013 Canadian Racquetball Championships
Langley, B.C.
(seeding)

Men's Open Singles

Round of 32 - Wednesday

(1) Mike Green - BYE
(16) Tommy Murray d. (17) Nicolas Bousquet, 15-9, 15-3

(9) Pedro Castro d. (24) Trevor Webb, 15-0, 15-6
(8) Samuel Murray d. (25) Jeff Buller, 15-4, 15-4

(5) James Landeryou - BYE
(12) Troy Brooks d. (21) Mitch Brayley, 15-11, 7-15, 11-6

(13) Francis Guillemette d. (20) Anthony Schonberger, 15-8, 15-9
(4) Coby Iwaasa - BYE

(3) Nathaniel Husulak - BYE
(14) Sebastian Juteau d. (19) Michael Leduc , 15-9, 15-8

(22) Eric Urteaga d. (11) Lee Connell, 5-15, 15-13, 11-7
(6) Corey Osborne - BYE

(7) Eric Desrochers - BYE
(10) Kurtis Cullen d. (23) Tanner Prentice, 15-9, 15-5

(18) Tanner Mattson d. (15) Hugo Laprise, 15-7, 12-15, 11-7
(2) Tim Landeryou - BYE

Round of 16 - Thursday

(1) Mike Green v. (16) Tommy Murray
(8) Samuel Murray v. (9) Pedro Castro

(5) James Landeryou v. (12) Troy Brooks
(4) Coby Iwaasa v. (13) Francis Guillemette

(3) Nathaniel Husulak v. (14) Sebastian Juteau
(6) Corey Osborne v. (22) Eric Urteaga

(7) Eric Desrochers v. (10) Kurtis Cullen
(2) Tim Landeryou v. (18) Tanner Mattson

Women's Open Singles

Round of 16 - Wednesday

(7) Nadia Verilli d. (10) Cher Woodward, 15-3, 15-7
(8) Brigitte Richard d. (9) Alexis Iwaasa, 17-15, 15-1

Quarter finals - Thursday

(1) Jennifer Saunders v. (8) Brigitte Richard
(4) Linda Ellerington v. (5) Michele Morissette

(3) Christine Richardson v. (6) Valerie Fallu
(2) Josée Grand'Maître v. (7) Nadia Verilli

Follow the bouncing ball….

Saunders & Grand'Maître, Green & Iwaasa win Canadian Doubles Championships

Jennifer Saunders and Josée Grand'Maître completed a successful defence of their national doubles title Tuesday at 2013 Canadian Racquetball Championships in Langley, B.C., but it wasn't easy the young team of Brigitte Richard and Christine Richardson, forced the Champs to a tie-breaker before losing, 15-9, 7-15, 11-5.

Richard and Richardson started the match well with a 5-1 lead in game one, but the veterans Saunders and Grand'Maître came back to tie it at 5-5. Richard and Richardson again went ahead 8-5, and again the veterans came back, tied it at 8-8 and went ahead.

Saunders and Grand'Maître kept the lead as they won game one, 15-9.

However, losing game one didn't dampen the spirits of Richard and Richardson, as they again took an early lead in game two at 4-0. They pressed on to 9-2, and won game two relatively comfortably, 15-7.

Richard and Richardson shot very well in game two and clearly had the momentum going into the tie-breaker.

In the tie-breaker, veterans Saunders and Grand'Maître took the early lead at 3-0, but Richard and Richardson then scored five straight points to lead 5-3.

However, that was all they would get as the Champions held them at 5 and went on to win it 11-5.

Saunders and Grand'Maître are two of the most decorated women in Canadian racquetball history. Their 2013 doubles title is the 14th for Grand'Maître and 9th for Saunders, which the most and 2nd most Canadian Women's Open Doubles titles, respectively.

Also on Tuesday, Frédérique Lambert and Michele Morissette defeated Valerie Fallu and Alexis Iwaasa, 15-12, 15-7.

That win put Lambert and Morissette in 2nd with Richard and Richardson in 3rd, and Fallu and Iwaasa in 4th.

Men's Open Doubles

Mike Green and Coby Iwaasa won the Men's Open Doubles title Tuesday night at the 2013 Canadian Racquetball Championships in Langley, B.C. They defeated Lee Connell and Francis Guillemette in the final, 15-5, 15-5.

For Iwaasa, it's his first Canadian Championship at the senior level, but the 16 year old is the Canadian U18 and U16 Junior Champion, as well as the U16 Junior World Champion.

However, the veteran Green, who's the #1 men's player in Canada, the win is his eighth doubles title to go with eight singles titles. He's the defending champion in singles and will try to make it nine starting on Wednesday.

Green's 16 Canadian titles are the most men's titles and five more than Wayne Bowes, who has second most with two singles and nine doubles titles.

The doubles competition at the Canadian Racquetball Championships wrapped Tuesday and the singles competition began Wednesday and will run through Saturday May 25 at Newlands Golf and Country Club in Langley, B.C.

2013 Canadian Racquetball Championships
Langley, B.C.
(with seeding)

Men's Open Doubles

Final - Mike Green & Coby Iwaasa d. Lee Connell & Francis Guillemette, 15-5, 15-5

3rd Place - Eric Desrochers & Pedro Castro d. Samuel Murray & Tommy Murray, 15-4, 15-8

5th Place - James Landeryou & Tim Landeryou d. Nathaniel Husulak & Barret Husulak, 15-4, 15-2

7th Place - Kurtis Cullen & Tanner Mattson d. Hugo Laprise & Sebastian Juteau, 15-10, 6-15, 11-7

9th Place - Mitch Brayley & Anthony Schonberger d. 11 Ryan Mosdell & Travis Einarson, 11-15, 15-7, 11-9

Women's Open Doubles

Round 3 - Tuesday

Jennifer Saunders & Josée Grand'Maître d. Christine Richardson & Brigitte Richard, 15-9, 7-15, 11-5

Frédérique Lambert & Michele Morissette d. Valerie Fallu & Alexis Iwaasa, 15-12, 15-7

Final Standings

1st Jennifer Saunders & Josée Grand'Maître
2nd Frédérique Lambert & Michele Morissette
3rd Christine Richardson & Brigitte Richard
4th Valerie Fallu & Alexis Iwaasa

Follow the bouncing ball….

Men's top seeds lose in semi-finals at Canadian Racquetball Championships

The #1 seeds in Men's Open Doubles - Eric Desrochers and Pedro Castro lost in the semi-finals at the 2013 Canadian Racquetball Championships in Langley, B.C., but they did not go quietly as 4th seeds Lee Connell and Francis Guillemette needed three games, two of which went into extra points before they defeated the top seeds, 15-10, 16-18, 13-11.

The other semi-final was not nearly as close, as 2nd seeds Mike Green and Coby Iwaasa defeated 6th seeds Samuel Murray and Tommy Murray, 15-3, 15-6.

Thus, the Men's Final will feature a team without a National Championship in Connell and Guillemette against one with a player who has won seven Canadian doubles titles in Green and the rising young gun in Iwaasa, who at 16 is the current Canadian U18 and U16 Champion in singles.

Women's Division

In women's action, defending champions Jennifer Saunders and Josée Grand'Maître won again on Monday, as they beat 3rd seeds Frédérique Lambert and Michele Morissette, 15-6, 15-4. Also, 2nd seeds Brigitte Richard and Christine Richardson defeated Valerie Fallu and Alexis Iwaasa, 15-7, 15-4.

That gives Saunders and Grand'Maître two wins and no losses with both Lambert and Morissette and Richard and Richardson on one win and one loss. Fallu and Iwaasa have no wins and two losses.

Depending on how matches go on Tuesday, a tie-breaking formula may be needed to determine the National Champion, although the defending champs have their fate in their own hands, as if they win, they will repeat as National Champions.

The Canadian Racquetball Championships have the doubles competitions on the first three days and then singles competitions on the last four days.

2013 Canadian Racquetball Championships
Langley, B.C.
(with seeding)

Men's Open

Semi-finals - Monday

4 Lee Connell & Francis Guillemette d. 1 Eric Desrochers & Pedro Castro, 15-10, 16-18, 13-11
2 Mike Green & Coby Iwaasa d. 6 Samuel Murray & Tommy Murray, 15-3, 15-6

Final - Tuesday

2 Mike Green & Coby Iwaasa v. 4 Lee Connell & Francis Guillemette

Quarter finals - Monday

1 Eric Desrochers & Pedro Castro d. 8 Kurtis Cullen & Tanner Mattson, 15-4, 15-6
4 Lee Connell & Francis Guillemette d. 5 Nathaniel Husulak & Barret Husulak, 15-1, 11-15, 11-0

6 Samuel Murray & Tommy Murray d. 3 Tim Landeryou & James Landeryou, 15-7, 15-6
2 Mike Green & Coby Iwaasa d. 7 Hugo Laprise & Sebastian Juteau, 15-12, 15-8

Women's Open

Round 2 - Monday

1 Jennifer Saunders & Josée Grand'Maître d. 3 Frédérique Lambert & Michele Morissette, 15-6, 15-4
2 Christine Richardson & Brigitte Richard d. 4 Valerie Fallu & Alexis Iwaasa, 15-8, 15-9

Round 3 - Tuesday

1 Jennifer Saunders & Josée Grand'Maître v. 2 Christine Richardson & Brigitte Richard
3 Frédérique Lambert & Michele Morissette v. 4 Valerie Fallu & Alexis Iwaasa

Follow the bouncing ball….

Rajsich & Rojas win US Team Qualifying Divisions

Rhonda Rajsich successfully defended her US Team Qualifying title at the USA Racquetball (USAR) Ektelon Nationals in Fullerton, California on the weekend. She beat Jacqueline Paraiso in the semi-finals, 15-12, 15-9, and Janel Tisinger in the final, 15-12, 15-7.

Tisinger was a surprise finalist as she beat last year's runner up Cheryl Gudinas in the other semi-final, 15-7, 12-15, 11-10.

Men's Division

West Coast guys were the cream of the crop in the Men's Division of US Team Qualifying at the USAR Ektelon Nationals in Fullerton, California. And not just anywhere on the West Coast but specifically from Stockton, California, as Marco Rojas defeated David Horn in the final, 15-5, 15-6, after they both defeated East Coasters in the semi-finals.

