Adriana Riveros won Women’s Open at the Boston Open on the weekend. She got a walkover win against Kelani Bailey in the final. But in the semi-finals, Riveros defeated veteran left-hander Susana Acosta in two straight games, 15-2, 15-11, while Bailey won a tie-breaker against Carla Muñoz, 15-7, 14-15, 11-5.
Also notable from Boston is that Sebastian Franco won the Men’s Open division, beating Jose Flores in the final, 15-4, 15-7.
In Lombard, Illinois, Marco Rojas won the 2016 Fall Brawl - an International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Tier 3 event - by defeating Jansen Allen in the final. In the semi-finals, Rojas beat Juan Herrera, and Allen defeated Thomas Carter, 11-1, 11-9, 11-3.
This weekend will be a busy one, as all three pro tours have events. The IRT will be in Lilburn, Georgia for the Galaxy Custom Printing Pro-Am, the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) will be in Monterrey, Mexico for the Paola Longoria Invitational, and the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) will also be in action in with the Rocky Mountain Open in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Yes, this weekend will be busy, busy, busy!
2016 Boston Open, October 28-30, 2016
Boston, Massachusetts
Women’s Open Final
Adriana Riveros d. Kelani Bailey, forfeit
Women’s Open Semi-Finals
Kelani Bailey d. Carla Muñoz, 15-7, 14-15, 11-5
Adriana Riveros d. Susana Acosta, 15-2, 15-11
2016 Fall Brawl - IRT Tier 3, October 27-30, 2016
Lombard, Illinois
IRT Singles Final
Marco Rojas d. Jansen Allen
IRT Singles Semi-Finals
Jansen Allen d. Thomas Carter, 11-1, 11-9, 11-3
Marco Rojas d. Juan Herrera
Follow the bouncing ball….
Monday, October 31, 2016
Montoya wins singles & doubles at WRT 2016 Pleasanton Open
Rodrigo Montoya came into the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) Pleasanton Open in Pleasanton, California, as the #11 seed. He leaves as the tournament champion, as he defeated WRT #1 Alejandro Cardona, 6-15, 15-5, 11-1, the final Sunday.
Montoya, the current World Junior Boy’s U18 Champion, added to the doubles title to the singles title, and did so in the same fashion, as he and Andree Parrilla lost the first game against Jaime Martell and Jose Daniel Ugalde, but came back to win in three games, and it wasn’t close in the breaker, as Montoya and Parrilla blanked Martell and Ugalde in game three, winning the match 10-15, 15-11, 11-0.
The next WRT event is the Rocky Mountain Open in Salt Lake City, Utah, November 2-5, 2016.
2016 WRT Pleasanton Open
Pleasanton, California
Final
11) Rodrigo Montoya d. 1) Alejandro Cardona, 6-15, 15-5, 11-1
Doubles - Final
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla d. 2) Jaime Martell & Jose Daniel Ugalde, 10-15, 15-11, 11-0
Follow the bouncing ball….
Montoya, the current World Junior Boy’s U18 Champion, added to the doubles title to the singles title, and did so in the same fashion, as he and Andree Parrilla lost the first game against Jaime Martell and Jose Daniel Ugalde, but came back to win in three games, and it wasn’t close in the breaker, as Montoya and Parrilla blanked Martell and Ugalde in game three, winning the match 10-15, 15-11, 11-0.
The next WRT event is the Rocky Mountain Open in Salt Lake City, Utah, November 2-5, 2016.
2016 WRT Pleasanton Open
Pleasanton, California
Final
11) Rodrigo Montoya d. 1) Alejandro Cardona, 6-15, 15-5, 11-1
Doubles - Final
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla d. 2) Jaime Martell & Jose Daniel Ugalde, 10-15, 15-11, 11-0
Follow the bouncing ball….
Sunday, October 30, 2016
Longoria wins singles & doubles at 2016 LPRT Boston Open
Paola Longoria once again showed why she is the #1 player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) as she won both singles and doubles Sunday at the LPRT Boston Open. Longoria defeated LPRT #2 Frédérique Lambert in the singles final, 11-3, 11-3, 11-4, and then teamed up with Rhonda Rajsich to beat Lambert and Jessica Parrilla in the doubles final, 15-2, 15-12.
It seemed all too easy for Longoria.
Longoria started the match well, as she took a 8-0 lead in game one, winning that game 11-3. Game two was closer early, as Lambert was able to tie Longoria at 3-3. But Longoria then ran off eight points that Lambert didn’t have any answers for, and took a 2-0 lead.
Game three saw Lambert get her first lead of the match, as she was up 2-0 and 3-1. However, six Longoria points turned the tables, and made it 7-3. There was no come back from that, as Longoria won the match in three straight games.
In the doubles final, Lambert and Parrilla tried to keep balls away from Longoria, but that strategy didn’t work, as Rajsich played well getting her side a one game lead after winning the first game 15-2. It looked like it would be more of the same in game two, as Longoria and Rajsich went up 7-2. However, Lambert and Parrilla made a comeback, set up by a series of Lambert Z serves to Rajsich’s backhand; Rajsich was playing the left side.
This strategy got Lambert and Parrilla a lead at 11-7, and it looked like a tie-breaker was a possibility. At that point Parrilla also served to Rajsich after serving to Longoria previously in the match. But her Z serve wasn’t as effective as Lambert’s, so a sideout happened immediately.
Cue the comeback. Rajsich and Longoria scored five points to take the lead at 12-11. A sideout gave Lambert and Parrilla an opportunity to regain the lead, but Lambert got hit by the ball during a rally, and then a winning return by Rajsich of another Parrilla Z serve put the end to that.
Two Parrilla winners got her side the serve back, and she hit a service winner against Rajsich that tied the game at 12-12. But Parrilla skipped a shot on the next rally, giving the serve back to Rajisch and Longoria.
They didn’t give it up, as two winners by Rajsich and one by Longoria got them the final three points that ended the game, 15-12, and the match in two straight games.
If you missed any of the action, you can watch it again via the LPRT LiveStream channel. The next LPRT event is the 2016 Paola Longoria Invitational in Monterrey, Mexico next weekend November 4-6, 2016.
2016 LPRT Boston Open, October 28-30, 2016
Boston, Massachusetts
Final - Singles
1) Paola Longoria d. 2) Frédérique Lambert, 11-3, 11-3, 11-4
Final - Doubles
1) Paola Longoria & Rhonda Rajsich d. 2) Frédérique Lambert & Jessica Parrilla, 15-2, 15-12
Follow the bouncing ball….
It seemed all too easy for Longoria.
Longoria started the match well, as she took a 8-0 lead in game one, winning that game 11-3. Game two was closer early, as Lambert was able to tie Longoria at 3-3. But Longoria then ran off eight points that Lambert didn’t have any answers for, and took a 2-0 lead.
Game three saw Lambert get her first lead of the match, as she was up 2-0 and 3-1. However, six Longoria points turned the tables, and made it 7-3. There was no come back from that, as Longoria won the match in three straight games.
In the doubles final, Lambert and Parrilla tried to keep balls away from Longoria, but that strategy didn’t work, as Rajsich played well getting her side a one game lead after winning the first game 15-2. It looked like it would be more of the same in game two, as Longoria and Rajsich went up 7-2. However, Lambert and Parrilla made a comeback, set up by a series of Lambert Z serves to Rajsich’s backhand; Rajsich was playing the left side.
This strategy got Lambert and Parrilla a lead at 11-7, and it looked like a tie-breaker was a possibility. At that point Parrilla also served to Rajsich after serving to Longoria previously in the match. But her Z serve wasn’t as effective as Lambert’s, so a sideout happened immediately.
Cue the comeback. Rajsich and Longoria scored five points to take the lead at 12-11. A sideout gave Lambert and Parrilla an opportunity to regain the lead, but Lambert got hit by the ball during a rally, and then a winning return by Rajsich of another Parrilla Z serve put the end to that.
Two Parrilla winners got her side the serve back, and she hit a service winner against Rajsich that tied the game at 12-12. But Parrilla skipped a shot on the next rally, giving the serve back to Rajisch and Longoria.
They didn’t give it up, as two winners by Rajsich and one by Longoria got them the final three points that ended the game, 15-12, and the match in two straight games.
If you missed any of the action, you can watch it again via the LPRT LiveStream channel. The next LPRT event is the 2016 Paola Longoria Invitational in Monterrey, Mexico next weekend November 4-6, 2016.
2016 LPRT Boston Open, October 28-30, 2016
Boston, Massachusetts
Final - Singles
1) Paola Longoria d. 2) Frédérique Lambert, 11-3, 11-3, 11-4
Final - Doubles
1) Paola Longoria & Rhonda Rajsich d. 2) Frédérique Lambert & Jessica Parrilla, 15-2, 15-12
Follow the bouncing ball….
Saturday, October 29, 2016
Cardona & Montoya in final of WRT Pleasanton Open
Not often does a #11 seed make a final in pro racquetball, but that’s happened at the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) Pleasanton Open in Pleasanton, California, as Rodrigo Montoya, who was seeded 11th, won his quarterfinal and semi-final matches Saturday to get in his first WRT final. Montoya will face WRT #1 Alejandro Cardona in that final.
