PARC XXVII Pan Am Championships - Women's Quarterfinals

Colombian Cristina Amaya upset American Rhonda Rajsich in the quarterfinals of women's singles at the XXVII Pan American Racquetball Championships in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, 2-15, 15-7, 11-9. The result means Amaya will medal at an international event for just the second time in her career. She was the silver medalist at last year's World Games.

Veteran left-hander Susana Acosta will be Amaya's opponent in the semi-finals on Friday, as Acosta defeated Bolivian Jenny Daza, 15-13, 9-15, 11-3, in the quarters.

The other semi-final will feature top seed Samantha Salas Solis of Mexico versus Maria Jose Vargas of Argentina. Salas Solis beat Canadian Frédérique Lambert, 15-7, 15-13, and Vargas defeated Veronica Sotomayor of Ecuador, 15-13, 15-1, in their respective quarterfinals.

Salas Solis is seeded 1st, but on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Vargas is ranked 3rd and Salas Solis 4th, so a Vargas victory wouldn't really be an upset. They have played once on the LPRT this season with Vargas winning in three straight games at the Christmas Classic last December.

Similarily, Acosta and Amaya have played just once on the LPRT this season, and Amaya won in five games back in September in Toluca, Mexico.

Previous Pan American Champions in women's singles have been either American or Canadian or named Paola Longoria.

That will change this year.

The semi-finals will be 11 AM Friday and will be live via the IRT Network.

XXVII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Santa Cruz, Bolivia - April 12-19, 2014

Women's Singles - Quarterfinals

Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) d. Frédérique Lambert (Canada), 15-7, 15-13
Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador), 15-13, 15-1

Susana Acosta (Mexico) d. Jenny Daza (Bolivia), 15-13, 9-15, 11-3
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Cristina Amaya (Colombia), 2-15, 15-7, 11-9

Women's Singles - Semi-finals

Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) v. Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina)
Susana Acosta (Mexico) v. Cristina Amaya (Colombia)

Follow the bouncing ball....