In those semi-finals, Horn beat Mauricio Zelada from Columbia, Maryland, 15-11, 15-2, while Rojas defeated Mike Harmon from Sarasota, Florida, 15-12, 15-9.

USAR National Singles Championship - US Team Qualifying
May 16-19, 2013, Fullerton, California

Women's Division

Semi-finals

Rhonda Rajsich d. Jacqueline Paraiso, 15-12, 15-9
Janel Tisinger d. Cheryl Gudinas, 15-7, 12-15, 11-10

Final

Rhonda Rajsich d. Janel Tisinger, 15-12, 15-7

Men's Division

Semi-finals

Marco Rojas d. Mike Harmon, 15-12, 15-9
David Horn d. Mauricio Zelada, 15-11, 15-2

Final

Marco Rojas d. David Horn, 15-5, 15-6

Follow the bouncing ball….

Longoria completes 2nd undefeated season

Paola Longoria completed a second consecutive undefeated women's pro racquetball season Sunday by defeating fellow Mexican Samantha Salas Solis, 11-8, 11-1, 11-5, to win the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) division at the USA Racquetball (USAR) Ektelon Nationals in Fullerton, California. Longoria, the #1 LPRT player, hasn't lost on tour since May 2011.

Longoria's now won 33 women's pro events in her career and has a .750 winning percentage in final appearances (33 wins in 44 finals). That percentage is third behind Michelle Gould with .953 and Shannon Wright at .760.

LPRT Ektelon Nationals
May 16-19, 2013, Fullerton, California
(seeding)

Final

(1) Paola Longoria d. (3) Samantha Salas Solis, 11-8, 11-1, 11-5

Follow the bouncing ball….

Waselenchuk finishes 2012-13 IRT season emphatically

Kane Waselenchuk ended the 2012-13 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) season the way it began as he won the USA Racquetball Ektelon Nationals in Fullerton, California, although there were some bumps in-between the two victories, as Waselenchuk had to endure injuries that made him drop out of one event and miss two others.

However, Waselenchuk finished off the season in style, as he defeated Rocky Carson in three straight games, 11-1, 11-2, 11-3, to win his ninth event of the season.

Carson was the only other player to win any Tier 1 IRT events this season. He won three.

The victory is Waselenchuk's 70th on tour tying him with Cliff Swain for most ever. Marty Hogan is third with 60.

The IRT now goes on summer hiatus with the 2013-14 to start in the fall.

USA Racquetball Ektelon Nationals
May 15-19, 2013, Fullerton, California

Final

Kane Waselenchuk d. Rocky Carson, 11-1, 11-2, 11-3

Follow the bouncing ball….

IRT - Waselenchuk & Carson to face off in the final of the USAR Ektelon Nationals

The 2012-13 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) season will end the way it began, as the #1 and #2 players are going to face off in another final. This time it's in Fullerton, California for the USA Racquetball (USAR) Ektelon Nationals. Kane Waselenchuk has clinched the season end #1 spot ahead of Rocky Carson, so that won't be on the line in Sunday's final.

However, both players have a lot of pride in their racquetball games and they won't be holding anything back when they meet on Sunday.

Both Waselenchuk and Carson to the final with straight game wins in the semi-finals. Waselenchuk beat Jose Rojas, 11-2, 11-3, 11-6, and Carson defeated Ben Croft, 11-7, 11-5, 12-10.

After his match, Waselenchuk said capturing the year end #1 position for the eighth time was his "most satisfying title," as he's had several set backs during the season due to injuries.

Waselenchuk spoke of how after the Mile High Pro-Am, when he re-injured his right knee in the final against Carson, he felt especially challenged. But he's come back strong since then, as he looked great at the most recent IRT events in Portland, Ore. and Stockton, Calif.

If Waselenchuk has the form that he had in those two events, then he should win on Sunday. However, Carson will not go down without a fight, and if there is any flaw in Waselenchuk's game, Carson will be sure to exploit it.

The IRT Network will web-cast the final from Fullerton at 2 PM PDT Sunday.

USA Racquetball Ektelon Nationals
May 15-19, 2013, Fullerton, California

Semi-finals

Kane Waselenchuk d. Jose Rojas, 11-2, 11-3, 11-6
Rocky Carson d. Ben Croft, 11-7, 11-5, 12-10

Final

Kane Waselenchuk v. Rocky Carson - 2 PM PDT

Follow the bouncing ball….

LPRT - All Mexico final for the 2013 USAR Ektelon Nationals

Paola Longoria put in another dominant performance to show once again why she is the #1 player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT), as she reached the final of the USA Racquetball (USAR) Ektelon Nationals in Fullerton, California, by defeating 5th seed Cheryl Gudinas, 11-0, 11-2, 11-1.

Longoria drove serve throughout the match, and did so to both the left and right as well as some drive z serves. She hit all of them for aces numerous time.

In the other semi-final, Samantha Salas Solis came back from a game down to defeat Rhonda Rajsich in four games, 6-11, 12-10, 11-2, 11-2. But it looked like the match was going to go in Rajsich's favour late in game two as Rajsich was up 10-6, only to see Salas Solis come back win it 12-10.

Salas Solis carried that momentum over to game three as she took a 7-0 lead while cruising to a 11-2 victory. Game four was similar as Salas Solis had a 7-2 lead and won comfortably at 11-2.

The match winning point was a drive z serve to the right side that was a service winner. Salas Solis primarily relied on her drive serves throughout the match.

Thus, for the 2nd time this season and second in the last three events it will be an all-Mexican final, as the gold medal winning doubles team faces off against each other on Sunday.

The final will be live streamed over the web via the LPRT Network at 12:30 PM Sunday.

LPRT Ektelon Nationals
May 16-19, 2013, Fullerton, California
(seeding)

Semi-finals

1 Paola Longoria v. 5 Cheryl Gudinas, 11-0, 11-2, 11-1
3 Samantha Salas Solis d. 2 Rhonda Rajsich, 6-11, 12-10, 11-2, 11-2

Final

1 Paola Longoria v. 3 Samantha Salas Solis - 12:30 PM Sunday

Follow the bouncing ball….

2013 USAR Ektelon Nationals - US Team Qualifying Quarter finals

No upsets in the quarter finals of the US Team Qualifying women's division draw at the USA Racquetball (USAR) Ektelon Nationals in Fullerton, California. Defending champion Rhonda Rajsich defeated Michelle Key, 15-12, 15-11, to advance to the semis, where she'll play Jacqueline Paraiso, who was a winner against Grace Hughes, 15-5, 15-13.

On the other side of the draw, last year's runner up Cheryl Gudinas defeated Elise Wilson in the quarter-finals and will play Janel Tisinger in the semis, as Tisinger beat Da'monique Davis, 15-10, 15-6, in the quarters.

Men's Division

It's East Coast versus West Coast in the semi-finals of the Men's Division of US Team Qualifying at the USA Racquetball (USAR) Ektelon Nationals in Fullerton, California. Representing the West Coast are two Stockton, California players, Marco Rojas and David Horn, who are also the #1 and #2 seeds, respectively.

The East Coast players are 3rd seed Mauricio Zelada from Columbia, Maryland and 4th seed Mike Harmon from Sarasota, Florida. Rojas will take on Harmon and Horn faces off against Zelada in Saturday's semi-finals.

In the quarter finals, Rojas needed a tie-breaker to defeat Arthur Schmeiser, 13-15, 15-7, 11-6, while Horn won comfortably against Andrew Gale, 15-5, 15-0.

Zelada and Harmon also both won in straight games, as Zelada took out Mike O'Brien, 15-13, 15-7, and Harmon beat Jason Sylvester, 15-6, 15-5.

USAR National Singles Championship - US Team Qualifying
May 16-19, 2013, Fullerton, California

Women's Division

Quarter-finals

Rhonda Rajsich d. Michelle Key, 15-12, 15-11
Jacqueline Paraiso d. Grace Hughes, 15-5, 15-13

Janel Tisinger d. Da'monique Davis, 15-10, 15-6
Cheryl Gudinas d. Elise Wilson

Semi-finals

Rhonda Rajsich v. Jacqueline Paraiso - 5:30 PM Saturday
Cheryl Gudinas v. Janel Tisinger - 10:30 AM Saturday

Men's Division

Quarter finals

Marco Rojas d. Arthur Schmeiser, 13-15, 15-7, 11-6
Mike Harmon d. Jason Sylvester, 15-6, 15-5

Mauricio Zelada d. Mike O'Brien, 15-13, 15-7
David Horn d. Andrew Gale, 15-5, 15-0

Semi-finals

Marco Rojas v. Mike Harmon - 7 PM Saturday
David Horn v. Mauricio Zelada - Noon Saturday

Follow the bouncing ball….

LPRT - 2013 USAR Ektelon Nationals - Quarter final results

Paola Longoria, the #1 player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) has reached the semi-finals of the USA Racquetball (USAR) Ektelon Nationals in Fullerton, California, along with LPRT #2 Rhonda Rajsich and #3 Samantha Salas.

However, the #4 player Susana Acosta failed to reach the semis, as she was upset by #5 Cheryl Gudinas, 11-8, 3-11, 11-7, 11-3.

Maria Jose Vargas, the 11th seed, almost caused a much larger upset, as she won the first two games against Salas, but wasn't able to win the match, as Salas came back to win the next three games and take the match, 6-11, 6-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-7.

Longoria won in straight games against Cristina Amaya, 11-1, 11-3, 11-3, and Rajsich needed four games to defeat Grace Hughes, 11-0, 11-4, 5-11, 11-4.

The semi-final matches will go early Saturday afternoon, and will be live streamed over the web via the LPRT Network.

LPRT Ektelon Nationals
May 16-19, 2013, Fullerton, California
(seeding)

Quarter-finals

1 Paola Longoria d. 9 Cristina Amaya, 11-1, 11-3, 11-3
5 Cheryl Gudinas d. 4 Susana Acosta, 11-8, 3-11, 11-7, 11-3

3 Samantha Salas Solis d. 11 Maria Jose Vargas, 6-11, 6-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-7
2 Rhonda Rajsich d. 7 Grace Hughes, 11-0, 11-4, 5-11, 11-4

Semi-finals

1 Paola Longoria v. 5 Cheryl Gudinas - 12:30 PM Saturday
2 Rhonda Rajsich v. 3 Samantha Salas Solis - 1:30 PM Saturday

Follow the bouncing ball….