Montoya’s path to the final went through 3rd seed Jaime Martell, who Montoya defeated in three games, 15-11, 10-15, 11-7, in what was a rematch of their Round of 16 match at the US Open earlier this month when they played over well over two hours. Then in the semi-finals Montoya defeated Jose Diaz, 15-6, 15-8, two games that surprisingly were not close. But Montoya served very well against Diaz, which was a big difference between them.
Cardona got to the final more simply, as he beat Luis Avila in the quarters, 15-2, 15-3, and David Horn in the semis, 15-7, 15-14. Cardona did need to come back from down 14-11 in game two, so there was some stress in his journey.
Montoya will have a chance to be a double winner Sunday, as he and Andree Parrilla are in the doubles final after defeating Erik Garcia and Horn, 15-8, 15-8. They’ll face Jaime Martell and Jose Daniel Ugalde, who beat Cardona and Freddy Flores, 15-5, 15-14 in the other semi.
The final will be Sunday at noon PDT with the doubles final to follow immediately afterwards. You can watch both finals live on Sunday via the WRT website.
2016 WRT Pleasanton Open
Pleasanton, California
Quarterfinals
1) Alejandro Cardona d. 9) Luis Avila, 15-2, 15-3
4) David Horn d. 5) Nicolai Miramontes, 15-5, 15-8
11) Rodrigo Montoya d. 3) Jaime Martell, 15-11, 10-15, 11-7
15) Jose Diaz d. 10) Gerardo Franco, 15-12, 15-5
Semi-finals
1) Alejandro Cardona d. 4) David Horn, 15-6, 15-14
11) Rodrigo Montoya d. 15) Jose Diaz, 15-8, 15-6
Final
1) Alejandro Cardona v. 11) Rodrigo Montoya
Doubles - Semi-finals
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla d. 4) Erik Garcia & David Horn, 15-8, 15-8
2) Jaime Martell & Jose Daniel Ugalde d. 3) Alejandro Cardona & Freddy Flores, 15-5, 15-14
Doubles - Final
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla v. 2) Jaime Martell & Jose Daniel Ugalde
Follow the bouncing ball….
Montoya’s path to the final went through 3rd seed Jaime Martell, who Montoya defeated in three games, 15-11, 10-15, 11-7, in what was a rematch of their Round of 16 match at the US Open earlier this month when they played over well over two hours. Then in the semi-finals Montoya defeated Jose Diaz, 15-6, 15-8, two games that surprisingly were not close. But Montoya served very well against Diaz, which was a big difference between them.
Cardona got to the final more simply, as he beat Luis Avila in the quarters, 15-2, 15-3, and David Horn in the semis, 15-7, 15-14. Cardona did need to come back from down 14-11 in game two, so there was some stress in his journey.
Montoya will have a chance to be a double winner Sunday, as he and Andree Parrilla are in the doubles final after defeating Erik Garcia and Horn, 15-8, 15-8. They’ll face Jaime Martell and Jose Daniel Ugalde, who beat Cardona and Freddy Flores, 15-5, 15-14 in the other semi.
The final will be Sunday at noon PDT with the doubles final to follow immediately afterwards. You can watch both finals live on Sunday via the WRT website.
2016 WRT Pleasanton Open
Pleasanton, California
Quarterfinals
1) Alejandro Cardona d. 9) Luis Avila, 15-2, 15-3
4) David Horn d. 5) Nicolai Miramontes, 15-5, 15-8
11) Rodrigo Montoya d. 3) Jaime Martell, 15-11, 10-15, 11-7
15) Jose Diaz d. 10) Gerardo Franco, 15-12, 15-5
Semi-finals
1) Alejandro Cardona d. 4) David Horn, 15-6, 15-14
11) Rodrigo Montoya d. 15) Jose Diaz, 15-8, 15-6
Final
1) Alejandro Cardona v. 11) Rodrigo Montoya
Doubles - Semi-finals
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla d. 4) Erik Garcia & David Horn, 15-8, 15-8
2) Jaime Martell & Jose Daniel Ugalde d. 3) Alejandro Cardona & Freddy Flores, 15-5, 15-14
Doubles - Final
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla v. 2) Jaime Martell & Jose Daniel Ugalde
Follow the bouncing ball….
2016 LPRT Boston Open Semi-finals
For the third time in five starts this Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) season #1 will play #2, as Paola Longoria and Frédérique Lambert will face off in the final of the Boston Open. Longoria and Lambert had similar routes to the final, as they both dropped a game of their semi-final matches, but each won in four games.
Longoria defeated 4th seed Jessica Parrilla, 11-2, 10-12, 11-4, 11-5, while Lambert lost the first game against 6th seed Cristina Amaya, but then cruised afterwards, winning 10-12, 11-1, 11-1, 11-2.
They will also face off in the doubles final, as in the doubles semis Longoria and Rhonda Rajsich defeated Amaya and Adriana Riveros, 15-13, 15-14, and Lambert and Parrilla beat Alexandra Herrera and Carla Muñoz, 15-12, 15-10.
You can watch the singles final live via the LPRT LiveStream channel on Sunday morning at 11 AM with the doubles final to follow immediately afterwards.
2016 LPRT Boston Open, October 28-30, 2016
Boston, Massachusetts
Semi-finals - Singles
1) Paola Longoria d. 4) Jessica Parrilla, 11-2, 10-12, 11-4, 11-5
2) Frédérique Lambert d. 6) Cristina Amaya, 10-12, 11-1, 11-1, 11-2
Semi-finals - Singles
1) Paola Longoria v. 2) Frédérique Lambert - 11 AM
Semi-finals - Doubles
1) Paola Longoria & Rhonda Rajsich d. 5) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros, 15-13, 15-14
2) Frédérique Lambert & Jessica Parrilla d. 3) Alexandra Herrera & Carla Muñoz, 15-12, 15-10
Final - Doubles
1) Paola Longoria & Rhonda Rajsich v. 2) Frédérique Lambert & Jessica Parrilla - Noon
Follow the bouncing ball….
Longoria defeated 4th seed Jessica Parrilla, 11-2, 10-12, 11-4, 11-5, while Lambert lost the first game against 6th seed Cristina Amaya, but then cruised afterwards, winning 10-12, 11-1, 11-1, 11-2.
They will also face off in the doubles final, as in the doubles semis Longoria and Rhonda Rajsich defeated Amaya and Adriana Riveros, 15-13, 15-14, and Lambert and Parrilla beat Alexandra Herrera and Carla Muñoz, 15-12, 15-10.
You can watch the singles final live via the LPRT LiveStream channel on Sunday morning at 11 AM with the doubles final to follow immediately afterwards.
2016 LPRT Boston Open, October 28-30, 2016
Boston, Massachusetts
Semi-finals - Singles
1) Paola Longoria d. 4) Jessica Parrilla, 11-2, 10-12, 11-4, 11-5
2) Frédérique Lambert d. 6) Cristina Amaya, 10-12, 11-1, 11-1, 11-2
Semi-finals - Singles
1) Paola Longoria v. 2) Frédérique Lambert - 11 AM
Semi-finals - Doubles
1) Paola Longoria & Rhonda Rajsich d. 5) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros, 15-13, 15-14
2) Frédérique Lambert & Jessica Parrilla d. 3) Alexandra Herrera & Carla Muñoz, 15-12, 15-10
Final - Doubles
1) Paola Longoria & Rhonda Rajsich v. 2) Frédérique Lambert & Jessica Parrilla - Noon
Follow the bouncing ball….
2016 LPRT Boston Open - Quarterfinals
None of the quarterfinal matches at the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Boston Open were straight game victories, as three were four games and one went to a fifth game tie-breaker. In that match, 4th seed Jessica Parrilla came back from a game down to defeat 5th seed Alexandra Herrera, 6-11, 11-9, 11-2, 8-11, 11-2.
Sixth seed Cristina Amaya had the upset of the round, as she defeated 3rd seed Rhonda Rajsich, 11-2, 11-8, 11-13, 11-7. Rajsich, a former #1 player, has yet to reach a semi-final this season, as this was her fifth quarterfinal loss in as many events.
LPRT #1 Paola Longoria defeated 9th seed Adriana Riveros, 12-10, 11-1, 10-12, 11-3, and 2nd seed Frédérique Lambert beat veteran left-hander Susana Acosta, 11-5, 11-9, 13-11, 11-5. In the semi-finals, Longoria will play Parrilla and Lambert faces Amaya.
You can watch the singles semi-finals live via the LPRT LiveStream channel Saturday afternoon at 4 and 5 PM Eastern with the doubles semis at 6 and 7 PM. The singles final will be 11 AM Eastern on Sunday with the doubles final to follow.
2016 LPRT Boston Open, October 28-30, 2016
Boston, Massachusetts
Quarterfinals - Singles
1) Paola Longoria d. 9) Adriana Riveros, 12-10, 11-1, 10-12, 11-3
4) Jessica Parrilla d. 5) Alexandra Herrera, 6-11, 11-9, 11-2, 8-11, 11-2
6) Cristina Amaya d. 3) Rhonda Rajsich, 11-2, 11-8, 11-13, 11-7
2) Frédérique Lambert d. 7) Susana Acosta, 11-5, 11-9, 13-11, 11-5
Semi-finals - Singles
1) Paola Longoria v. 4) Jessica Parrilla - 5 PM
2) Frédérique Lambert v. 6) Cristina Amaya - 4 PM
Semi-finals - Doubles
1) Paola Longoria & Rhonda Rajsich v. 5) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros - 7 PM
2) Frédérique Lambert & Jessica Parrilla v. 3) Alexandra Herrera & Carla Muñoz - 6 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Sixth seed Cristina Amaya had the upset of the round, as she defeated 3rd seed Rhonda Rajsich, 11-2, 11-8, 11-13, 11-7. Rajsich, a former #1 player, has yet to reach a semi-final this season, as this was her fifth quarterfinal loss in as many events.
