LPRT 2014-15 Statistical Abstract

We had an relatively unusual situation coming into the 2015-16 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) season this year, as the #1 player Paola Longoria was not coming off an undefeated season. Longoria remains clearly the best women's racquetball player on earth - reinforced by her three gold medals at last summer's Pan American Games - but she lost twice last season after going three seasons undefeated.

One of Longoria's losses was in the tournament the week after the US Open and to former #1 Rhonda Rajsich, so that could be excused as a post-US Open hangover. The other loss was to Frédérique Lambert in the semi-finals in New Jersey. Yet it's Maria Jose Vargas who is the LPRT's #2 player.

Those four - Longoria, Vargas, Rajsich and Lambert - are ahead of the rest of the field. Samantha Salas, Cristina Amaya, and Veronica Sotomayor, are the next tier with perhaps Michelle Key and Sofia Rascon as well. The thing to note about those nine players is that only two of them are American.

There were four USA players in the top 10 at season's end. Rajsich was #3, Key #7, Cheryl Gudinas #9 and Da'monique Davis #10. That was up one from three in the pervious season, which was the fewest USA players in the top 10 ever. We're still looking for the next great American player. The player who is going to be able to challenge for #1, and take the torch from Rajsich, who had taken it from Gudinas, who had taken it from Jackie Paraiso, who had taken it Michelle Gould, and so on. Maybe Key will be that player, but that remains to be seen.

Longoria's prowess, and the development of the young women who have begun to play regularly on the LPRT the last couple of seasons, will be things to watch for this season.

2014-15 Statistical Abstract

There were 279 LPRT matches last season, which was down from 296 last season, but up from 249 in 2012-13 and 171 in 2011-12. We've got a run down of some stats from those matches below.

The LPRT continues to be very competitive with 20 players making quarterfinals or better last season. Twenty two different players were quarterfinalists in 2013-14, and 19 in 2012-13, and 13 in 2011-12.

2014-15 LPRT Season Summary by Player
LPRT Rank - Player - Wins - 2nds - Semi-finals - Quarterfinals

1) Paola Longoria - 10 wins, 1 seconds, 1 semi-finals, 0 quarterfinals
2) Maria Jose Vargas - 2 wins, 7 seconds, 4 semi-finals
3) Rhonda Rajsich - 1 win, 4 seconds, 6 semi-finals, 2 quarterfinals
4) Frédérique Lambert - 1 second, 4 semi-finals, 6 quarterfinals
5) Samantha Salas - 6 semi-finals, 2 quarterfinal

6) Cristina Amaya - 3 semi-final, 5 quarterfinals
7) Michelle Key - 5 quarterfinals
8) Sofia Rascon - 6 quarterfinals
9) Cheryl Gudinas - 4 quarterfinals
10) Da'monique Davis - 5 quarterfinals

11) Susana Acosta - 4 quarterfinals
12) Veronica Sotomayor - 6 quarterfinals
13) Alexandra Herrera - 1 semi-final
14) Sheryl Lotts - 1 quarterfinal
15) Jessica Parrilla - 1 quarterfinal

18) Kimberly Thomas - 1 quarterfinal
19) Maria Paz Muñoz - 1 quarterfinal
20) Lucia Gonzalez - 1 quarterfinal
25) Diana Aguilar - 1 quarterfinal
26) Ximena Gonzalez - 1 quarterfinal

2014-15 LPRT Season Summary by Tournament
Tournament - Final - Semi Finalists

St Luis Potosi, Mexico - Paola Longoria d. Maria Jose Vargas, 11-6, 12-10, 11-2 - Samantha Salas & Rhonda Rajsich
Huixquilucan, Mexico - Paola Longoria d. Maria Jose Vargas, 11-8, 2-11, 11-3, 11-7 - Frédérique Lambert & Rhonda Rajsich
US Open - Paola Longoria d. Maria Jose Vargas, 11-5, 11-3, 11-8 - Cristina Amaya & Rhonda Rajsich
Stockton - Rhonda Rajsich d. Paola Longoria, 11-9, 5-11, 14-12, 5-11, 11-4 - Maria Jose Vargas & Frédérique Lambert
Arlington, VA - Maria Jose Vargas d. Rhonda Rajsich, 5-11, 11-7, 11-7, 13-11 - Alexandra Herrera & Samantha Salas
Cincinnati - Paola Longoria d. Maria Jose Vargas, 12-10, 11-7, 11-5 - Samantha Salas & Rhonda Rajsich
Overland Park, Kansas - Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 11-1, 11-2, 11-4 - Samantha Salas & Maria Jose Vargas
Warren, N.J. - Maria Jose Vargas d. Frédérique Lambert, 7-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-3 - Rhonda Rajsich & Paola Longoria
Fountain Valley, Calif. - Paola Longoria d. Maria Jose Vargas, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6 - Samantha Salas & Cristina Amaya
Denver - Paola Longoria d. Maria Jose Vargas, 11-9, 11-1, 11-1 - Frédérique Lambert & Rhonda Rajsich
San Antonio - Paola Longoria d. Maria Jose Vargas, 11-7, 11-9, 5-11, 11-2 - Samantha Salas & Rhonda Rajsich
Herndon, Virginia - Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 7-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-1 - Frédérique Lambert & Maria Jose Vargas

Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT)
2014-15 Statistical Abstract

Matches going 3 games: 169 (60.6%)
Matches going 4 games: 70 (25.1%)
Matches going 5 games: 38 (13.6%)
Total matches: 279 (2 injury forfeits)

Most Points in a match: 98 by (i) Maria Paz Muñoz d. Kimberly Thomas, 10-12, 8-11, 11-4, 11-7, 13-11 at Overland Park, Kansas & (ii) Cristina Amaya d. Rhonda Rajsich, 7-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-9 at Denver.

Fewest points in a match: 33 - Alexandra Herrera d. T. J. Baumbaugh, 11-0, 11-0, 11-0, at Denver
2nd fewest points: 34 - Veronica Sotomayor d. Heather Hojat, 11-0, 11-1, 11-0, at San Antonio

Most Points in a win: 54 - Maria Jose Vargas v. Rhonda Rajsich, 9-11, 11-5, 10-12, 13-11, 11-4 at San Antonio
2nd Most Points in a win: 53 - Maria Paz Muñoz v. Kimberly Thomas, 10-12, 8-11, 11-4, 11-7, 13-11 at Overland Park, Kansas

Most Points in a loss: 49 - Rhonda Rajsich v. Cristina Amaya, 7-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-9 at Denver

Smallest difference in total points between match winner & loser: -3 in (i) Regina Franco's win v. Monserrat Mejia, 11-8, 3-11, 12-10, 5-11, 11-5 (Huixquilucan), (ii) Kimberly Thomas's win v. Susana Acosta, 0-11, 14-12, 12-10, 11-7, at San Luis Potosi, (iii) Rhonda Rajsich's win v. Veronica Sotomayor, 11-9, 4-11, 6-11, 12-10, 11-6 at US Open.

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