IRT - 2013 USAR Racquetball Championships - Quarter finals

Kane Waselenchuk's winning streak continued Friday, as he defeated Javier Morneo, 11-0, 11-2, 11-5, to reach the semi-finals of the USA Racquetball Ektelon Nationals in Fullerton, California - the last event of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) season. Waselenchuk has already clinched the season ending #1 position.

The semi-finals will be a repeat of Portland's Tournament of Champions in April, as Waselenchuk will play Jose Rojas and Rocky Carson will be up against Ben Croft. Rojas defeated Chris Crowther in the quarters, 11-9, 11-6, 13-11, while Croft beat Fernando Rios, 11-4, 11-5, 11-4, and Carson beat Daniel De La Rosa, 11-4, 11-1, 11-7.

The IRT Network will web-cast both semi-final matches from Fullerton beginning Saturday at 3 PM Pacific time.

USA Racquetball Ektelon Nationals
May 15-19, 2013, Fullerton, California

Quarter-finals

Kane Waselenchuk d. Javier Moreno, 11-0, 11-2, 11-5
Jose Rojas d. Chris Crowther, 11-9, 11-6, 13-11

Ben Croft d. Fernando Rios, 11-4, 11-5, 11-4
Rocky Carson d. Daniel De La Rosa, 11-4, 11-1, 11-7

Semi-finals

Kane Waselenchuk v. Jose Rojas - 6 PM PST
Rocky Carson v. Ben Croft 3 PM PST

Follow the bouncing ball….

USAR Ektelon Nationals - US Team Qualifying - Early results

Two upsets in the first round of the Women's US Team Qualifying division draw at the USA Racquetball (USAR) Ektelon Nationals in Fullerton, California, although one was by default as Elise Wilson was a walkover winner against Linda Scales. Wilson will play 2nd seed Cheryl Gudinas in the quarter-finals.

Michelle Key caused the other upset as she defeated T. J. Baumbaugh, 15-7, 15-7, to advance to the quarters, where she'll play top seed, and defending champion, Rhonda Rajsich.

The quarter final matches are slated for Friday afternoon with the semi-finals on Saturday and the final on Sunday morning.

Men's Division

No surprises through the Round of 16 on the men's side of US Team Qualifying at the USA Racquetball (USAR) Ektelon Nationals in Fullerton, California, although Mike O'Brien did have a win against Jason Mannino, former #1 player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) and now the IRT President, but our understanding is that Mannino hurt his hand in training, which is likely the cause of the default.

The top seeds both won comfortably. Marco Rojas, the #1 seed, defeated Jose Hernandez 15-8, 15-1, and David Horn, the #2 seed, beat Robert Collins, 15-2, 15-3.

The quarter final matches are slated for Friday afternoon with the semi-finals on Saturday and the final on Sunday morning.

USAR National Singles Championship - US Team Qualifying
May 16-19, 2013, Fullerton, California

Women's Division

Round of 16

Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
Michelle Key d. T. J. Baumbaugh, 15-7, 15-7

Grace Hughes - BYE
Jacqueline Paraiso - BYE

Janel Tisinger - BYE
Da'monique Davis d. Lexi York, 15-8, 15-5

Elise Wilson d. Linda Scales, forfeit
Cheryl Gudinas - BYE

Quarter-finals

Rhonda Rajsich v. Michelle Key
Jacqueline Paraiso v. Grace Hughes

Janel Tisinger v. Da'monique Davis
Cheryl Gudinas v. Elise Wilson

Men's US Team Qualifying

Round of 16

Marco Rojas d. Jose Hernandez, 15-8, 15-1
Arthur Schmeiser d. Greg Solis, 11-15, 15-7, 4-11

Jason Sylvester d. Derek Izzi, 15-13, 15-13
Mike Harmon d. Armando Bermudez, 5-15, 0-15

Mauricio Zelada d. Aaron Embry, 10-15, 15-7, 11-1
Mike O'Brien d. Jason Mannino, forfeit

Andrew Gale d. Brent Walters, 13-15, 15-5, 11-9
David Horn d. Robert Collins, 15-2, 15-3

First Round

Robert Collins d. Manu Walia, 15-4, 15-9
Jose Hernandez d. John Wolfe, 15-5, 15-14

Follow the bouncing ball….

IRT - 2013 USAR Ektelon Nationals Round of 16

Kane Waselenchuk reached the quarter-finals of the USA Racquetball (USAR) Ektelon Nationals in Fullerton, California - the last event of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) season - with a comfortable win over Alejandro Landa, 11-5, 11-6, 11-0. He'll face Javier Moreno in the quarters, as Moreno was a winner against Shane Vanderson by injury default.

Daniel De La Rosa continues to do well as he upset the 7th seed Tony Carson in three games, 11-3, 11-5, 13-11. He'll play another Carson in the quarters, as IRT #2 Rocky Carson won his match against Brad Schopieray.

The anticipated match between Chris Crowther and Polo Gutierrez wasn't as special as we thought it might be, as Crowther won in three straight games, 11-5, 11-8, 11-2, against Gutierrez, who upset him at this tournament last year.

The biggest surprise in the quarters is Fernando Rios, who defeated Japanese veteran Hiroshi Shimizu in the Round of 16, 11-4, 11-8, 11-9, to set up a quarter final match with Ben Croft, who was a straight game winner over Andy Hawthorne, 11-5, 11-2, 11-3. Rios was the silver medalist at last year's Pan American Championships, but he'll need to have a gold medal performance on Friday if he's going to beat Croft.

The IRT Network will web-cast all of the quarter final matches from Fullerton beginning Friday at 11 AM Pacific time.

USA Racquetball Ektelon Nationals
May 15-19, 2013, Fullerton, California

Round of 16

Kane Waselenchuk d. Alejandro Landa, 11-5, 11-6, 11-0
Javier Moreno d. Shane Vanderson, injury forfeit

Jose Rojas d. David Horn, 7-11, 11-2, 11-2, 11-9
Chris Crowther d. Polo Gutierrez, 11-5, 11-8, 11-2

Fernando Rios d. Hiroshi Shimizu, 11-4, 11-8, 11-9
Ben Croft d. Andy Hawthorne, 11-5, 11-2, 11-3

Daniel De La Rosa d. Tony Carson, 11-3, 11-5, 13-11
Rocky Carson d. Brad Schopieray

Quarter-finals

Kane Waselenchuk v. Javier Moreno - 6 PM PST
Chris Crowther v. Jose Rojas - 11 AM PST

Ben Croft v. Fernando Rios - 1 PM PST
Rocky Carson v. Daniel De La Rosa - 4 PM PST

Follow the bouncing ball….

LPRT - 2013 USAR Ektelon Nationals - Rounds of 32 & 16

Seven of the top eight seeds in the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) draw at the USA Racquetball (USAR) Ektelon Nationals in Fullerton, California are through to the quarter-finals. The exception is 6th seed Adrienne Fisher Hayes, who lost to Maria Jose Vargas in four games, 11-1, 11-1, 6-11, 11-4, to conclude what's been a mixed year for Fisher Hayes.

She's had some good results - a final in Seattle and a semi-final in Kansas, not to mention getting married - but she didn't make it past the 16s in seven of the eleven events this season. Fisher Hayes will certainly want to improve on that next season.

For Vargas, it's her fourth quarter-final of the season, and she was also a semi-finalist once, so it's definitely been a break through season for her, although she didn't play all of the events. Vargas - the 2012 Girls U18 Junior World Champion - definitely has the potential to be a top 10 LPRT player.

Paola Longoria, the LPRT #1 player, surprisingly needed four games to defeat Maria Paz Muñoz and get to the quarters, winning 11-6, 10-12, 11-1, 11-6.

In the quarters, Longoria will face Cristina Amaya, who was a winner over veteran Kerri Wachtel by injury default.

The quarter final matches will be live streamed over the web via the LPRT Network. Match times are below. Note - all times are Pacific.

LPRT Ektelon Nationals
May 16-19, 2013, Fullerton, California
(seeding / current LPRT ranking if different)

Round of 16

1 Paola Longoria d. 17/20 Maria Paz Muñoz, 11-6, 10-12, 11-1, 11-6
9/10 Cristina Amaya d. 8 Kerri Wachtel, injury forfeit

5 Cheryl Gudinas d. 21/24 Jessica Parrilla, 11-0, 6-11, 11-1, 12-10
4 Susana Acosta d. 20/23 Laura Brandt, 11-2, 11-3, 11-1

3 Samantha Salas Solis d. 14/17 Veronica Sotomayor, 11-3, 11-4, 11-2
11/13 Maria Jose Vargas d. 6 Adrienne Fisher Haynes, 11-1, 11-1, 6-11, 11-4

7 Grace Hughes d. 10/11 Da'monique Davis, 9-11, 11-9, 2-11, 11-9, 12-10
2 Rhonda Rajsich d. 15/18 Hailey Miller, 11-3, 11-4, 11-3

Quarter-finals

1 Paola Longoria v. 9/10 Cristina Amaya - 5 PM Friday
4 Susana Acosta v. 5 Cheryl Gudinas - 10 AM Friday

3 Samantha Salas Solis v. 11/13 Maria Jose Vargas - Noon Friday
2 Rhonda Rajsich v. 7 Grace Hughes - 2 PM Friday

Round of 32

1 Paola Longoria - BYE
17/20 Maria Paz Muñoz d. 16/19 Linda Scales, 11-7, 9-11, 2-11, 11-5, 11-5

9/10 Cristina Amaya d. 24/30 Alexandra Herrera, 7-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-6
8 Kerri Wachtel d. 25/42 Carolina Luque, 11-0, 11-1, 11-9

5 Cheryl Gudinas d. NR Nawoo Kim, 11-0, 11-3, 11-4
21/24 Jessica Parrilla d. 12/14 T. J. Baumbaugh, 11-6, 11-4, 11-9

20/23 Laura Brandt d. 13/15 Jacqueline Paraiso, foreit
4 Susana Acosta d. NR Sofia Rascon, 11-5, 11-6, 11-13, 11-2

3 Samantha Salas Solis d. NR Aubrey Kirch, 11-4, 11-13, 11-5, 11-4
14/17 Veronica Sotomayor d. 19/22 Masiel Rivera, 11-0, 11-2, 7-11, 11-0

11/13 Maria Jose Vargas d. 22/27 Janel Tisinger, 20-18, 11-4, 11-7
6 Adrienne Fisher Haynes d. 27/61 Young Ock Lee, 11-8, 11-3, 11-0

7 Grace Hughes d. 26/52 Maiko Sato, 11-2, 5-11, 12-10, 11-9
10/11 Da'monique Davis d. 23/28 Keely Franks, forfeit

15/18 Hailey Miller d. 18/21 Carla Munoz, 3-11, 11-3, 10-12, 11-6, 12-10
2 Rhonda Rajsich - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….