LPRT #1 Paola Longoria defeated 9th seed Adriana Riveros, 12-10, 11-1, 10-12, 11-3, and 2nd seed Frédérique Lambert beat veteran left-hander Susana Acosta, 11-5, 11-9, 13-11, 11-5. In the semi-finals, Longoria will play Parrilla and Lambert faces Amaya.
You can watch the singles semi-finals live via the LPRT LiveStream channel Saturday afternoon at 4 and 5 PM Eastern with the doubles semis at 6 and 7 PM. The singles final will be 11 AM Eastern on Sunday with the doubles final to follow.
2016 LPRT Boston Open, October 28-30, 2016
Boston, Massachusetts
Quarterfinals - Singles
1) Paola Longoria d. 9) Adriana Riveros, 12-10, 11-1, 10-12, 11-3
4) Jessica Parrilla d. 5) Alexandra Herrera, 6-11, 11-9, 11-2, 8-11, 11-2
6) Cristina Amaya d. 3) Rhonda Rajsich, 11-2, 11-8, 11-13, 11-7
2) Frédérique Lambert d. 7) Susana Acosta, 11-5, 11-9, 13-11, 11-5
Semi-finals - Singles
1) Paola Longoria v. 4) Jessica Parrilla - 5 PM
2) Frédérique Lambert v. 6) Cristina Amaya - 4 PM
Semi-finals - Doubles
1) Paola Longoria & Rhonda Rajsich v. 5) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros - 7 PM
2) Frédérique Lambert & Jessica Parrilla v. 3) Alexandra Herrera & Carla Muñoz - 6 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Friday, October 28, 2016
WRT 2106 Pleasanton Open - Round of 16
Rodrigo Montoya defeated Christian Longoria, 6-15, 15-5, 11-6, in the Round of 16 at the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) Pleasanton Open in Pleasanton, California. The win sets up a rematch of Montoya and Jaime Martell, who is seeded 3rd in Pleasanton, as they faced off in the US Open earlier this month with Montoya coming out on top in five long games. Martell defeated Jose Daniel Ugalde, 15-2, 15-9, in the 16s.
Also, in the bottom bracket of the draw it will be 10 versus 15, as 10th seed Gerardo Franco was an upset winner over 7th seed Felipe Muñoz, 15-11, 15-5, and 15th seed Jose Diaz defeated 2nd seed Andree Parrilla, 15-11, 15-11.
The Round of 16 goes Friday evening. The quarterfinals and semi-finals are on Saturday and the final on Sunday at noon PDT. You should be able to watch the action live on Saturday and Sunday via the WRT website.
2016 WRT Pleasanton Open
Pleasanton, California
Round of 16
1) Alejandro Cardona d. 17) Israel Torres, 15-5, 15-5
9) Luis Avila d. 8) Francisco Troncoso, 15-8, 15-11
5) Nicolai Miramontes d. 12) Mauro Rojas, 15-13, 10-15, 11-5
4) David Horn d. 20) Victor Camacho, 15-1, 15-8
3) Jaime Martell d. 14) Jose Daniel Ugalde, 15-2, 15-9
11) Rodrigo Montoya d. 6) Christian Longoria, 6-15, 15-5, 11-6
10) Gerardo Franco d. 7) Felipe Muñoz, 15-11, 15-5
15) Jose Diaz d. 2) Andree Parrilla, 15-11, 15-11
Quarterfinals
1) Alejandro Cardona v. 9) Luis Avila
4) David Horn v. 5) Nicolai Miramontes
3) Jaime Martell v. 11) Rodrigo Montoya
10) Gerardo Franco v. 15) Jose Diaz
Doubles - Quarterfinals
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla d. 8) Wayne Antone IV & Mauro Rojas, 15-9, 11-15, 11-3
4) Erik Garcia & David Horn d. 12) Ninja Nomura & Ken Stone, 11-15, 15-6, 11-4
3) Alejandro Cardona & Freddy Flores d. 6) Gerardo Franco & Christian Longoria, 14-15, 15-10, 11-6
2) Jaime Martell & Jose Daniel Ugalde d. 10) Jose Diaz & Harold Jagoda, 15-12, 15-10
Doubles - Semi-finals
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla v. 4) Erik Garcia & David Horn
2) Jaime Martell & Jose Daniel Ugalde v. 3) Alejandro Cardona & Freddy Flores
Follow the bouncing ball….
Also, in the bottom bracket of the draw it will be 10 versus 15, as 10th seed Gerardo Franco was an upset winner over 7th seed Felipe Muñoz, 15-11, 15-5, and 15th seed Jose Diaz defeated 2nd seed Andree Parrilla, 15-11, 15-11.
The Round of 16 goes Friday evening. The quarterfinals and semi-finals are on Saturday and the final on Sunday at noon PDT. You should be able to watch the action live on Saturday and Sunday via the WRT website.
2016 WRT Pleasanton Open
Pleasanton, California
Round of 16
1) Alejandro Cardona d. 17) Israel Torres, 15-5, 15-5
9) Luis Avila d. 8) Francisco Troncoso, 15-8, 15-11
5) Nicolai Miramontes d. 12) Mauro Rojas, 15-13, 10-15, 11-5
4) David Horn d. 20) Victor Camacho, 15-1, 15-8
3) Jaime Martell d. 14) Jose Daniel Ugalde, 15-2, 15-9
11) Rodrigo Montoya d. 6) Christian Longoria, 6-15, 15-5, 11-6
10) Gerardo Franco d. 7) Felipe Muñoz, 15-11, 15-5
15) Jose Diaz d. 2) Andree Parrilla, 15-11, 15-11
Quarterfinals
1) Alejandro Cardona v. 9) Luis Avila
4) David Horn v. 5) Nicolai Miramontes
3) Jaime Martell v. 11) Rodrigo Montoya
10) Gerardo Franco v. 15) Jose Diaz
Doubles - Quarterfinals
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla d. 8) Wayne Antone IV & Mauro Rojas, 15-9, 11-15, 11-3
4) Erik Garcia & David Horn d. 12) Ninja Nomura & Ken Stone, 11-15, 15-6, 11-4
3) Alejandro Cardona & Freddy Flores d. 6) Gerardo Franco & Christian Longoria, 14-15, 15-10, 11-6
2) Jaime Martell & Jose Daniel Ugalde d. 10) Jose Diaz & Harold Jagoda, 15-12, 15-10
Doubles - Semi-finals
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla v. 4) Erik Garcia & David Horn
2) Jaime Martell & Jose Daniel Ugalde v. 3) Alejandro Cardona & Freddy Flores
Follow the bouncing ball….
WRT 2016 Pleasanton Open - Round of 32
The Round of 32 at the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) Pleasanton Open in Pleasanton, California didn’t yield any real surprises. The closest matches were between 12th seed Mauro Rojas and 21st seed Erik Garcia, with Rojas winning 15-11, 4-15, 11-7. Victor Camacho also won in a tie-breaker, as the 20th seed upset 13th seed Alexi David Cocco Hayes, 15-5, 9-15, 11-4.
As expected, Jose Diaz advanced to the Round of 16 with a win over Jon Sevier, 15-1, 15-6. In the 16s, Diaz will play 2nd seed Andree Parrilla, who advanced with a win over 31st seed Ricardo Vallejo, 15-4, 15-4.
The Round of 16 goes Friday evening. The quarterfinals and semi-finals are on Saturday and the final on Sunday at noon PDT. You should be able to watch the action live on Saturday and Sunday via the WRT website.
