2015 IRF World Junior Girl's Quarterfinals

There were three tie-breakers in the quarterfinals of Girl's U18 at the 27th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and after it was all done the four remaining players represent four different countries.

We believe one of those countries - the Dominican Republic - has not had a girl in the U18 semi-finals ever before, but Maria Cespedes has made that breakthrough for the Dominican, as she defeated Melania Sauma of Costa Rica, 5-15, 15-7, 11-6, in the quarterfinals Thursday.

Her opponent in the semis will be American Lexi York, who defeated Canadian Danielle Drury, 12-15, 15-5, 11-7, on the strength of some great drive serving.

On the other side other draw, Monserrat Perez won a Mexican standoff with Maritza Franco Gonzalez, 15-5, 13-15, 11-7, and will play Bolivian Natalia Mendez in the semis, as Mendez defeated Sofia Soley, 15-2, 15-9.

Four different countries are also represented in the Girl's U16 semis. As anticipated Monserrat Mejia of Mexico, Jordan Cooperrider of the USA, and Ana Gabriela Martinez of Guatemala, all reached the semis, as did Wanda Carvajal of Bolivia.

It will be Mexico versus Bolivia in both Girl's U14 semi-finals, as Ana Laura Flores of Mexico faces Romina Rivero of Bolivia, and Angelica Barrios of Bolivia will take on Delia Aguilar of Mexico.

When one side wins game one by a big score, and other side wins game two by a big score, you have to expect that the tie-breaker will be close, and so it was in Girl's U18 Doubles quarterfinal match between Mexico and the USA. Surprisingly, the Mexican team hadn't won a match during the preliminary stage, but when it counted Mariel Morales and Montserrat Perez managed to come through and narrowly defeated Americans Lexi York and Holly Scott, 15-4, 4-15, 11-10.

The Mexicans will face Guatemalans Gabriela Martinez and Andrea Martinez in the semi-finals, they defeated Dominicans Merinanllely Delgado and Maria Cespedes, 15-11, 14-15, 11-4.

On the top side of the draw, Melania Sauma and Sofia Soley of Costa Rica beat Paula Padilla and Lissel Padilla of Honduras, 15-5, 15-7, and Bolivians Natalia Mendez and Wanda Carvajal defeated Canadians Danielle Drury and Michele Morissette, 15-6, 15-6.

Friday is semi-final day in Santo Domingo with the finals on Saturday. For a link to live streaming of some of the matches from Santo Domingo go to the IRF website.

27th IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Girl's U18 Singles - Quarterfinals

Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic) d. Melania Sauma (Costa Rica), 5-15, 15-7, 11-6
Lexi York (USA) d. Danielle Drury (Canada), 12-15, 15-5, 11-7

Monserrat Perez (Mexico) d. Maritza Franco Gonzalez (Mexico), 15-5, 13-15, 11-7
Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) d. Sofia Soley (Costa Rica), 15-2, 15-9

Girl's U18 Singles - Semi-finals

Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic) v. Lexi York (USA)
Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) v. Monserrat Perez (Mexico)

Girl's U16 Singles - Quarterfinals

Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. Paula Padilla (Honduras), 15-0, 15-5
Jordan Cooperrider (USA) d. Jennifer Gomez (Mexico), 15-11, 15-4

Wanda Carvajal (Bolivia) d. Alexis Iwaasa (Canada), 15-7, 15-8
Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. Erika Manilla (USA), 15-11, 15-9

Girl's U16 Singles - Semi-finals

Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) v. Jordan Cooperrider (USA)
Wanda Carvajal (Bolivia) v. Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala)

Girl's U14 Singles - Quarterfinals

Ana Laura Flores (Mexico) d. Rodaliza Perdomo (Dominican Republic), 15-8, 15-10
Romina Rivero (Bolivia) d. Briana Jacquet (USA), 15-11, 15-14

Delia Aguiar (Mexico) d. Mary Ellen Phelan (Ireland), 15-4, 15-5
Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) d. Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic), 15-3, 15-2

Girl's U14 Singles - Semi-finals

Ana Laura Flores (Mexico) v. Romina Rivero (Bolivia)
Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) v. Delia Aguiar (Mexico)

Girl's U18 Doubles - Quarterfinals

Melania Sauma & Sofia Soley (Costa Rica) d. Paula Padilla & Lissel Padilla (Honduras), 15-5, 15-7
Natalia Mendez & Wanda Carvajal (Bolivia) d. Danielle Drury & Michele Morissette (Canada), 15-6, 15-6

Gabriela Martinez & Andrea Martinez (Guatemala) d. Merinanllely Delgado & Maria Cespedes (Dominican Rep.), 15-11, 14-15, 11-4
Mariel Morales & Montserrat Perez (Mexico) d. Lexi York & Holly Scott (USA), 15-4, 4-15, 11-10

Girl's U18 Doubles - Semi-finals

Melania Sauma & Sofia Soley (Costa Rica) v. Natalia Mendez & Wanda Carvajal (Bolivia)
Gabriela Martinez & Andrea Martinez (Guatemala) v. Mariel Morales & Montserrat Perez (Mexico)

Girl's U16 Doubles - Round Robin (wins & losses)

Monserrat Mejia & Andrea Ramirez (Mexico) - 2 & 0
Jordan Cooperrider & Erika Manilla (USA) - 2 & 0
Angelica Barrios & Flavia Meneses (Bolivia) - 1 & 1
Maria Jose Munoz & Ivana Sempertegui (Ecuador) - 1 & 2
Alexis Iwaasa & Marjolaine Parent (Canada) - 0 & 4

Girl's U14 Doubles - Round Robin (wins & losses)

Alejandra Jimenez Castillo & Rodaliza Perdomo (Dominican Rep.) - 3 & 0
Ana Laura Flores & Ana Cristina Rivera (Mexico) - 3 & 0
Ana Lucia Sarmiento & Nathalia Pinero (Ecuador) - 2 & 1
Mary Ellen Phelan & Leanne Ryan (Ireland) - 1 & 2
Elena Dent & Graciana Wargo (USA) - 0 & 3
Juliette Parent & Cassie Prentice (Canada) - 0 & 3

Follow the bouncing ball....