IRT - 2013 USAR National Singles - Round of 32

As anticipated there will a rematch between Chris Crowther and Polo Gutierrez at the the USA Racquetball Ektelon Nationals in Fullerton, California - the last event of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) season, but this time it will happen a round earlier than last year, when the met in the quarter finals with Gutierrez winning. They'll square off later on Thursday in the Round of 16.

Earlier on Thursday, Crowther beat Andree Parrilla, 11-6, 11-2, 11-0, while Gutierrez defeated Marco Rojas, 8-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-2.

The biggest upsets have come in one bracket, as Hiroshi Shimizu got a default win against Alvaro Beltran, and Jose Diaz was upset by Fernando Rios, 11-7, 11-7, 11-9. They will square off in the Round of 16 for a spot in the quarter finals against either Andy Hawthorne or Ben Croft.

Other minor upsets of note were David Horn's victory over Alex Ackermann, 11-1, 11-7, 11-8, and Brad Schopieray win against Anthony Herrera, 7-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-1.

The IRT Network has begun web-casting from Fullerton and will continue throughout the tournament.

USA Racquetball Ektelon Nationals
May 15-19, 2013, Fullerton, California

Round of 32

Kane Waselenchuk d. Derek Izzi, 11-2, 11-1, 11-0
Alejandro Landa d. Jansen Allen, 11-9, 11-3, 11-6

Javier Moreno d. Mauricio Zelada, 11-7, 11-9, 11-4
Shane Vanderson d. Sebastian Franco, 11-3, 11-5, 7-11, 11-9

Jose Rojas d. Alejandro Herrera, 11-2, 11-2, 11-0
David Horn d. Alex Ackermann, 11-1, 11-7, 11-8

Polo Gutierrez d. Marco Rojas, 8-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-2
Chris Crowther d. Andree Parrilla, 11-6, 11-2, 11-0

Hiroshi Shimizu d. Alvaro Beltran, WBF
Fernando Rios d. Jose Diaz, 11-7, 11-7, 11-9

Andy Hawthorne d. Juan Torres, 11-8, 11-6, 11-5
Ben Croft d. Diego Crespo, 3-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-5

Tony Carson d. Cliff Swain, 11-4, 11-7, 11-7
Daniel De La Rosa d. Andrew Gale, 11-0, 11-6, 11-8

Brad Schopieray d. Anthony Herrera, 7-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-1
Rocky Carson d. Mike Harmon, 11-2, 11-3, 11-5

Round of 16

Kane Waselenchuk v. Alejandro Landa
Javier Moreno v. Shane Vanderson

Jose Rojas v. David Horn
Chris Crowther v. Polo Gutierrez

Hiroshi Shimizu v. Fernando Rios
Ben Croft v. Andy Hawthorne

Tony Carson v. Daniel De La Rosa
Rocky Carson v. Brad Schopieray

Follow the bouncing ball….

Women's US Team Division - Revised draw & more questions - UPDATED

The US Team Qualifying division draw at the USA Racquetball (USAR) Ektelon Nationals in Fullerton, California changed again, and although it's a bit more sensible than previously, it's still inconsistent with the current USAR women's rankings.

As we mentioned in our USAR National Singles preview, we were surprised that the (initial official) draw was so different from the one we had made up based on the USA Racquetball rankings. In that we had Grace Hughes as the seeded above Jacqueline Paraiso and Janel Tisinger, because she's ranked higher than them. However, Hughes was seeded lower than those players.

In the revised draw, Hughes is one position higher, so she doesn't have to play a first round match, but she's still seeded lower than either Paraiso or Tisinger, who are 4th and 3rd seeds respectively.

This begs two questions: how are they coming up with the seeding for this division (and are there similar issues on the men's side)? And how is it that the draw can be changed this close to the start of play? The revised draw was out less than 24 hours prior to the start of play in this division, and actually after the start of play in the tournament in general.

UPDATE: As pointed out to us by Aimee Ruiz via Twitter, the explanation for the seeding is clearly stated on the main page of the USA Racquetball Ektelon Nationals tournament entry page on R2 sports. First criterion is last year's results, so players who were in the quarters last year are seeded in the top 8 this year. We'd overlooked this previously (oops).

We had thought that was the case for the finalists - so Rhonda Rajsich as defending champion is top seed and Cheryl Gudinas as runner-up is 2nd seed. But we didn't know it carried on down to the quarters, so Janel Tisinger and Jacqueline Paraiso are the 3rd and 4th seeds, respectively, as they were quarter finalists last year. As stated on the website, quarter finalists from the pervious year will "normally be seeded someplace in top 8" (as stated on the USAR Ektelon Nationals tournament page).

Past that criterion, "other events are considered - high schools, worlds, national singles, and US Open" as the second criterion with "the last criterion [being] state results, regional, and ranking points." However, that's not necessarily that final consideration as "input from different groups is also evaluated - such as state representatives (especially useful if players are out of state)."

These criterion make sense for a tournament like the USAR National Singles which brings together a broad range of players in a large number of divisions and needs to make some reasonable estimate of seeding those players. And giving more weight to the previous year's results rewards players for attending year after year, which is fine.

Basically, we believe these criteria were created for the USAR National Singles because the USAR rankings may not be reliable when comparing someone from Alaska with someone from Florida and their rankings are around 2000, say, because they likely haven't played any of the same people, let alone each other. That seems reasonable.

But it doesn't seem reasonable to use these seeding criteria for the top division, which is what the US Team Qualifying is - as it's the replacement of the Open division that in previous years named the ultimate National Champion. The players at the top are special cases, because unlike players in the lower divisions, the top players have played all across the country, so their rankings should be the most reliable.

To not use the USAR rankings for the top division at USAR Nationals is saying that you don't trust the USAR ranking system at all, which is really damning your own system. We've written previously about how rankings are tricky, but usually the problem with them is that you don't have enough data to properly compare the players. That should not be a problem with players at the top.

Moreover, the small number of players in the Women's Team Qualifying draw raises an additional concern, as some of your quarter finalists this year will be players ranked outside of the top 10. So by these criteria next year they should be seeded ahead of players who are in the top 10, like Adrienne Fisher, Kerri Wachtel and Krystal Csuk, who have all played this division in the past but aren't this year, as they are only playing in the Ladies Pro Racquetball Tour (LPRT) division.

That's unreasonable.

Again, it's fine to have criteria that allow you to adjust seedings for lower divisions in a way that goes against the USAR rankings, if there are good reasons for doing so. But it's very difficult to defend doing that for the top division without completely undermining the validity of the ranking system.

USAR National Singles Championship - US Team Qualifying
May 16-19, 2013, Fullerton, California


Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
T. J. Baumbaugh v. Michelle Key

Grace Hughes - BYE
Jacqueline Paraiso - BYE

Janel Tisinger - BYE
Da'monique Davis v. Lexi York

Linda Scales v. Elise Wilson
Cheryl Gudinas - BYE

Current USAR Rankings of players in the draw

2. Rhonda Rajsich
9. Grace Hughes
12. Cheryl Gudinas
16. Da'monique Davis
18. Linda Scales
19. Janel Tisinger
20. Jacqueline Paraiso
36. T. J. Baumbaugh
53.* Michelle Key
71.* Elise Wilson
88. Lexi York

* Note: Michelle Key and Elise Wilson do not have a current, active ranking, so using the latest ranking from their respective match histories.

Follow the bouncing ball….

IRT - 2013 USA Racquetball Ektelon Nationals - First Rounds

No big surprises through the first two rounds of action at the International Racquetball Tour's (IRT's) last event of the 2012-13 season: the USA Racquetball Ektelon Nationals in Fullerton, California.

Some matches to watch for in the Round of 32 on Thursday include Alejandro Landa versus Jansen Allen, Polo Gutierrez versus Marco Rojas, Tony Carson versus Cliff Swain, and Jose Diaz versus either Juan Herrera or Fernando Rios.

UPDATE: The IRT Network is web-casting from Fullerton beginning at noon (Pacific time) on Thursday.

