Murray & Lambert win Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event

Samuel Murray and Frédérique Lambert won the Men's and Women's divisions, respectively, at the first Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event of the season in Brossard, Que. on Sunday. It's Lambert's fifth win in a selection event, but the first for Murray.

Murray won Men's Singles by defeating top seed Mike Green, 15-10, 15-13. It was Murray's first win against the veteran Green, and his first National Team Selection Event win. Murray's previous best was a runner up finish at the 2015 National Championships in May.

Green started strong, going out to a 5-0 lead in game one. But Murray came back and tied the game at 5-5 and 7-7. From there, Murray never trailed in the game, although it took eight rallies to get the last two points, the winner coming on a forehand pinch shot.

In game two, Murray took the early lead, going up 6-2. But Green caught him at 6-6 and 7-7. From there Murray scored four points on consecutive rallies, the last with a spectacular backhand pinch shot that made the score 11-7.

Green drew close at 12-10, but Murray got to match point at 14-10. However, the veteran wasn't giving in easily, and Green fought off five match points, scored three himself, including two aces, which made the score 14-13.

On match point number six, Murray was out of position on the right side, and Green tried to take advantage with a forehand overhead shot, but he put it into the floor, giving Murray the game, and his first selection event win.

The first game of the Women's Final was long. Lambert and Saunders went back and forth with Saunders holding a slight advantage or the score being tied. After 56 rallies, they were only at 8-8.

But from there, Lambert scored on seven straight rallies to win game one, 15-8. Saunders took a timeout at 11-8, but that only delayed the end.

Game two also took awhile, but Lambert went up early at 6-1, and Saunders never got closer than three after that, as Lambert pushed on to win 15-8.

The results of this tournament will be used - in part - to select Team Canada for the 2016 Pan American Championships in Temuco, Chile. Players are also working towards being selected to represent Canada at the 2016 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Cali, Colombia in July.

Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event
November 27-29, 2015 - Brossard, Quebec

Men's Final

Samuel Murray d. Mike Green, 15-10, 15-13

3rd place

Tim Landeryou d. Pedro Castro, 15-10, 15-6

5th place

Lee Connell d. James Landeryou, 15-12, 15-7

7th place

Nicolas Bousquet d. Tommy Murray, injury default

9th place

Nathaniel Husulak d. Kurtis Cullen, 15-10, 11-15, 11-4

Women's Final

Frédérique Lambert d. Jennifer Saunders, 15-8, 15-8

3rd Place

Christine Richardson d. Michèle Morissette, 15-10, 11-15, 11-8

5th Place

Valerie Fallu d. Alexis Iwaasa, 2-1

7th Place

Danielle Drury d. Jewel Sauvé, 15-7, 15-0

Follow the bouncing ball….