Longoria & Rajsich to face off twice Sunday at LPRT Paola Longoria Invitational

Paola Longoria will have a chance to win the tournament that bears her name, as she's reached the final of the Paola Longoria Invitational tournament in Monterrey, Mexico - a Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Grand Slam event. But getting there was not without difficulty.

In the semi-finals, Longoria faced her doubles parter Samantha Salas Solis. After winning game one, 11-4, Longoria found herself down 6-0 in game two, as Salas Solis drove serve effectively to the right side - Longoria's forehand. A timeout started a comeback, but Salas Solis never gave up the lead as she went on to win game two 11-9.

The LPRT's #1 player's response was emphatic, as Longoria blanked Salas Solis in game three 11-0. Game four was also one-sided, as Longoria closed out the match, winning 11-5, 9-11, 11-0, 11-3.

Second seed Rhonda Rajsich will be Longoria's opponent in the final, as she defeated 6th seed Maria Jose Vargas in the other semi-final, 2-11, 11-1, 15-13, 11-7.

After a slow start to the season, when she had two early exits, Rajsich has rebounded to reach her third consecutive final.

Doubles

Longoria and Rajsich will play each other twice on Sunday, as they will also face off in the doubles final. And their respective partners are the players who they beat in the singles semi-finals.

Longoria and Salas defeated another Mexican duo in Susana Acosta and Sofia Rascon, 15-4, 15-5, in one doubles semi-final, while Rajsich and Vargas beat Americans Da'monique Davis and Sharon Jackson, 9-15, 15-8, 11-1, in the other.

Both finals can viewed via the LPRT Network Sunday afternoon. The singles final is set for 2 PM CST and the doubles final for 3 PM CST.

Paola Longoria Invitational
Monterrey, Mexico

Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria d. 5) Samantha Salas Solis, 11-5, 9-11, 11-0, 11-3
2) Rhonda Rajsich d. 6) Maria Jose Vargas, 2-11, 11-1, 15-13, 11-7

Singles - Final - Sunday

1) Paola Longoria v. 2) Rhonda Rajsich

Doubles

Semi-finals

1. Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis d. 4. Susana Acosta & Sofia Rascon, 15-4, 15-5
2. Rhonda Rajsich & Maria Jose Vargas d. 6. Da'monique Davis & Sharon Jackson, 9-15, 15-8, 11-1

Final - Sunday

1. Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis v. 2. Rhonda Rajsich & Maria Jose Vargas

Follow the bouncing ball….