USA Racquetball Ektelon Nationals
May 15-19, 2013, Fullerton, California

Qualifying Round 2

Derek Izzi d. Robert Collins, 11-9, 11-6, 11-1
Jansen Allen d. Amir Shahin, 11-4, 11-9, 11-3

Mauricio Zelada d. Aaron Embry, 11-6, 5-11, 11-7, 11-6
Sebastian Franco d. Francisco Gomez Reyes, 12-10, 6-11, 11-4, 11-8

Alejandro Herrera d. Josh Tucker, 11-0, 11-8, 11-7
David Horn d. Jamie Martell, 11-5, 11-6, 11-2

Polo Gutierrez d. Jose Daniel Ugalde, 11-3, 11-7, 11-3
Andree Parrilla d. Mike Orr, 11-9, 12-10, 11-3

Hiroshi Shimizu d. Cesar Castillo, 6-11, 16-14, 11-7, 11-1
Fernando Rios d. Juan Herrera, 8-11, 11-4, 14-12, 11-2

Juan Torres d. Arthur Schmeiser, 8-11, 11-3, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7
Diego Crespo d. Francisco Troncoso, 11-1, 11-0, 12-10

Cliff Swain d. Eric Harper, 11-1, 11-2, 11-1
Andrew Gale d. Takahiro Yajima, 11-4, 11-2, 11-6

Brad Schopieray d. Jose Daniel Alvarez, 11-2, 11-8, 12-10
Mike Harmon d. Roberto Santander, 11-9, 12-10, 11-4

Round of 32

Kane Waselenchuk v. Derek Izzi
Alejandro Landa v. Jansen Allen

Javier Moreno v. Mauricio Zelada
Shane Vanderson v. Sebastian Franco

Jose Rojas v. Alejandro Herrera
Alex Ackermann v. David Horn

Marco Rojas v. Polo Gutierrez
Chris Crowther v. Andree Parrilla

Alvaro Beltran v. Hiroshi Shimizu
Jose Diaz v. Fernando Rios

Andy Hawthorne v. Juan Torres
Ben Croft v. Diego Crespo

Tony Carson v. Cliff Swain
Daniel De La Rosa v. Andrew Gale

Anthony Herrera v. Brad Schopieray
Rocky Carson v. Mike Harmon

Qualifying Round 1

Q16: Amir Shahin d. Kolten Wenckus, 12-10, 11-8, 11-0
Q9: Aaron Embry d. Armando Bermudez, 7-11, 11-6, 11-1, 11-9
Q12: Jaime Martell d. Luis Felipe Munoz, 7-11, 12-10, 10-12, 11-5, 11-3
Q13 Jose Daniel Ugalde d. Johnnie Molinari, 11-4, 11-4, 11-1

Q14: Fernando Rios d. Alejandro Arango, 11-4, 11-4, 11-4
Q11: Juan Torres d. Benjamin Odom, 11-3, 11-4, 11-2
Q10: Takahiro Yajima d. Ralph Comer, 11-1, 11-8, 1-11, 11-6
Q15: Jose Daniel Alvarez d. Rafael Morales, WBF

Follow the bouncing ball….

IRT - USA Racquetball Ektelon Nationals Preview

The International Racquetball Tour (IRT) winds up its 2012-13 season in Fullerton, California with the USA Racquetball Ektelon Nationals. There's a large draw with the top 16 players seeded into the Round of 32 with two rounds of competition prior to that.

Perhaps the most significant player in the early rounds is Polo Gutierrez, who was a semi-finalist in Fullerton last year losing to eventual winner Kane Waselenchuk. Gutierrez beat Chris Crowther in the quarter-finals last year, and they could meet again the Round of 16 this year.

Action from Fullerton can be viewed via the IRT Network all week.

USA Racquetball Ektelon Nationals
May 15-19, 2013, Fullerton, California

Qualifying Round

Q16: Amir Shahin v. Kolten Wenckus
Q9: Aaron Embry v. Armando Bermudez
Q12: Luis Felipe Munoz v. Jaime Martell
Q13 Jose Daniel Ugalde v. Johnnie Molinari

Q14: Fernando Rios v. Alejandro Arango
Q11: Juan Torres v. Benjamin Odom
Q10: Ralph Comer v. Takahiro Yajima
Q15: Rafael Morales v. Jose Daniel Alvarez

Round of 64

Robert Collins v. Derek Izzi
Jansen Allen v. Q16

Mauricio Zelada v. Q9
Sebastian Franco v. Francisco Gomez Reyes

Alejandro Herrera v. Josh Tucker
David Horn v. Q12

Polo Gutierrez v. Q13
Mike Orr v. Andree Parrilla

Cesar Castillo v. Hiroshi Shimizu
Juan Herrera v. Q14

Arthur Schmeiser v. Q11
Francisco Troncoso v. Diego Crespo

Cliff Swain v. Eric Harper
Andrew Gale v. Q10

Brad Schopieray v. Q15
Mike Harmon v. Roberto Santander

Round of 32

Kane Waselenchuk v. Robert Collins or Derek Izzi
Alejandro Landa v. Jansen Allen or Q16

Javier Moreno v. Mauricio Zelada or Q9
Shane Vanderson v. Sebastian Franco or Francisco Gomez Reyes

Jose Rojas v. Alejandro Herrera or Josh Tucker
Alex Ackermann v. David Horn or Q12

Marco Rojas v. Polo Gutierrez or Q13
Chris Crowther v. Mike Orr or Andree Parrilla

Alvaro Beltran v. Cesar Castillo or Hiroshi Shimizu
Jose Diaz v. Juan Herrera or Q14

Andy Hawthorne v. Arthur Schmeiser or Q11
Ben Croft v. Francisco Troncoso or Diego Crespo

Tony Carson v. Cliff Swain or Eric Harper
Daniel De La Rosa v. Andrew Gale or Q10

Anthony Herrera v. Brad Schopieray or Q15
Rocky Carson v. Mike Harmon or Roberto Santander

Follow the bouncing ball….

LPRT - 2013 USAR Ektelon Nationals

The Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour's (LPRT's) 2012-2013 season concludes this week with the USAR Ektelon Nationals in Fullerton, California, with one of the largest fields of the season, as 30 players will be in action.

Of the top 24 LPRT players, 21 are playing in Fullerton, including LPRT #1 Paola Longoria, who will be trying to finish off a second consecutive undefeated season.

Several young players are in the draw including Maria Jose Vargas, who's 13th on the latest LPRT rankings, Veronica Sotomayor, 17th, and Maria Paz Muñoz, 20th. Also in the draw, but unranked is Aubrey Kirch, who was the 2010 U18 Girl's World Junior Champion as Aubrey O'brien. As Kirch is unranked, we're not sure where she'll fit in the draw, as there are two other unranked players.

This could be an important event for Kerri Wachtel, whose ranking has fallen to 8th. She's only slightly ahead of Krystal Csuk, but Csuk is one of the players not playing this week. Cristina Amaya is 25 points behind Wachtel and the two could face off in the Round of 16, if they win their first round matches.

Wachtel was 3rd at the beginning of the season, and has been in the season ending top 10 every year since 2001. It's conceivable that she could finish out of the top 10 if she loses to Amaya or Carolina Luque, who we think will be her first round opponent and Da'monique Davis does well. Davis is the 11th ranked LPRT player and is about 33 points behind Wachtel.

US Team Qualifying

Traditionally, the USA Racquetball National Singles Championship was the big end to the racquetball season, and it was one of the ways to qualify for being on Team USA. But with the addition of full pro stops to the event, the team qualification has taken a back seat to those divisions.

Thus, there's only eleven players in the US Team Qualifying division in Fullerton. Most of the players are also in the LPRT draw, but not all and only US players can enter the US Team Qualifying division.

Our first guess at the draw (based on USA Racquetball rankings) was wildly inaccurate with what the draw is, as we had Grace Hughes as the 2nd seed. But she's actually the 6th seed. Oops.

We think this has something to do with basing the seeding on last year's results, and Rhonda Rajsich beat Cheryl Gudinas in the 2012 final, so Rajsich is top seed (as we thought) and Gudinas is 2nd seed (although 12th ranked in the USA rankings). Last year's semi-finalists were Kristen Bellows and Adrienne Fisher, but neither of them are in the draw.

But how Hughes falls to 6th behind Jacqueline Paraiso, Janel Tisinger and Michelle Key, who she's ranked ahead of in the USA rankings, is beyond us.

So, who's the National Champion?

USA Racquetball's move to include the LPRT and International Racquetball Tour (IRT) in the Ektelon Nationals makes sense from a business perspective, because it allows all the top racquetball players to compete in Fullerton, when a significant number of them are not American, so in previous years, when National Singles was in Houston, non-Americans would have been ineligible to play.

But it does leave them in the odd situation of not having a National Champion.

Or at least not exactly, as they could call the winner of the respective men's and women's US Team qualifying divisions the National Champions. However, not all the top American players are playing in those divisions.

That's more obvious on the men's side, as most of the top 10 IRT are American and none of them are in the men's US Team Qualifying division. But two of the top American women - Adrienne Fisher Hayes and Kerri Wachtel - aren't in the women's US Team Qualifying division.

Again bringing all the pros to Fullerton makes sense from a spectacle point of view. We also understand why the LPRT and IRT would want to be there, because it's one of the biggest tournaments in the world and a nice ending to the season. Also, it's great that both the women's and men's pro tours are in the same place.

But it does seem to take away from the crowning of a US National Champion.

LPRT Ektelon Nationals, Fullerton, California
May 16-19, 2013
(seeding / current LPRT ranking if different)
Unofficial draw

1 Paola Longoria - BYE
16/19 Linda Scales v. 17/20 Maria Paz Muñoz

9/10 Cristina Amaya v. 24/30 Alexandra Herrera
8 Kerri Wachtel v. 25/42 Carolina Luque

5 Cheryl Gudinas v. NR Sofia Rascon / Nawoo Kim / Aubrey Kirch
12/14 T. J. Baumbaugh v. 21/24 Jessica Parrilla

13/15 Jacqueline Paraiso v. 20/23 Laura Brandt
4 Susana Acosta v. NR Sofia Rascon / Nawoo Kim / Aubrey Kirch

3 Samantha Salas Solis v. NR Sofia Rascon / Nawoo Kim / Aubrey Kirch
14/17 Veronica Sotomayor v. 19/22 Masiel Rivera

11/13 Maria Jose Vargas v. 22/27 Janel Tisinger
6 Adrienne Fisher Haynes v. 27/61 Young Ock Lee

7 Grace Hughes v. 26/52 Maiko Sato
10/11 Da'monique Davis v. 23/28 Keely Franks

15/18 Hailey Miller v. 18/21 Carla Munoz
2 Rhonda Rajsich v. BYE

US TEAM QUALIFYING, Fullerton, California
May 16-19, 2013
(seeding / current USAR ranking)
Unofficial draw

Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
T. J. Baumbaugh v. Elise Wilson

Michelle Key - BYE
Jacqueline Paraiso - BYE

Janel Tisinger - BYE
Grace Hughes v. Linda Scales

Da'monique Davis v. Lexi York
Cheryl Gudinas - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….

IRT Rankings - May 13, 2013 - Waselenchuk's clinched #1, De La Rosa 10th

UPDATED - Kane Waselenchuk is #1 in the latest International Racquetball Tour (IRT) rankings, and Jason Mannino, IRT President, has told TRB that Waselenchuk has clinched the season ending #1 ranking, although there is one event left in the 2012-13 season, which is the Ektelon Nationals beginning Thursday in Fullerton, California.