2016 WRT Pleasanton Open
Pleasanton, California
Round of 32
1) Alejandro Cardona d. 32) Antonio Rojas, 15-3, 15-3
17) Israel Torres d. 16) Freddy Flores, 15-13, 15-3
9) Luis Avila d. 24) Kelly Clemmensen, forfeit
8) Francisco Troncoso d. 25) Ramiro Hernandez, 15-1, 15-4
5) Nicolai Miramontes d. 28) John Churchwell, 15-12, 15-10
12) Mauro Rojas d. 21) Erik Garcia, 15-11, 4-15, 11-7
20) Victor Camacho d. 13) Alexi David Cocco Hayes, 15-5, 9-15, 11-4
4) David Horn d. 29) Leonardo Garcia, 15-1, 15-1
3) Jaime Martell d. 30) Walker Plath, 15-3, 15-1
14) Jose Daniel Ugalde d. 19) Ricardo Diaz, 15-7, 15-7
11) Rodrigo Montoya d. 22) Wayne Antone IV, 15-5, 15-11
6) Christian Longoria d. 27) Mitchell Turner, 15-3, 15-0
7) Felipe Muñoz d. 26) Chris Lawson, 15-8, 15-11
10) Gerardo Franco d. 23) Jeff Stark, 15-13, 15-14
15) Jose Diaz d. 18) Jon Sevier, 15-1, 15-6
2) Andree Parrilla d. 31) Ricardo Vallejo, 15-4, 15-4
Round of 16
1) Alejandro Cardona v. 17) Israel Torres
8) Francisco Troncoso v. 9) Luis Avila
5) Nicolai Miramontes v. 12) Mauro Rojas
4) David Horn v. 20) Victor Camacho
3) Jaime Martell d. 14) Jose Daniel Ugalde, 15-2, 15-9
6) Christian Longoria v. 11) Rodrigo Montoya
7) Felipe Muñoz v. 10) Gerardo Franco
2) Andree Parrilla v. 15) Jose Diaz
Doubles - Round of 16
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla - BYE
8) Wayne Antone IV & Mauro Rojas d. 9) Jon Sevier & Israel Torres, 15-6, 7-15, 11-1
12) Ninja Nomura & Ken Stone d. 5) Luis Avila & Nicolai Miramontes, forfeit
4) Erik Garcia & David Horn d. 13) John Churchwell & Jeff Stark, 15-8, 15-13
3) Alejandro Cardona & Freddy Flores d. 14) Nick Irvine & Jimmy Oliver, 15-3, 15-5
6) Gerardo Franco & Christian Longoria d. 11) Ricardo Diaz & Walker Plath, 15-10, 15-7
10) Jose Diaz & Harold Jagoda d. 7) Felipe Muñoz & Victor Camacho, 9-15, 15-11, 11-7
2) Jaime Martell & Jose Daniel Ugalde d. 15) Antonio Rojas & Sahil Thakur, 15-3, 15-8
Doubles - Quarterfinals
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla v. 8) Wayne Antone IV & Mauro Rojas
4) Erik Garcia & David Horn v. 12) Ninja Nomura & Ken Stone
3) Alejandro Cardona & Freddy Flores v. 6) Gerardo Franco & Christian Longoria
2) Jaime Martell & Jose Daniel Ugalde v. 10) Jose Diaz & Harold Jagoda
Follow the bouncing ball….
As expected, Jose Diaz advanced to the Round of 16 with a win over Jon Sevier, 15-1, 15-6. In the 16s, Diaz will play 2nd seed Andree Parrilla, who advanced with a win over 31st seed Ricardo Vallejo, 15-4, 15-4.
The Round of 16 goes Friday evening. The quarterfinals and semi-finals are on Saturday and the final on Sunday at noon PDT. You should be able to watch the action live on Saturday and Sunday via the WRT website.
2016 WRT Pleasanton Open
Pleasanton, California
Round of 32
1) Alejandro Cardona d. 32) Antonio Rojas, 15-3, 15-3
17) Israel Torres d. 16) Freddy Flores, 15-13, 15-3
9) Luis Avila d. 24) Kelly Clemmensen, forfeit
8) Francisco Troncoso d. 25) Ramiro Hernandez, 15-1, 15-4
5) Nicolai Miramontes d. 28) John Churchwell, 15-12, 15-10
12) Mauro Rojas d. 21) Erik Garcia, 15-11, 4-15, 11-7
20) Victor Camacho d. 13) Alexi David Cocco Hayes, 15-5, 9-15, 11-4
4) David Horn d. 29) Leonardo Garcia, 15-1, 15-1
3) Jaime Martell d. 30) Walker Plath, 15-3, 15-1
14) Jose Daniel Ugalde d. 19) Ricardo Diaz, 15-7, 15-7
11) Rodrigo Montoya d. 22) Wayne Antone IV, 15-5, 15-11
6) Christian Longoria d. 27) Mitchell Turner, 15-3, 15-0
7) Felipe Muñoz d. 26) Chris Lawson, 15-8, 15-11
10) Gerardo Franco d. 23) Jeff Stark, 15-13, 15-14
15) Jose Diaz d. 18) Jon Sevier, 15-1, 15-6
2) Andree Parrilla d. 31) Ricardo Vallejo, 15-4, 15-4
Round of 16
1) Alejandro Cardona v. 17) Israel Torres
8) Francisco Troncoso v. 9) Luis Avila
5) Nicolai Miramontes v. 12) Mauro Rojas
4) David Horn v. 20) Victor Camacho
3) Jaime Martell d. 14) Jose Daniel Ugalde, 15-2, 15-9
6) Christian Longoria v. 11) Rodrigo Montoya
7) Felipe Muñoz v. 10) Gerardo Franco
2) Andree Parrilla v. 15) Jose Diaz
Doubles - Round of 16
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla - BYE
8) Wayne Antone IV & Mauro Rojas d. 9) Jon Sevier & Israel Torres, 15-6, 7-15, 11-1
12) Ninja Nomura & Ken Stone d. 5) Luis Avila & Nicolai Miramontes, forfeit
4) Erik Garcia & David Horn d. 13) John Churchwell & Jeff Stark, 15-8, 15-13
3) Alejandro Cardona & Freddy Flores d. 14) Nick Irvine & Jimmy Oliver, 15-3, 15-5
6) Gerardo Franco & Christian Longoria d. 11) Ricardo Diaz & Walker Plath, 15-10, 15-7
10) Jose Diaz & Harold Jagoda d. 7) Felipe Muñoz & Victor Camacho, 9-15, 15-11, 11-7
2) Jaime Martell & Jose Daniel Ugalde d. 15) Antonio Rojas & Sahil Thakur, 15-3, 15-8
Doubles - Quarterfinals
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla v. 8) Wayne Antone IV & Mauro Rojas
4) Erik Garcia & David Horn v. 12) Ninja Nomura & Ken Stone
3) Alejandro Cardona & Freddy Flores v. 6) Gerardo Franco & Christian Longoria
2) Jaime Martell & Jose Daniel Ugalde v. 10) Jose Diaz & Harold Jagoda
Follow the bouncing ball….
2016 LPRT Boston Open - Round of 16
The early results at the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Boston Open have gone to form, as all the higher seeds have won their respective matches, including a straight game victory by LPRT #1 Paola Longoria over Kelani Bailey, 11-1, 11-5, 11-7. Second seed Frédérique Lambert also won in straight games, defeating Samantha Simmons, 11-5, 11-5, 11-7.
But the last match was an upset, as 9th seed Adriana Riveros defeated 8th seed Carla Muñoz, 5-11, 11-1, 11-5, 11-8. Also, there were two matches that went the full five games. Fourth seed Jessica Parrilla needed to come back from one game deficits twice to defeat 13th seed Da’Monique Davis, 10-12, 11-1, 8-11, 11-3, 11-2. Sixth seed Cristina Amaya also dropped the first game of her match with 11th seed Monserrat Mejia, but she was able to right the ship, and win in five games, 10-12, 11-7, 12-10, 4-11, 11-3.
You can watch this weekend’s action live via the LPRT LiveStream channel. The Round of 16 begins at 3 PM on Friday, with the quarterfinals on Saturday at 10 and 11 AM and the semi-finals at 4 and 5 PM. The singles final will be 11 AM Sunday with the doubles final to follow. All times eastern.
2016 LPRT Boston Open, October 28-30, 2016
Boston, Massachusetts
Round of 32 - Singles
1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Kelani Bailey d. 17) Sandy Hallett, 11-0, 11-1, 11-0
9) Adriana Riveros - BYE
8) Carla Muñoz - BYE
5) Alexandra Herrera - BYE
12) Gabriela Martinez - BYE
13) Da’Monique Davis - BYE
4) Jessica Parrilla - BYE
3) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
14) Cheryl Gudinas - BYE
11) Monserrat Mejia - BYE
6) Cristina Amaya - BYE
7) Susana Acosta - BYE
10) Adrienne Haynes - BYE
15) Samantha Simmons - BYE
2) Frédérique Lambert - BYE
Round of 16 - Singles
1) Paola Longoria d. 16) Kelani Bailey, 11-1, 11-5, 11-7
9) Adriana Riveros d. 8) Carla Muñoz, 5-11, 11-1, 11-5, 11-8
5) Alexandra Herrera d. 12) Gabriela Martinez, 11-3, 7-11, 11-1, 11-9
4) Jessica Parrilla d. 13) Da’Monique Davis, 10-12, 11-1, 8-11, 11-3, 11-2
3) Rhonda Rajsich d. 14) Cheryl Gudinas, 11-5, 11-4, 11-4
6) Cristina Amaya d. 11) Monserrat Mejia, 10-12, 11-7, 12-10, 4-11, 11-3
7) Susana Acosta d. 10) Adrienne Haynes, 11-6, 12-10, 11-9
2) Frédérique Lambert d. 15) Samantha Simmons, 11-5, 11-5, 11-7
Quarterfinals - Singles
1) Paola Longoria v. 9) Adriana Riveros
4) Jessica Parrilla v. 5) Alexandra Herrera
3) Rhonda Rajsich v. 6) Cristina Amaya
2) Frédérique Lambert v. 7) Susana Acosta
Quarterfinals - Doubles
1) Paola Longoria & Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
5) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros d. 4) Gabriela Martinez & Monserrat Mejia, 15-9, 15-8
3) Alexandra Herrera & Carla Muñoz d. 6) Susana Acosta & Da’Monique Davis, 15-13, 15-5
2) Frédérique Lambert & Jessica Parrilla d. 7) Kelani Bailey & Adrienne Haynes, 15-12, 15-7
Semi-finals - Doubles
1) Paola Longoria & Rhonda Rajsich v. 5) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros
2) Frédérique Lambert & Jessica Parrilla v. 3) Alexandra Herrera & Carla Muñoz
Follow the bouncing ball….
