Sunday, November 29, 2015

Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event - Semi-finals

Familiar foes will meet in the Women's Final Sunday at the first Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event of the season in Brossard, Que., as Frédérique Lambert takes on Jennifer Saunders. Lambert defeated Saunders in May for her first Canadian Women's Singles Championship, and is the top seed in this event with Saunders 2nd seed.

Lambert advanced to the final with a win over Michèle Morissette, 15-5, 15-10, in one semi-final while Saunders defeated Christine Richardson, 15-3, 15-1, in the other semi.

In Men's Singles, top seed Mike Green needed a tie-breaker to get past Pedro Castro, 13-15, 15-7, 11-5, in the semis. Green took the early lead in game one against Castro, going up 5-0, but Castro came back and tied Green at 5-5 and again at 8-8.

Castro then went ahead 13-8, and it looked like he'd win game one easily. But no wins against the veteran Green come easily, as he came back to get within a point at 14-13 before Castro did get the last point.

In game two, Green again took an early lead at 7-1. Castro made it close at 7-5, but that was as close as he could get as Green went on to win 15-7 and force the tie-breaker.

In game three, Green put the writing on the wall early with a 7-1 lead. Castro fought until the end, but Green won my a comfortable margin at 11-5.

Samuel Murray will face Green in the final, as Murray beat Tim Landeryou, 15-7, 15-12, in the other semi-final. Murray - runner up in Men's Singles early this year at the Canadian Championships - started strong, as he took a 14-3 lead on Landeryou in game one, and won it comfortably 15-7.

In game two Murray again took the lead early at 7-3 and 10-4. But the veteran Landeryou dug in and came back to tie it at 10-10. Landeryou then went ahead 12-11, but he couldn't get past 12, as Murray responded helped by two Landeryou errors: one an aggressive attempt to end awkward rally that skipped that gave Murray his 13th point, and then a skipped backhand serve return giving Murray match point at 14-12. Murray finished the match on the next rally with a forehand pinch to the front right corner.

Notable in their absence from this event are Coby Iwaasa, who began a two mission as a member of the Church of Latter Day Saints, and Vincent Gagnon, who is taking the season off from competition for personal reasons.

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


Mike Green v. Samuel Murray

Semi-finals

Mike Green d. Pedro Castro, 13-15, 15-7, 11-5
Samuel Murray d. Tim Landeryou, 15-7, 15-12

Quarterfinals

Mike Green d. Nicolas Bousquet, 15-3, 15-5
Pedro Castro d. James Landeryou, 15-13, 15-6

Tim Landeryou d. Tommy Murray, 15-5, 17-15
Samuel Murray d. Lee Connell, 15-9, 15-1

Round of 16

Mike Green d. Patrick Jauvin, 15-3, 15-1
Nicolas Bousquet d. Kurtis Cullen, 12-15, 15-14, 11-5

Pedro Castro d. Michael Leduc, 15-5, 15-7
James Landeryou d. Francis Guillemette, 15-11, 15-11

Tim Landeryou d. Trevor Webb, 15-4, 15-8
Tommy Murray d. Nathaniel Husulak, 15-12, 15-10

Lee Connell d. Eric Desrochers, 15-3, 15-5
Samuel Murray d. Tanner Prentice, 15-2, 15-2

Women's Final

Frédérique Lambert v. Jennifer Saunders

Semi-finals

Frédérique Lambert d. Michèle Morissette, 15-5, 15-10
Jennifer Saunders d. Christine Richardson, 15-3, 15-1

Quarterfinals

Frédérique Lambert d. Jewel Sauvé, 15-1, 15-5
Michèle Morissette d. Valerie Fallu, 15-17, 15-5, 11-0

Christine Richardson d. Alexis Iwaasa, 5-15, 15-10, 11-6
Jennifer Saunders d. Danielle Drury, 15-5, 15-4

Follow the bouncing ball….

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