Waselenchuk is 610 points ahead of Rocky Carson, who's #2 overall. This season Waselenchuk has eight tournament victories and Carson three. The last season only two players won IRT events was 2009-10, when Waselenchuk also won eight times and Mannino got what would be his last tournament victory on tour.

Positions 1-9 are all the same as in the last rankings, but Daniel De La Rosa has appeared in the top 10 for the first time in his young career at the 10th position. De La Rosa's played five events this season, and reached the semi-finals in the last of them at the Stockton Pro-Am. He was also a quarter-finalist at last year's US Open.

Marco Rojas has also moved up, and is now 13th. Charlie Pratt is also back in the top 20 after missing several tournaments in the middle of season due to injury. Pratt is 18th now.

The 2012-13 IRT season concludes with the Ektelon Nationals in Fullerton, California. You can watch the action live via the IRT Network beginning Thursday.

IRT Rankings - May 13, 2013

Rank - Player - Country - Points

1 Kane WASELENCHUK (Canada) 4012
2 Rocky CARSON (USA) 3402
3 Alvaro BELTRAN (Mexico) 2618
4 Chris CROWTHER (USA) 1915
5 Jose ROJAS (USA) 1865

6 Ben CROFT (USA) 1791
7 Tony CARSON (USA) 1557
8 Shane VANDERSON (USA) 1351
9 Javier MORENO (Mexico) 1026
10 Daniel DE LA ROSA (Mexico) 1011

11 Andy HAWTHORNE (USA) 981
12 Alex ACKERMANN (USA) 934
13 Marco ROJAS (USA) 918
14 Jose DIAZ (USA) 863
15 Anthony HERRERA (USA) 835

16 Alejandro LANDA (Mexico) 832
17 Jansen ALLEN (USA) 719
18 Charlie Pratt (USA) 627
19 Nick MONTALBANO (USA) 610
20 Brad SCHOPIERAY (USA) 597

Follow the bouncing ball....

LPRT Rankings May 7, 2013

Samantha Salas is back up to the #3 position latest Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) rankings that she had before suffering a shoulder injury that kept her off the women's tour for about a year.

Paola Longoria continues to be #1 with Rhonda Rajsich in #2. Salas's rise pushes Susana Acosta down to #4.

Grace Hughes has again moved up the rankings, and is now in 7th behind Cheryl Gudinas (in 5th) and Adrienne Fisher (6th). Kerri Wachtel is 8th with Krystal Csuk 9th and Cristina Amaya 10th.

In the next 10, Da'monique Davis and Jennifer Saunders are holding steady at #11 and #12, respectively. Maria Jose Vargas is up to 13th ahead of T. J. Baumbaugh at #14.

Also, Sheryl Lotts is up to 16th and Hailey Miller is back in the top 20 at 18th and Maria Paz Muñoz rounds out the top 20 at 20th.

The 2012-13 LPRT season ends next week with the Ektelon Nationals in Fullerton, California May 15-19, 2013.

LPRT Rankings - May 7, 2013

Rank - Name - Country - Points

1 Paola Longoria (Mexico) 2012.00
2 Rhonda Rajsich (USA) 1278.40
3 Samantha Salas (Mexico) 606.50
4 Susy Acosta (Mexico) 551.50
5 Cheryl Gudinas (USA) 489.50

6 Adrienne Fisher (USA) 413.75
7 Grace Hughes (USA) 374.90
8 Kerri Wachtel (USA) 336.75
9 Krystal Csuk (USA) 328.20
10 Cristina Amaya (Colombia) 311.75

11 Da'monique Davis (USA) 303.35
12 Jennifer Saunders (Canada) 294.50
13 Maria Jose Vargas (Bolivia) 275.75
14 T.J. Baumbaugh (USA) 249.75
15 Jackie Paraiso (USA) 221.00

16 Sheryl Lotts (USA) 139.75
17 Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) 132.50
18 Hailey Miller (USA) 130.50
19 Linda Scales (USA) 125.50
20 Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) 95.00

Follow the bouncing ball....

Weekend Round Up - May 5, 2013

Cristina Amaya won the Women's Open division at the SCS Title & Escrow tournament in Herndon, Virginia on the weekend, as she defeated Jennifer Saunders in the final, 15-10, 15-8.

In the semi-finals, Amaya defeated Masiel Rivera, 15-10, 15-11, while Saunders beat Da'monique Davis, 15-9, 15-8.

Across the country, David Horn won the Men's Open division of the Stockton Pro-Am in Stockton, California with a tie-breaker win over Sebastian Franco, 8-15, 15-2, 11-0.

There were two tie-breakers in the semi-finals also. Horn defeated Fernando Rios, 14-15, 15-6, 11-6, and Franco beat Diego Crespo, 10-15, 15-7, 11-6.

In the Men's Open Doubles division, Ismael Aldana Jr & Jose Serrano came out on top with a win over Franco and Juan Herrera. In the semis, Franco and Herrera defeated Dale Millhollin and Jeff Barron, 15-5, 15-13, with Aldana Jr and Serrano beating Jose Daniel Alvarez and Rios, 15-14, 10-15, 11-3, in the other.

Finally, Nick Montalbano won the Cinco De Mayo Shootout, a Tier 5 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event in Pueblo, Colorado. Montalbano beat Nicholas Riffel in the final, 11-5, 11-2, 11-9.

Montalbano beat Matt Melster in one semi-final, 11-3, 11-1, 11-4, with Riffel defeating Derek Izzi, 11-9, 11-7, 10-12, 11-1, in the other.

2013 SCS Title and Escrow, Herndon, Virginia

Women's Open Final

Cristina Amaya d. Jennifer Saunders, 15-10, 15-8

Semi-finals

Cristina Amaya d. Masiel Rivera, 15-10, 15-11
Jennifer Saunders d. Da'monique Davis, 15-9, 15-8

2013 Stockton Pro-Am, Stockton, California

Men's Open Final

David Horn d. Sebastian Franco, 8-15, 15-2, 11-0

Semi-finals

Sebastian Franco d. Diego Crespo, 10-15, 15-7, 11-6
David Horn d. Fernando Rios, 14-15, 15-6, 11-6

Quarter-finals

Diego Crespo d. Jose Daniel Alvarez, 14-15, 15-11, 11-5
Sebastian Franco d. Jose Serrano, 15-11, 15-10
David Horn d. Juan Herrera, 15-5, 14-15, 11-1
Fernando Rios d. Jose Diaz, 15-7, 15-14

Men's Open Doubles Final

Ismael Aldana Jr & Jose Serrano d. Sebastian Franco & Juan Herrera

Semi-finals

Sebastian Franco & Juan Herrera d. Dale Millhollin & Jeff Barron, 15-5, 15-13
Ismael Aldana Jr & Jose Serrano d. Jose Daniel Alvarez & Fernando Rios, 15-14, 10-15, 11-3

Cinco De Mayo Shootout, Pueblo, Colorado

Final

Nick Montalbano d. Nicholas Riffel, 11-5, 11-2, 11-9

Semi-finals

Nick Montalbano d. Matt Melster, 11-3, 11-1, 11-4
Nicholas Riffel d. Derek Izzi, 11-9, 11-7, 10-12, 11-1

Follow the bouncing ball....

Waselenchuk wins IRT Stockton Pro-Am

Kane Waselenchuk, the International Racquetball Tour's (IRT's) #1 player won his 8th tournament of the season by defeating Rocky Carosn, the IRT's #2 player, in the final of the Stockton Pro-Am in Stockton, California on Sunday, 11-6, 11-2, 11-5. Carson is the only other player to have won a tournament this season.

Carson complimented Waselenchuk on his good play after the match saying "Kane played well today." Carson said he "had a few chances" during the match, but only a few.

Waselenchuk said it all "starts with the serve," and he drove serve all most exclusively throughout the tournament, although he did hit a few lob serves in the final against Carson.

Waselenchuk hasn't lost three games in a match since January 2009, although there have been some matches that he's had to default due to injury, most recently in March in Denver, where he was playing Carson in the final.

But when Waselenchuk is fully fit, he's been unstoppable in over four years.

The last event of the 2012-13 IRT season will be the Ektelon Nationals that happens May 15-19 in Fullerton, California.

2013 Stockton Pro-Am, Stockton, California

Final

Kane Waselenchuk d. Rocky Carson, 11-6, 11-2, 11-5

Follow the bouncing ball....

Longoria wins 2013 SCS Title and Escrow LPRT Tournament

Paola Longoria's winning streak continues, as she defeated Rhonda Rajsich to win the SCS Title and Escrow Pro/Am, a Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) in Herndon, Virginia, in three straight games, 11-4, 11-5, 11-2. In the four matches Longoria played to win the title, she gave up an average of 4.0 points per game in winning twelve straight games.

The win is Longoria's 18th consecutive women's pro event win. She's played Rajsich in all but two of those 18 finals.

There's one more LPRT event this season, so one more chance for Longoria to extend her winning streak or for someone to snap it. They'll play in Fullerton, California May 15-19 as part of Ektelon Nationals.

2013 SCS Title and Escrow, Herndon, Virginia

Final

1 Paola Longoria d. 2 Rhonda Rajsich, 11-4, 11-5, 11-2

Follow the bouncing ball….

IRT - Stockton Pro-Am - Waslenchuk & Carson win semi-finals

Kane Waselenchuk, the International Racquetball Tour's (IRT's) #1 player and Rocky Carson, the IRT's #2, will face off in the final of the Stockton Pro-Am in Stockton, California on Sunday, as they won their respective semi-finals on Saturday, and both did so in a convincing fashion.

Waselenchuk beat Ben Croft, 11-7, 11-0, 11-2, with great drive serves and shot-making, while Carson defeated Daniel De La Rosa, 11-8, 11-2, 11-2, with some veteran patience and execution.

Croft served notice that he came to play right off the hop, as he served two aces against Waselenchuk in game one. They were drive serves down the right side, which was to the left-handed Waselenchuk's backhand.

They went back and forth early in that game, but then Waselenchuk took the lead at 5-4, and maintained the advantage, although Croft did draw close at 9-7 before Waselenchuk closed it out at 11-7.

Waselenchuk served first in game two, and scored eleven unanswered points as he blanked Croft, 11-0. Croft did serve a few times in the game, but never successfully.

