Longoria & Rajsich to face off for LPRT Pro Nationals title

Paola Longoria, the #1 player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT), will have a chance to end the season on a high note, as she'll be in the final of the LPRT Pro Nationals in Herndon, Virginia Sunday after defeating LPRT #4 Frédérique Lambert, 11-5, 11-2, 11-1, in the semi-finals on Saturday.

Longoria's opponent will be long time rival Rhonda Rajsich, the LPRT #3 player, who upset the #2 ranked Maria Jose Vargas in the other semi-final, 11-7, 11-4, 11-2. Rajsich likely benefited from the fact that Vargas had to play a five game quarterfinal match earlier in the day against Michelle Key that ended in a 13-11 tie-breaker. Rajsich won her quarterfinal in three straight games against Cristina Amaya.

Sunday will be the third meeting between Longoria and Rajsich this season. They have split the first two, and Rajsich's victory in their first meeting in the final of the Stockton event back in October ended Longoria's three and a half year winning streak.

In doubles, Key and Lambert defeated Rajsich and Susana Acosta, 15-4, 9-15, 11-9, to advance to the final. They'll play the Longoria and Samantha Salas in the final, as Longoria and Salas beat versus Amaya and Sofia Rascon in the other semi, 15-3, 15-10.

The LPRT Pro Nationals final - and final match of the 2014-15 LPRT season - will be Sunday at 11 AM EDT, and live on the LPRT Livestream channel.

LPRT Pro Nationals
May 15-17, 2015, Herndon, Virginia

Semi-finals (seedings)

1) Paola Longoria d. 4) Frédérique Lambert, 11-5, 11-2, 11-1
3) Rhonda Rajsich d. 2) Maria Jose Vargas, 11-7, 11-4, 11-2

Final (seedings)

1) Paola Longoria v. 3) Rhonda Rajsich

Doubles Semi-finals

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 4) Cristina Amaya & Sofia Rascon, 15-3, 15-10
3) Michelle Key & Frédérique Lambert d. 2) Susana Acosta & Rhonda Rajsich, 15-4, 9-15, 11-9

Doubles Final

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 3) Michelle Key & Frédérique Lambert

Follow the bouncing ball....