But the last match was an upset, as 9th seed Adriana Riveros defeated 8th seed Carla Muñoz, 5-11, 11-1, 11-5, 11-8. Also, there were two matches that went the full five games. Fourth seed Jessica Parrilla needed to come back from one game deficits twice to defeat 13th seed Da’Monique Davis, 10-12, 11-1, 8-11, 11-3, 11-2. Sixth seed Cristina Amaya also dropped the first game of her match with 11th seed Monserrat Mejia, but she was able to right the ship, and win in five games, 10-12, 11-7, 12-10, 4-11, 11-3.
You can watch this weekend’s action live via the LPRT LiveStream channel. The Round of 16 begins at 3 PM on Friday, with the quarterfinals on Saturday at 10 and 11 AM and the semi-finals at 4 and 5 PM. The singles final will be 11 AM Sunday with the doubles final to follow. All times eastern.
2016 LPRT Boston Open, October 28-30, 2016
Boston, Massachusetts
Round of 32 - Singles
1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Kelani Bailey d. 17) Sandy Hallett, 11-0, 11-1, 11-0
9) Adriana Riveros - BYE
8) Carla Muñoz - BYE
5) Alexandra Herrera - BYE
12) Gabriela Martinez - BYE
13) Da’Monique Davis - BYE
4) Jessica Parrilla - BYE
3) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
14) Cheryl Gudinas - BYE
11) Monserrat Mejia - BYE
6) Cristina Amaya - BYE
7) Susana Acosta - BYE
10) Adrienne Haynes - BYE
15) Samantha Simmons - BYE
2) Frédérique Lambert - BYE
Round of 16 - Singles
1) Paola Longoria d. 16) Kelani Bailey, 11-1, 11-5, 11-7
9) Adriana Riveros d. 8) Carla Muñoz, 5-11, 11-1, 11-5, 11-8
5) Alexandra Herrera d. 12) Gabriela Martinez, 11-3, 7-11, 11-1, 11-9
4) Jessica Parrilla d. 13) Da’Monique Davis, 10-12, 11-1, 8-11, 11-3, 11-2
3) Rhonda Rajsich d. 14) Cheryl Gudinas, 11-5, 11-4, 11-4
6) Cristina Amaya d. 11) Monserrat Mejia, 10-12, 11-7, 12-10, 4-11, 11-3
7) Susana Acosta d. 10) Adrienne Haynes, 11-6, 12-10, 11-9
2) Frédérique Lambert d. 15) Samantha Simmons, 11-5, 11-5, 11-7
Quarterfinals - Singles
1) Paola Longoria v. 9) Adriana Riveros
4) Jessica Parrilla v. 5) Alexandra Herrera
3) Rhonda Rajsich v. 6) Cristina Amaya
2) Frédérique Lambert v. 7) Susana Acosta
Quarterfinals - Doubles
1) Paola Longoria & Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
5) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros d. 4) Gabriela Martinez & Monserrat Mejia, 15-9, 15-8
3) Alexandra Herrera & Carla Muñoz d. 6) Susana Acosta & Da’Monique Davis, 15-13, 15-5
2) Frédérique Lambert & Jessica Parrilla d. 7) Kelani Bailey & Adrienne Haynes, 15-12, 15-7
Semi-finals - Doubles
1) Paola Longoria & Rhonda Rajsich v. 5) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros
2) Frédérique Lambert & Jessica Parrilla v. 3) Alexandra Herrera & Carla Muñoz
Follow the bouncing ball….
WRT 2016 Pleasanton Open - Preview
The World Racquetball Tour (WRT) returns to action this weekend with the Pleasanton Open in Pleasanton, California. There’s a complete Round of 32 topped by Alejandro Cardona with Andree Parrilla 2nd seed. Jaime Martell is 3rd seed and David Horn is 4th.
However, Jose Diaz, USA National Team member, is also in the draw as the 15th seed. Thus, Diaz could play Parrilla in the 2nd round, which should be a great match.
As well, Rodrigo Montoya, the World Junior Boy’s U18 Champion, is the 11th seed. Montoya and Martell played one of the longest matches in US Open history earlier this month with Montoya winning in five games after more than two hours. They could meet again this weekend in the quarterfinals, although Montoya will need to defeat Wayne Antone IV, the USA’s U18 Junior Boy’s Champion, and likely 6th seed Christian Longoria, who’s the World Junior Boy's U16 Champion.
The Round of 32 will begin Friday morning with the Round of 16 to follow late Friday afternoon and evening. The quarterfinals and semi-finals on Saturday and the final on Sunday at noon PDT. You should be able to watch the action live on Saturday and Sunday via the WRT website.
2016 WRT Pleasanton Open
Pleasanton, California
Round of 32
1) Alejandro Cardona v. 32) Antonio Rojas
16) Freddy Flores v. 17) Israel Torres
9) Luis Avila v. 24) Kelly Clemmensen
8) Francisco Troncoso v. 25) Ramiro Hernandez
5) Nicolai Miramontes v. 28) John Churchwell
12) Mauro Rojas v. 21) Erik Garcia
13) Alexi David Cocco Hayes v. 20) Victor Camacho
4) David Horn v. 29) Leonardo Garcia
3) Jaime Martell v. 30) Walker Plath
14) Jose Daniel Ugalde v. 19) Ricardo Diaz
11) Rodrigo Montoya v. 22) Wayne Antone IV
6) Christian Longoria v. 27) Mitchell Turner
7) Felipe Muñoz v. 26) Chris Lawson
10) Gerardo Franco v. 23) Jeff Stark
15) Jose Diaz v. 18) Jon Sevier
2) Andree Parrilla v. 31) Ricardo Vallejo
Doubles - Round of 16
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla - BYE
8) Wayne Antone IV & Mauro Rojas v. 9) Jon Sevier & Israel Torres
5) Luis Avila & Nicolai Miramontes v. 12) Ninja Nomura & Ken Stone
4) Erik Garcia & David Horn v. 13) John Churchwell & Jeff Stark
3) Alejandro Cardona & Freddy Flores v. 14) Nick Irvine & Jimmy Oliver
6) Gerardo Franco & Christian Longoria v. 11) Ricardo Diaz & Walker Plath
7) Felipe Muñoz & Victor Camacho v. 10) Jose Diaz & Harold Jagoda
2) Jaime Martell & Jose Daniel Ugalde v. 15) Antonio Rojas & Sahil Thakur
Follow the bouncing ball….
However, Jose Diaz, USA National Team member, is also in the draw as the 15th seed. Thus, Diaz could play Parrilla in the 2nd round, which should be a great match.
As well, Rodrigo Montoya, the World Junior Boy’s U18 Champion, is the 11th seed. Montoya and Martell played one of the longest matches in US Open history earlier this month with Montoya winning in five games after more than two hours. They could meet again this weekend in the quarterfinals, although Montoya will need to defeat Wayne Antone IV, the USA’s U18 Junior Boy’s Champion, and likely 6th seed Christian Longoria, who’s the World Junior Boy's U16 Champion.
The Round of 32 will begin Friday morning with the Round of 16 to follow late Friday afternoon and evening. The quarterfinals and semi-finals on Saturday and the final on Sunday at noon PDT. You should be able to watch the action live on Saturday and Sunday via the WRT website.
2016 WRT Pleasanton Open
Pleasanton, California
Round of 32
1) Alejandro Cardona v. 32) Antonio Rojas
16) Freddy Flores v. 17) Israel Torres
9) Luis Avila v. 24) Kelly Clemmensen
8) Francisco Troncoso v. 25) Ramiro Hernandez
5) Nicolai Miramontes v. 28) John Churchwell
12) Mauro Rojas v. 21) Erik Garcia
13) Alexi David Cocco Hayes v. 20) Victor Camacho
4) David Horn v. 29) Leonardo Garcia
3) Jaime Martell v. 30) Walker Plath
14) Jose Daniel Ugalde v. 19) Ricardo Diaz
11) Rodrigo Montoya v. 22) Wayne Antone IV
6) Christian Longoria v. 27) Mitchell Turner
7) Felipe Muñoz v. 26) Chris Lawson
10) Gerardo Franco v. 23) Jeff Stark
15) Jose Diaz v. 18) Jon Sevier
2) Andree Parrilla v. 31) Ricardo Vallejo
Doubles - Round of 16
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla - BYE
8) Wayne Antone IV & Mauro Rojas v. 9) Jon Sevier & Israel Torres
5) Luis Avila & Nicolai Miramontes v. 12) Ninja Nomura & Ken Stone
4) Erik Garcia & David Horn v. 13) John Churchwell & Jeff Stark
3) Alejandro Cardona & Freddy Flores v. 14) Nick Irvine & Jimmy Oliver
6) Gerardo Franco & Christian Longoria v. 11) Ricardo Diaz & Walker Plath
7) Felipe Muñoz & Victor Camacho v. 10) Jose Diaz & Harold Jagoda
2) Jaime Martell & Jose Daniel Ugalde v. 15) Antonio Rojas & Sahil Thakur
Follow the bouncing ball….
Thursday, October 27, 2016
LPRT 2016 Boston Open - Preview
The Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) stops in Boston for the first time in many years this weekend for the Boston Open, the 5th event of the 2016-17 LPRT season. It’s a smaller draw, but a good one with the top four LPRT players in the draw and 8 of the top 10. Also, there are some interesting pairings in doubles.