Croft scored the first point of game three, but Waselenchuk then got four in response before Croft scored again. That was the last point Croft got, as Waselenchuk went on to win it 11-2.

Both players drove serve exclusively. Croft almost always served to the right side, while Waselenchuk varied his serves more hitting to both the left and right.

Like Waselenchuk, Carson found himself down in game one of his semi-final match, as De La Rosa led 8-6. But Carson held De La Rosa there and outscored him 27-4 the rest of the match.

From that point on, Carson used a half lob z serve to the left - De La Rosa's backhand - at a slow speed that the young Mexican just couldn't find a good answer for.

Thus, it'll be #1 versus #2 for only the fifth time this season. Waselenchuk won the first four, but the last one went to Carson as Waselenchuk had to retire during the Denver final due to a knee injury.

But Waselenchuk looks fully fit, and maybe even fitter than he has in some time, in Stockton as well as in Portland last weekend, so if Carson is going to get the win, he'll have to bring his 'A' game and hope that Waselenchuk doesn't.

The IRT Network will web-cast the final noon PDT on Sunday.

2013 Stockton Pro-Am, Stockton, California

Semi-finals

Kane Waselenchuk d. Ben Croft, 11-7, 11-0, 11-2
Rocky Carson d. Daniel De La Rosa, 11-8, 11-2, 11-2

Final

Kane Waselenchuk v. Rocky Carson - Noon PDT Sunday

Follow the bouncing ball....

LPRT - 2013 SCS Title & Escrow Semi-finals

It's a return to form for the final of the SCS Title and Escrow Pro/Am, a Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) in Herndon, Virginia, as #1 will play #2, when Paola Longoria and Rhonda Rajsich face off on Sunday.

Longoria, the LPRT's #1 player, defeated Samantha Salas Solis, 11-3, 11-4, 11-8, in one semi-final, while LPRT #2 Rajsich beat Susana Acosta, 11-3, 11-2, 11-3, in the other.

Longoria is undefeated on the women's pro tour since May 2011, when Rajsich beat her in Stockton, California. Head to head in their careers, Longoria has a 26-9 advantage on Rajsich in Tier 1 and Grand Slam events (TRB records, which may not be complete).

Rajsich will try to snap Longoria's streak on Sunday. We believe that Rajisch can beat Longoria, but doing so certainly won't be easy.

The LPRT Network will webcast the final live at noon EDT Sunday.

2013 SCS Title and Escrow, Herndon, Virginia

Semi-finals (Seeding)

1 Paola Longoria d. 4 Samantha Salas Solis, 11-3, 11-4, 11-8
2 Rhonda Rajsich d. 3 Susana Acosta, 11-3, 11-2, 11-3

Final

1 Paola Longoria v. 2 Rhonda Rajsich - Noon EDT Sunday

Follow the bouncing ball….

LPRT - 2013 SCS Title & Escrow Quarter finals

The top four seeds all won their respective quarter finals at the SCS Title and Escrow Pro/Am, a Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) in Herndon, Virginia, and with one exception the wins were all in three straight games.

The exception was Susana Acosta's win against Jennifer Saunders, as they split the first two games of their match, and then Acosta won in four, 11-7, 3-11, 11-4, 11-5.

Acosta will play LPRT #2 Rhonda Rajsich in the semis, as Rajsich defeated Da'monique Davis, 11-7, 11-0, 11-1, in the quarters.

On the other side of the draw, LPRT #1 Paola Longoria beat Grace Hughes, 11-1, 11-9, 11-3, and Samantha Salas Solis won against Cheryl Gudinas, 11-9, 11-1, 11-3, to set up a repeat of last weekend's final in the other semi-final.

2013 SCS Title and Escrow, Herndon, Virginia

Quarter-finals (Seeding)

1 Paola Longoria d. 8 Grace Hughes, 11-1, 11-9, 11-3
4 Samantha Salas Solis d. 5 Cheryl Gudinas, 11-9, 11-1, 11-3

3 Susana Acosta d. 11 Jennifer Saunders, 11-7, 3-11, 11-4, 11-5
2 Rhonda Rajsich d. 10 Da'monique Davis, 11-7, 11-0, 11-1

Semi-finals (Seeding)

1 Paola Longoria v. 4 Samantha Salas Solis
2 Rhonda Rajsich v. 3 Susana Acosta

Follow the bouncing ball….

IRT - 2013 Stockton Pro-Am Quarter finals

Daniel De La Rosa has reached the semi-finals for the first time on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), as he defeated 3rd seed Alvaro Beltran in the quarter finals of the Stockton Pro-Am in Stockton, California, by the scores of 6-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-1. De La Rosa will face Rocky Carson, the IRT's #2 player, in the semis, as Carson won his quarter final match with Marco Rojas, 11-6, 6-11, 11-1, 12-10.

On the other side of the draw, the semi-final will be a repeat of the final from the last IRT event in Portland, as #1 Kane Waselenchuk will be up against #6 Ben Croft. In the quarters, Waselenchuk beat Jose Rojas, 11-2, 11-1, 11-4, and Croft defeated Chris Crowther, 11-8, 11-3, 5-11, 11-4.

After losing game one to Beltran, De La Rosa took the lead early in game two at 7-2. But Beltran battled back, and got to game point at 10-8. However, De La Rosa held Beltran there for two game points, and then scored four points of his own to level the match at a game a piece.

De La Rosa had begun to really zero in with his drive serve in game two, and used that throughout the rest of the match, including taking a 5-0 lead in game three.

However, Beltran again came back, scoring six points to lead 6-5. They went back and forth until 8-8, at which point De La Rosa was able to finish the game off and take the upper hand in games at 2-1.

In game four, De La Rosa took a big lead early at 6-1, and in this case Beltran had no reply, as De La Rosa went on to win 11-1, scoring the last point with a drive serve ace to the left side.

Carson was almost forced to a tie-breaker against Marco Rojas, as Rojas had a 8-3 lead in game four. However, Carson worked his way back to tie it at 9-9.

But Rojas wasn't giving up, and got a game point at 10-9. However, Carson fought that off with a great soft backhand pinch into the from left corner. Carson then tied the game on a rally where Rojas made to great gets in a row, and then skipped a shot that by comparison was relatively easy.

Carson then got a game point of his own, and it was Rojas's turn to fend it off as he ripped a ball down the line with his backhand. But on the ensuing serve, Rojas chose to lob to the right side, when he been having success drive serving. Carson took advantage by hitting a kill shot return.

Carson followed that up with a drive serve ace to the left side that won the game and match.

The IRT Network will web-cast the semi-finals from 4 PM PDT on Saturday.

2013 Stockton Pro-Am, Stockton, California

Quarter finals

Kane Waselenchuk d. Jose Rojas, 11-2, 11-1, 11-4
Ben Croft d. Chris Crowther, 11-8, 11-3, 5-11, 11-4

Daniel De La Rosa d. Alvaro Beltran, 6-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-1
Rocky Carson d. Marco Rojas, 11-6, 6-11, 11-1, 12-10

Semi-finals

Kane Waselenchuk v. Ben Croft - 5 PM PDT Saturday
Rocky Carson v. Daniel De La Rosa - 4 PM PDT Saturday

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - 2013 Stockton Pro-Am - Round of 16

Another couple of upsets in the at the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Stockton Pro-Am in Stockton, California, which have led to Daniel De La Rosa and Marco Rojas getting through to the quarter finals.

De La Rosa knocked off fellow Mexican Javier Moreno, 11-6, 8-11, 11-0, 11-6, in the Round of 16, and will play another Mexican in the quarter finals in 3rd Alvaro Beltran. Beltran beat Sebastian Franco in the 16s, 5-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-9.

Marco Rojas defeated Andy Hawthorne, 11-2, 11-2, 8-11, 11-2, in the Round of 16 to set up a match with Rocky Carson, who was a straight game winner over David Horn, 11-2, 13-11, 11-3.

IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk kept his winning streak going, as he knocked off Charlie Pratt in the 16s, 11-1, 11-7, 11-7. After a dominating first game, Waselenchuk found himself down 7-0 in game two. However, Waselenchuk ran off eleven unanswered points to take the game.

The IRT Network will web-cast the quarter finals from 4 PM PDT on Friday.

2013 Stockton Pro-Am, Stockton, California

Round of 16

Kane Waselenchuk d. Charlie Pratt, 11-1, 11-7, 11-7
Jose Rojas d. Alex Ackermann, 11-1, 11-3, 0-11, 11-6

Ben Croft d. Jose Diaz, 11-8, 11-8, 11-8
Chris Crowther d. Jansen Allen, 11-6, 8-11, 11-9, 12-10

Alvaro Beltran d. Sebastian Franco, 5-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-9
Daniel De La Rosa d. Javier Moreno, 11-6, 8-11, 11-0, 11-6

Marco Rojas d. Andy Hawthorne, 11-2, 11-2, 8-11, 11-2
Rocky Carson d. David Horn, 11-2, 13-11, 11-3

Quarter finals

Kane Waselenchuk v. Jose Rojas
Chris Crowther v. Ben Croft

Alvaro Beltran v. Daniel De La Rosa
Rocky Carson v. Marco Rojas

Follow the bouncing ball....

LPRT - 2013 SCS Title & Escrow Pro/Am - Early results

No upsets in the three first round matches at the SCS Title and Escrow Pro/Am, a Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) in Herndon, Virginia, but there have been two so far in the Round of 16, as Jennifer Saunders and Da'monique Davis both won their matches.

Saunders defeated 6th seed Adrienne Fisher Haynes, 11-1, 11-3, 11-5, and Davis ousted 7th seed Kerri Wachtel, 6-11, 11-9, 11-1, 11-3, to make the quarrier finals for the second weekend in a row.

Davis will play the winner of LPRT #2 Rhonda Rajsich and Hailey Miller, who was an early round winner over Ana Paola Nunez, 11-6, 11-4, 10-12, 11-2, while Saunders will face the winner of Susana Acosta and Sheryl Lotts, who defeated Veronica Nogales, 11-6, 11-6, 11-9, in round one.

All the other Round of 16 matches went according to form, including LPRT #1 Paola Longoria's win over Carla Muñoz, 11-7, 11-2, 11-2.