LPRT #1 Paola Longoria, coming off her 7th US Open win earlier this month will look to continue her winning streak in Boston. LPRT #2 Frédérique Lambert’s streak of final appearances this season was broken at the US Open, as she lost in the semi-finals to Samantha Salas, so she’ll try to get back to the finals in Boston.
Salas isn’t in Boston, so Longoria - her usual doubles partner - has teamed up with LPRT #3 Rhonda Rajsich, and they are the top seeds. Lambert is partnering with LPRT #4 Jessica Parrilla, and you would have to expect those teams to be in the final.
You can watch this weekend’s action live via the LPRT LiveStream channel. The Round of 16 begins at 3 PM on Friday, with the quarterfinals on Saturday at 10 and 11 AM and the semi-finals at 4 and 5 PM. The singles final will be 11 AM Sunday with the doubles final to follow. All times eastern.
2016 LPRT Boston Open, October 28-30, 2016
Boston, Massachusetts
Round of 32 - Singles
1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Kelani Bailey v. 17) Sandy Hallett
9) Adriana Riveros - BYE
8) Carla Muñoz - BYE
5) Alexandra Herrera - BYE
12) Gabriela Martinez - BYE
13) Da’Monique Davis - BYE
4) Jessica Parrilla - BYE
3) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
14) Cheryl Gudinas - BYE
11) Monserrat Mejia - BYE
6) Cristina Amaya - BYE
7) Susana Acosta - BYE
10) Adrienne Haynes - BYE
15) Samantha Simmons - BYE
2) Frédérique Lambert - BYE
Quarterfinals - Doubles
1) Paola Longoria & Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
4) Gabriela Martinez & Monserrat Mejia v. 5) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros
3) Alexandra Herrera & Carla Muñoz v. 6) Susana Acosta & Da’Monique Davis
2) Frédérique Lambert & Jessica Parrilla v. 7) Kelani Bailey & Adrienne Haynes
Follow the bouncing ball….
LPRT #1 Paola Longoria, coming off her 7th US Open win earlier this month will look to continue her winning streak in Boston. LPRT #2 Frédérique Lambert’s streak of final appearances this season was broken at the US Open, as she lost in the semi-finals to Samantha Salas, so she’ll try to get back to the finals in Boston.
Salas isn’t in Boston, so Longoria - her usual doubles partner - has teamed up with LPRT #3 Rhonda Rajsich, and they are the top seeds. Lambert is partnering with LPRT #4 Jessica Parrilla, and you would have to expect those teams to be in the final.
You can watch this weekend’s action live via the LPRT LiveStream channel. The Round of 16 begins at 3 PM on Friday, with the quarterfinals on Saturday at 10 and 11 AM and the semi-finals at 4 and 5 PM. The singles final will be 11 AM Sunday with the doubles final to follow. All times eastern.
2016 LPRT Boston Open, October 28-30, 2016
Boston, Massachusetts
Round of 32 - Singles
1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Kelani Bailey v. 17) Sandy Hallett
9) Adriana Riveros - BYE
8) Carla Muñoz - BYE
5) Alexandra Herrera - BYE
12) Gabriela Martinez - BYE
13) Da’Monique Davis - BYE
4) Jessica Parrilla - BYE
3) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
14) Cheryl Gudinas - BYE
11) Monserrat Mejia - BYE
6) Cristina Amaya - BYE
7) Susana Acosta - BYE
10) Adrienne Haynes - BYE
15) Samantha Simmons - BYE
2) Frédérique Lambert - BYE
Quarterfinals - Doubles
1) Paola Longoria & Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
4) Gabriela Martinez & Monserrat Mejia v. 5) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros
3) Alexandra Herrera & Carla Muñoz v. 6) Susana Acosta & Da’Monique Davis
2) Frédérique Lambert & Jessica Parrilla v. 7) Kelani Bailey & Adrienne Haynes
Follow the bouncing ball….
Monday, October 24, 2016
Weekend Round Up - Hansen & Miramontes win
Two lower tier International Racquetball Tour (IRT) events happened on the weekend. Brad Hansen won the 2016 Marigold Resources Quad City Open - a Tier 4 IRT event in Eldridge, Iowa. Hansen was seeded 5th in the event, and defeated 2nd seed Bradly Rogers in the final, 11-3, 11-2, 12-10.
In the semi-finals, Brad Hansen defeated Blake Hansen, 11-7, 7-11, 11-3, 11-9, while Rogers beat Brad McCunniff, 11-7, 11-2, 8-11, 11-6.
Out in Reseda, Califorinia, the 2016 Tournament of Terror - a Tier 5 IRT event - was won by Nicolai Miramontes, as he defeated Dane Elkins, 11-5, 11-5, 7-11, 11-1, in the final. In the semi-finals, Dane Elkins beat Brett Elkins, 11-4, 11-1, 11-1, and Miramontes defeated Majeed Shahin, 12-14, 11-1, 11-3, 11-5.
The Galaxy Custom Printing IRT Pro-Am is the next Tier 1 IRT event, and that happens next weekend November 3-6 in Lilburn, Georgia.
2016 Marigold Resources Quad City Open
Eldridge, Iowa - Ocotber 22-23, 2016
Final
Brad Hansen d. Bradly Rogers, 11-3, 11-2, 12-10
Semi-finals
Brad Hansen d. Blake Hansen, 11-7, 7-11, 11-3, 11-9
Bradly Rogers d. Brad McCunniff, 11-7, 11-2, 8-11, 11-6
2016 Tournament of Terror
Reseda California - October 21-23, 2016
Final
Nicolai Miramontes d. Dane Elkins, 11-5, 11-5, 7-11, 11-1
Semi-finals
Dane Elkins d. Brett Elkins, 11-4, 11-1, 11-1
Nicolai Miramontes d. Majeed Shahin, 12-14, 11-1, 11-3, 11-5
Follow the bouncing ball….
In the semi-finals, Brad Hansen defeated Blake Hansen, 11-7, 7-11, 11-3, 11-9, while Rogers beat Brad McCunniff, 11-7, 11-2, 8-11, 11-6.
Out in Reseda, Califorinia, the 2016 Tournament of Terror - a Tier 5 IRT event - was won by Nicolai Miramontes, as he defeated Dane Elkins, 11-5, 11-5, 7-11, 11-1, in the final. In the semi-finals, Dane Elkins beat Brett Elkins, 11-4, 11-1, 11-1, and Miramontes defeated Majeed Shahin, 12-14, 11-1, 11-3, 11-5.
The Galaxy Custom Printing IRT Pro-Am is the next Tier 1 IRT event, and that happens next weekend November 3-6 in Lilburn, Georgia.
2016 Marigold Resources Quad City Open
Eldridge, Iowa - Ocotber 22-23, 2016
Final
Brad Hansen d. Bradly Rogers, 11-3, 11-2, 12-10
Semi-finals
Brad Hansen d. Blake Hansen, 11-7, 7-11, 11-3, 11-9
Bradly Rogers d. Brad McCunniff, 11-7, 11-2, 8-11, 11-6
2016 Tournament of Terror
Reseda California - October 21-23, 2016
Final
Nicolai Miramontes d. Dane Elkins, 11-5, 11-5, 7-11, 11-1
Semi-finals
Dane Elkins d. Brett Elkins, 11-4, 11-1, 11-1
Nicolai Miramontes d. Majeed Shahin, 12-14, 11-1, 11-3, 11-5
Follow the bouncing ball….
Monday, October 17, 2016
Weekend round up - Horn wins in Wyoming & LPRT Rankings
There’s a bit of a lull in the racquetball schedule coming off the US Open in Minneapolis. However, there was a Tier 4 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event in Gillette, Wyoming on the weekend, which was won by David Horn, who defeated Jansen Allen in the final, 12-10, 4-11, 12-10, 11-8.
In the semi-finals, Horn beat Nicholas Riffel, 11-1, 11-8, 11-3, and Allen defeated Aaron Booker, 11-0, 11-4, 11-4.
LPRT Rankings
The Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) updated its rankings after the US Open. Samantha Salas, who reached the US Open finals this year for the first time in her career, is back in the top five, as her good performance in Minneapolis has raised her up to 5th in the rankings.
US Open champion Paola Longoria remains the LPRT #1 player. Frédérique Lambert’s good start to the season has her at #2, with Rhonda Rajsich #3 and Jessica Parrilla #4.
Salas’s rise has been at the expense of Alexandra Herrera, who’s now 6th, and Maria Jose Vargas, 7th, and hasn’t played this season. It seems Vargas, who got married earlier this year, does not have plans to play racquetball in the near future, although that’s only a rumour.
Rounding out the top 10 are Cristina Amaya at #8, Susy Acosta #9, and Carla Muñoz at #10. Notable in the next 10 is Guatemalan teen sensation Gabriella Martinez who cracks the top 20 for the first time at #20. Thus, this is the first time there have been two Guatemala players in the top 20 of women’s pro racquetball, as Martinez’s countrywoman - and often doubles partner - Maria Renee Rodriguez is #15.
Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour Rankings
October 12, 2016
1. Paola Longoria (Mexico) - 2900
2. Frédérique Lambert (Canada) - 1538.5
3. Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - 1370
4. Jessica Parrilla (Mexico) - 829.5
5. Samantha Salas (Mexico) - 771
6. Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) - 740.25
7. Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) - 725
8. Cristina Amaya (Colombia) - 536
9. Susy Acosta (Mexico) - 510
10. Carla Muñoz (Chile) - 496.5
11. Sofia Rascon (Mexico) - 380.5
12. Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) - 355.59
13. Michelle Key (USA) - 323.5
14. Adrienne Haynes (USA) - 291.25
15. Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) - 269.75
16. Sheryl Lotts (USA) - 232
17. Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) - 220
18. Masiel Rivera (USA) - 205.88
19. Carolina Luque (Mexico) - 198.25
20. Gabriella Martinez (Guatemala) - 190
2016 Izzi Racquetball Open
Gillette, Wyoming - October 15, 2016
Final
David Horn d. Jansen Allen, 12-10, 4-11, 12-10, 11-8
Semi-finals
Jansen Allen d. Aaron Booker, 11-0, 11-4, 11-4
David Horn d. Nicholas Riffel, 11-1, 11-8, 11-3
Follow the bouncing ball….
In the semi-finals, Horn beat Nicholas Riffel, 11-1, 11-8, 11-3, and Allen defeated Aaron Booker, 11-0, 11-4, 11-4.
LPRT Rankings
The Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) updated its rankings after the US Open. Samantha Salas, who reached the US Open finals this year for the first time in her career, is back in the top five, as her good performance in Minneapolis has raised her up to 5th in the rankings.
US Open champion Paola Longoria remains the LPRT #1 player. Frédérique Lambert’s good start to the season has her at #2, with Rhonda Rajsich #3 and Jessica Parrilla #4.
Salas’s rise has been at the expense of Alexandra Herrera, who’s now 6th, and Maria Jose Vargas, 7th, and hasn’t played this season. It seems Vargas, who got married earlier this year, does not have plans to play racquetball in the near future, although that’s only a rumour.
Rounding out the top 10 are Cristina Amaya at #8, Susy Acosta #9, and Carla Muñoz at #10. Notable in the next 10 is Guatemalan teen sensation Gabriella Martinez who cracks the top 20 for the first time at #20. Thus, this is the first time there have been two Guatemala players in the top 20 of women’s pro racquetball, as Martinez’s countrywoman - and often doubles partner - Maria Renee Rodriguez is #15.
Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour Rankings
October 12, 2016
1. Paola Longoria (Mexico) - 2900
2. Frédérique Lambert (Canada) - 1538.5
3. Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - 1370
4. Jessica Parrilla (Mexico) - 829.5
5. Samantha Salas (Mexico) - 771
6. Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) - 740.25
7. Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) - 725
8. Cristina Amaya (Colombia) - 536
9. Susy Acosta (Mexico) - 510
10. Carla Muñoz (Chile) - 496.5
11. Sofia Rascon (Mexico) - 380.5
12. Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) - 355.59
13. Michelle Key (USA) - 323.5
14. Adrienne Haynes (USA) - 291.25
15. Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) - 269.75
16. Sheryl Lotts (USA) - 232
17. Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) - 220
18. Masiel Rivera (USA) - 205.88
19. Carolina Luque (Mexico) - 198.25
20. Gabriella Martinez (Guatemala) - 190
2016 Izzi Racquetball Open
Gillette, Wyoming - October 15, 2016
Final
David Horn d. Jansen Allen, 12-10, 4-11, 12-10, 11-8
Semi-finals
Jansen Allen d. Aaron Booker, 11-0, 11-4, 11-4
David Horn d. Nicholas Riffel, 11-1, 11-8, 11-3
Follow the bouncing ball….
Saturday, October 15, 2016
Thoerner appointed USA Racquetball Executive Director
USA Racquetball has a appointed Jason Thoerner as their new Executive Director. Thoerner replaces Steve Czarnecki, who resigned in August. Thoerner was serving on the USA Racquetball board in the role of President prior to this hiring, which will be effective November 1. Thoerner joined the USAR board in 2012.
Thoerner’s appointment came the day before his 43rd birthday.
Thoerner has spent much of his life involved in racquetball, beginning at 8 years old in Crystal River, Florida. He developed into an elite player reaching a career high ranking of 8th on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), and representing the USA four times. Twice Thoerner won gold for the USA, including an International Racquetball Federation (IRF) Men’s Doubles World Championship in 2008 with Mitch Williams. He also won Men’s Doubles at the 2005 Pan American Championships with Mike Guidry, and was silver medalist in Men’s Singles at the 2002 World Championships, losing to Jack Huczek in the final.
Thoerner also served as the IRT chief referee for several years. After retiring from the IRT, he worked for HEAD/Penn Racquet Sports for seven years prior to this appointment.
It’s unusual for an organization’s Board President to become the organization’s chief staff member, and that was acknowledged in the USAR press release, which cited “Thoerner’s leadership” and a demonstration of that he was capable of handling the USAR’s strategic initiatives and finances as some of the reasons for moving him from President to Executive Director.
Follow the bouncing ball….
Thoerner’s appointment came the day before his 43rd birthday.
Thoerner has spent much of his life involved in racquetball, beginning at 8 years old in Crystal River, Florida. He developed into an elite player reaching a career high ranking of 8th on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), and representing the USA four times. Twice Thoerner won gold for the USA, including an International Racquetball Federation (IRF) Men’s Doubles World Championship in 2008 with Mitch Williams. He also won Men’s Doubles at the 2005 Pan American Championships with Mike Guidry, and was silver medalist in Men’s Singles at the 2002 World Championships, losing to Jack Huczek in the final.
Thoerner also served as the IRT chief referee for several years. After retiring from the IRT, he worked for HEAD/Penn Racquet Sports for seven years prior to this appointment.
It’s unusual for an organization’s Board President to become the organization’s chief staff member, and that was acknowledged in the USAR press release, which cited “Thoerner’s leadership” and a demonstration of that he was capable of handling the USAR’s strategic initiatives and finances as some of the reasons for moving him from President to Executive Director.
Follow the bouncing ball….
Monday, October 10, 2016
The Day After the 2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open
The US Open has come and gone for another year, and once again it was a great event. There are things to review from the week. First off, the Men’s Open and Women’s Open Champions from the 2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open in Minneapolis.
Mario Mercado won Men’s Open Singles by defeating Dylan Reid, 15-8, 15-10. Reid was trying to become just the second USA man to win Men’s Open at the US Open in the past 14 years, joining Adam Manilla, who won last year. In the semi-finals, Mercado beat Erik Garcia, 14-15, 15-1, 11-9, and Reid defeated Francisco Troncoso, 15-3, 15-3.
In Women’s Open, Cristina Amaya defeated Lucia Gonzalez, 15-13, 15-13. Amaya, a Colombian, continued a streak of non-USA women winning Women’s Open at the US Open that began in 2010, when Mexican Nancy Enriquez won the title. American Krystal Csuk won 2009, which was only the fifth time in US Open history that a USA woman won Women’s Open.
However, that could change in the future, as two American junior players - Erika Manilla and Jordan Cooperrider - were semi-finalists this year. Amaya defeated Manilla, 15-10, 15-9, in one semi-final, and Gonzalez beat Cooperrider, 8-15, 15-8, 11-5, in the other.
There were two firsts at this year’s US Open. One, Sebastian Franco, a Colombian, was the first South American to get to quarterfinals in the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) US Open division. We’d overlooked that during the week, because quite frankly, it hadn’t occurred to us that Franco had made a breakthrough.
Two, no USA woman was in the semi-finals of the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) US Open division for the first time ever. This isn’t as surprising, as Rhonda Rajsich has been the only USA woman in the LPRT semis or better since 2011, when both she and Kerri Wachtel were semi-finalists (Rajsich was finalist that year).
The 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open will be October 4-8 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
Men’s Open Singles
Final
Mario Mercado d. Dylan Reid, 15-8, 15-10
Semi-finals
Dylan Reid d. Francisco Troncoso, 15-3, 15-3
Mario Mercado d. Erik Garcia, 14-15, 15-1, 11-9
Quarterfinals
Dylan Reid d. Christian Longoria, 15-5, 15-13
Francisco Troncoso d. Brad Schopieray, 15-13, 15-13
Erik Garcia d. Samuel Murray, 15-10, 15-12
Mario Mercado d. Mike Harmon, 15-14, 15-1
Women’s Open Singles
Final
Cristina Amaya d. Lucia Gonzalez, 15-13, 15-13
Semi-finals
Cristina Amaya d. Erika Manilla, 15-10, 15-9
Lucia Gonzalez d. Jordan Cooperrider, 8-15, 15-8, 11-5
Quarterfinals
Cristina Amaya d. Adriana Riveros, 8-15, 15-3, 11-8
Erika Manilla d. Sharon Jackson, 14-15, 15-13, 11-8
Jordan Cooperrider d. Linda Tyler, 15-11, 15-8
Lucia Gonzalez d. Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-3, 15-4
Follow the bouncing ball….
Mario Mercado won Men’s Open Singles by defeating Dylan Reid, 15-8, 15-10. Reid was trying to become just the second USA man to win Men’s Open at the US Open in the past 14 years, joining Adam Manilla, who won last year. In the semi-finals, Mercado beat Erik Garcia, 14-15, 15-1, 11-9, and Reid defeated Francisco Troncoso, 15-3, 15-3.