The Round of 16 continues on Friday with the quarter finals and semi-finals to follow on Saturday and the final on Sunday. The LPRT Network webcast the action from the quarter-finals on.

2013 SCS Title and Escrow, Herndon, Virginia

Round of 16 (Seeding)

1 Paola Longoria d. 16 Carla Munoz, 11-7, 11-2, 11-2
8 Grace Hughes d. 9 Cristina Amaya, 11-5, 11-5, 11-7

5 Cheryl Gudinas d. 12 T. J. Baumbaugh, 11-4, 11-1, 11-1
4 Samantha Salas Solis d. 13 Maria Jose Vargas, 11-4, 11-5, 11-8

3 Susana Acosta d. 14 Sheryl Lotts, 11-4, 11-6, 11-3
11 Jennifer Saunders d. 6 Adrienne Fisher Haynes, 11-1, 11-3, 11-5

10 Da'monique Davis d. 7 Kerri Wachtel, 6-11, 11-9, 11-1, 11-3
2 Rhonda Rajsich d. 15 Hailey Miller, 12-10, 11-3, 11-3

Quarter-finals (Seeding)

1 Paola Longoria v. 8 Grace Hughes
4 Samantha Salas Solis v. 5 Cheryl Gudinas

3 Susana Acosta v. 11 Jennifer Saunders
2 Rhonda Rajsich v. 10 Da'monique Davis

Round of 32 (Seeding / LPRT ranking if different)

1 Paola Longoria - BYE
16/23 Carla Munoz d. 17/26 Masiel Rivera, 11-1, 11-9, 11-9

9 Cristina Amaya - BYE
8 Grace Hughes - BYE

5 Cheryl Gudinas - BYE
12 T. J. Baumbaugh - BYE

13 Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
4 Samantha Salas Solis - BYE

3 Susana Acosta - BYE
14/19 Sheryl Lotts d. 19/NR Veronica Nogales, 11-6, 11-6, 11-9

11 Jennifer Saunders - BYE
6 Adrienne Fisher Haynes - BYE

7 Kerri Wachtel - BYE
10 Da'monique Davis - BYE

15/21 Hailey Miller d. 18/40 Ana Paola Nunez, 11-6, 11-4, 10-12, 11-2
2 Rhonda Rajsich - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….

IRT - 2013 Stockton Pro-Am Preliminary Results

A couple of upsets in the second round of qualifying at the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Stockton Pro-Am in Stockton, California opened the door for Sebastian Franco and David Horn to get into the Round of 16, although they did have to win their last qualifying matches to do so.

Jose Daniel Ugalde upset 14th seed Juan Herrera, 11-3, 2-11, 11-5, 11-4, but then lost to Franco, 5-11, 11-9, 11-1, 12-10, which puts Franco up against 3rd seed Alvaro Beltan in the Round of 16.

Also, Fernando Rios beat Brad Schopierary, 11-8, 1-11, 11-0, 11-3, but was then beaten by Horn, 11-5, 11-6, 11-8. Horn plays 2nd seed Rocky Carson in the 16s.

Long match of the day goes to Jose Serrano and Ryan Meyer, who went the distance, as Serrano came back from 0-2 down to win in a tie-breaker, 4-11, 9-11, 11-4, 12-10, 11-6. However, Marco Rojas denied Serrano a spot in the 16s with a 11-7, 11-7, 11-2 victory.

Finally, veteran and former #1 Cliff Swain won his first match in qualifying over Armando Bermudez, 11-0, 11-1, 11-7, but lost to Jose Diaz, 11-6, 11-9, 11-3, in the final round of qualifying.

The IRT Network will be web-cast the Round of 16 beginning at 10 AM PDT Friday morning with the quarter finals to follow from 4 PM PDT.

2013 Stockton Pro-Am, Stockton, California
Qualifying Rounds

Round 1

Justin Ivers d. Christian Chavez, 11-4, 11-4, 11-4
Jose Daniel Ugalde d. Connor Laffey, 7-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-8
Jose Daniel Alvarez d. Jimmy Oliver, 2-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-0
Fernando Rios d. Joe Adler, 11-2, 11-1, 11-4

Round 2

Mauro Rojas d. Arthur Schmeiser, WBF
Charlie Pratt d. Justin Ivers, 11-0, 9-11, 11-9, 11-4

Robert Collins d. Tim Prigo, 11-9, 11-3, 11-9
Cliff Swain d. Armando Bermudez, 11-0, 11-1, 11-7

Jansen Allen d. Jose Daniel Alvarez, 11-3, 11-2, 11-7
Diego Crespo d. Francisco Troncoso, 11-5, 11-8, 11-4

Sebastian Franco d. Ismael Aldana, 11-4, 8-11, 11-8, 11-5
Jose Daniel Ugalde d. Juan Herrera, 11-3, 2-11, 11-5, 11-4

Mike Orr d. James Swift, 11-3, 12-10, 7-11, 11-1
Jose Serrano d. Ryan Meyer, 4-11, 9-11, 11-4, 12-10, 11-6

Fernando Rios d. Brad Schopieray, 11-8, 1-11, 11-0, 11-3
David Horn d. Ralph Comer

Round 3

Q8: Charlie Pratt d. Mauro Rojas, 11-8, 11-8, 11-3
Q1: Alex Ackermann d. Robert Collins, 11-2, 11-4, 13-11

Q4: Jose Diaz d. Cliff Swain, 11-6, 11-9, 11-3
Q5: Jansen Allen d. Diego Crespo, 11-4, 11-8, 11-1

Q6: Sebastian Franco d. Jose Daniel Ugalde, 5-11, 11-9, 11-1, 12-10
Q3: Daniel De La Rosa d. Mike Orr, 11-3, 11-6, 11-4

Q2: Marco Rojas d. Jose Serrano, 11-7, 11-7, 11-2
Q7: David Horn d. Fernando Rios, 11-5, 11-6, 11-8

Main Draw - Round of 16

Kane Waselenchuk v. Charlie Pratt
Jose Rojas v. Alex Ackermann

Ben Croft v. Jose Diaz
Chris Crowther v. Jansen Allen

Alvaro Beltran v. Sebastian Franco
Javier Moreno v. Daniel De La Rosa

Andy Hawthorne v. Marco Rojas
Rocky Carson v. David Horn

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - 2013 Stockton Pro-Am Preview

The International Racquetball Tour (IRT) is completing a back-to-back this weekend with the Stockton Pro-Am in Stockton, California. Like last weekend's Ektelon Tournament of Champions in Portland, Oregon, Stockton has a long history of racquetball excellence, including many home grown players, such as John Ellis and Jose Rojas.

The first Stockton men's pro tournament was in 1983, when Ed Andrews beat Scott Oliver for the title. The event happened 22 years in a row ending in 2004, and then it was restarted last year, when current IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk defeated Alvaro Beltran in the final.

Cliff Swain's six tournament wins are the most in Stockton. His first Stockton win was in 1986 against Marty Hogan, and his last was 18 years later in 2004, when he defeated Beltran in the final.

Beltran has the distinction of most runner-up finishes in Stockton, as he's been the runner-up in the last five Stockton tournaments. Beltran reached the final in 2001 and 2002, losing those to Jason Mannino, 2003 (Jack Huczek), 2004 (Swain) and 2012 (Waselenchuk).

Sudsy Monchik was runner up on four occasions, but also won three times. He and Swain have the most finals appearances in Stockton with seven each.

(note: records are taken from the IRT Historical Data Archive, which doesn't have results for 1987 and 1988, although those events clearly happened based the naming of the events, as 1984 was the 4th and 1989 was the 7th Stockton event; it's possible the tournament happened but was not an IRT event)

Qualifying rounds

Cliff Swain is back in Stockton, as he's in the qualifying rounds on Thursday. Swain will first face Armando Bermudez, and a win there would put him against Jose Diaz, one of the up and coming Stockton players. The winner of that will face Ben Croft in the Round of 16 on Friday.

The other match that interests us is left-hander Brad Schopieray against David Horn, which could happen in the last round of qualifying with the winner to claim a spot in the 16s against Rocky Carson.

The IRT Network will be web-cast the final round of qualifying Thursday night and then the Round of 16 beginning at 10 AM PDT Friday morning.

2013 Stockton Pro-Am, Stockton, California
Qualifying Rounds

Round 1

Justin Ivers v. Jimmy Oliver
Jose Daniel Ugalde v. Jose Daniel Alvarez
Connor Laffey v. Joe Adler
Christian Chavez v. Fernando Rios

Round 2

Arthur Schmeiser v. Mauro Rojas
Charlie Pratt v. Justin Ivers or Jimmy Oliver

Tim Prigo v. Robert Collins
Cliff Swain v. Armando Bermudez

Jansen Allen v. Jose Daniel Ugalde or Jose Daniel Alvarez
Francisco Troncoso v. Diego Crespo

Sebastian Franco v. Ismael Aldana
Juan Herrera v. Connor Laffey or Joe Adler

Mike Orr v. James Swift
Jose Serrano v. Ryan Meyer

Brad Schopieray v. Christian Chavez or Fernando Rios
David Horn v. Ralph Comer

Round 3

Q8: Arthur Schmeiser or Mauro Rojas v. Charlie Pratt or Justin Ivers or Jimmy Oliver
Q1: Alex Ackermann v. Tim Prigo or Robert Collins

Q4: Jose Diaz v. Cliff Swain or Armando Bermudez
Q5: Jansen Allen or Jose Daniel Ugalde or Jose Daniel Alvarez v. Francisco Troncoso or Diego Crespo

Q6: Juan Herrera or Connor Laffey or Joe Adler v. Sebastian Franco or Ismael Aldana
Q3: Daniel De La Rosa v. Mike Orr or James Swift

Q2: Marco Rojas v. Jose Serrano or Ryan Meyer
Q7: Brad Schopieray or Christian Chavez or Fernando Rios v. David Horn or Ralph Comer

Main Draw - Round of 16

Kane Waselenchuk v. Q8
Jose Rojas v. Q1

Ben Croft v. Q4
Chris Crowther v. Q5

Alvaro Beltran v. Q6
Javier Moreno v. Q3

Andy Hawthorne v. Q2
Rocky Carson v. Q7

Follow the bouncing ball....