In Women’s Open, Cristina Amaya defeated Lucia Gonzalez, 15-13, 15-13. Amaya, a Colombian, continued a streak of non-USA women winning Women’s Open at the US Open that began in 2010, when Mexican Nancy Enriquez won the title. American Krystal Csuk won 2009, which was only the fifth time in US Open history that a USA woman won Women’s Open.
However, that could change in the future, as two American junior players - Erika Manilla and Jordan Cooperrider - were semi-finalists this year. Amaya defeated Manilla, 15-10, 15-9, in one semi-final, and Gonzalez beat Cooperrider, 8-15, 15-8, 11-5, in the other.
There were two firsts at this year’s US Open. One, Sebastian Franco, a Colombian, was the first South American to get to quarterfinals in the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) US Open division. We’d overlooked that during the week, because quite frankly, it hadn’t occurred to us that Franco had made a breakthrough.
Two, no USA woman was in the semi-finals of the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) US Open division for the first time ever. This isn’t as surprising, as Rhonda Rajsich has been the only USA woman in the LPRT semis or better since 2011, when both she and Kerri Wachtel were semi-finalists (Rajsich was finalist that year).
The 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open will be October 4-8 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
Men’s Open Singles
Final
Mario Mercado d. Dylan Reid, 15-8, 15-10
Semi-finals
Dylan Reid d. Francisco Troncoso, 15-3, 15-3
Mario Mercado d. Erik Garcia, 14-15, 15-1, 11-9
Quarterfinals
Dylan Reid d. Christian Longoria, 15-5, 15-13
Francisco Troncoso d. Brad Schopieray, 15-13, 15-13
Erik Garcia d. Samuel Murray, 15-10, 15-12
Mario Mercado d. Mike Harmon, 15-14, 15-1
Women’s Open Singles
Final
Cristina Amaya d. Lucia Gonzalez, 15-13, 15-13
Semi-finals
Cristina Amaya d. Erika Manilla, 15-10, 15-9
Lucia Gonzalez d. Jordan Cooperrider, 8-15, 15-8, 11-5
Quarterfinals
Cristina Amaya d. Adriana Riveros, 8-15, 15-3, 11-8
Erika Manilla d. Sharon Jackson, 14-15, 15-13, 11-8
Jordan Cooperrider d. Linda Tyler, 15-11, 15-8
Lucia Gonzalez d. Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-3, 15-4
Follow the bouncing ball….
Sunday, October 9, 2016
Waselenchuk wins 2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open, his 12th US Open victory
Once again Kane Waselenchuk, the International Racquetball Tour's (IRT's) #1 player won its most prestigious event, as he captured the 2016 United Healthcare US Open final in Minneapolis Sunday by defeating IRT #2 Rocky Carson, 11-2, 11-2, 11-6. The win is Waselenchuk's 9th consecutive US Open title, 12th overall, and his 100th IRT victory. That's by far the most wins on the IRT, and 30 more than Cliff Swain's 70, which is 2nd most.
The match started with Waselenchuk and Carson going back and forth with sideouts. But Waselenchuk got on the board first with a forehand cross court shot, and then rolled off three more points with winning shots to make it 4-0. Carson got the serve back with a great forehand pinch serve return, but he couldn't score until Waselenchuk was up 7-0. Carson did score twice before Waselenchuk ended the first game with a backhand shot, making it 11-2.
Waselenchuk also took an early lead in game two, as he was up 4-0. However, Carson fought back to make it 4-3. But that was as close as Carson got, as Waselenchuk continued to pile up the points. Carson got charged with a technical for delay of game while he had appealed a call at 9-3, so the score because 9-2. Waselenchuk scored the winning point of game two with a backhand that he shaped into the front right corner; it looked like he might have sliced the ball in.
Down 2-0, Carson did not give up, although Waselenchuk again went up 4-0 in game three. However this time Carson came back and tied it at 4-4 with a backhand shot, and then went ahead 5-4 with another backhand. The lead was short-lived, as Waselenchuk got the serve back with a backhand return, and then scored with a backhand cross court.
They were tied again at 6-6, after Carson hit an ace drive serve to the left side, which was to the left-hander Waselenchuk's forehand. However, Waselenchuk returned Carson's next serve with a soft backhand that displayed his great racquet control.
From there Waselenchuk scored five straight points on consecutive rallies to close out the game and match. The last rally was several shots, and a bit of a scramble, which ended as Waselenchuk hit a forehand cross court - left to right - that Carson got his racquet on, but couldn't get to the front wall. That gave Waselenchuk game three, 11-6, and the match in three straight games.
The 2017 United Healthcare US Open will be October 4-8, 2017 at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. Do yourself a favour and make a point of attending.
2016 United Healthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
IRT Men’s Singles - Final (seeding)
(1) Kane Waselenchuk d. (2) Rocky Carson, 11-2, 11-2, 11-6
Follow the bouncing ball….
The match started with Waselenchuk and Carson going back and forth with sideouts. But Waselenchuk got on the board first with a forehand cross court shot, and then rolled off three more points with winning shots to make it 4-0. Carson got the serve back with a great forehand pinch serve return, but he couldn't score until Waselenchuk was up 7-0. Carson did score twice before Waselenchuk ended the first game with a backhand shot, making it 11-2.
Waselenchuk also took an early lead in game two, as he was up 4-0. However, Carson fought back to make it 4-3. But that was as close as Carson got, as Waselenchuk continued to pile up the points. Carson got charged with a technical for delay of game while he had appealed a call at 9-3, so the score because 9-2. Waselenchuk scored the winning point of game two with a backhand that he shaped into the front right corner; it looked like he might have sliced the ball in.
Down 2-0, Carson did not give up, although Waselenchuk again went up 4-0 in game three. However this time Carson came back and tied it at 4-4 with a backhand shot, and then went ahead 5-4 with another backhand. The lead was short-lived, as Waselenchuk got the serve back with a backhand return, and then scored with a backhand cross court.
They were tied again at 6-6, after Carson hit an ace drive serve to the left side, which was to the left-hander Waselenchuk's forehand. However, Waselenchuk returned Carson's next serve with a soft backhand that displayed his great racquet control.
From there Waselenchuk scored five straight points on consecutive rallies to close out the game and match. The last rally was several shots, and a bit of a scramble, which ended as Waselenchuk hit a forehand cross court - left to right - that Carson got his racquet on, but couldn't get to the front wall. That gave Waselenchuk game three, 11-6, and the match in three straight games.
The 2017 United Healthcare US Open will be October 4-8, 2017 at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. Do yourself a favour and make a point of attending.
2016 United Healthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
IRT Men’s Singles - Final (seeding)
(1) Kane Waselenchuk d. (2) Rocky Carson, 11-2, 11-2, 11-6
Follow the bouncing ball….
Longoria wins 2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open, her 7th US Open title
Paola Longoria won her 7th US Open title Sunday, as she defeated Samantha Salas, 11-3, 11-7, 11-3, in the final of the 2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour's (LPRT's) at the LifeTime Fitness Target Center club in Minneapolis. Longoria has won six consecutive US Open titles.
It was a three game match, but Salas put up a good fight. They were close early in game one, and tied at 2-2. But Longoria moved ahead to lead 6-3. Salas called a timeout, but that didn't stop Longoria, who ran off five straight points on consecutive rallies to win game one 11-3.
Game two was similar early, as Longoria and Salas were again tied at 2-2, 4-4 and 5-5.
But three Salas errors gave Longoria an 8-5 lead. Longoria got to game point by forcing Salas into skipping another shot. But Salas fought off four match points, and close within three points at 10-7. Longoria got the game winning point with a backhand cross court shot to go up 2-0.
Again in game three, they were close early. Longoria did go up 3-0, but Salas fought back to tie it at 3-3. After a delay because Salas was bleeding on her right elbow, she skipped a forehand shot. Salas appealed that call, and one line judge agree with the call and one disagreed, so the call stood, and Longoria led 4-3.
An ace drive serve to the left made it 5-3. Two skips by Salas took the score to 7-3, and you could see the game had gotten away from Salas. Longoria hit an ace and a service winner on drive serves to the left that made it 9-3. A Longoria forehand pinch shot got her to match point at 10-3.
Salas fought off the first match point with a strong forehand in the front court, but she skipped a forehand shot on her own serve. Longoria hit a backhand cross court shot to finish off the game, 11-3, and take the match, 3-0.
Despite the loss Salas's performances in Minneapolis this week have been strong, and they should boost her up the rankings. She's fallen to 7th, but has been as high as 3rd.
Longoria clearly got frustrated in game two, as Salas wasn't being as easy an opponent as she might have thought. But you can't hit loose shots against Longoria, as she'll clean up on any errors by her opponents. To beat Longoria, you have to make things difficult on her, and push her to the back as much as possible, because she is deadly in the front court.
The next LPRT event is the Boston Open October 28-30 in Boston, Massachusetts followed by The Paola Longoria Invitational in Monterrey, Mexico, November 4-6.
2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
LPRT Singles Final - Sunday (seeding)
(1) Paola Longoria d. (6) Samantha Salas, 11-3, 11-7, 11-3
Follow the bouncing ball….
It was a three game match, but Salas put up a good fight. They were close early in game one, and tied at 2-2. But Longoria moved ahead to lead 6-3. Salas called a timeout, but that didn't stop Longoria, who ran off five straight points on consecutive rallies to win game one 11-3.
Game two was similar early, as Longoria and Salas were again tied at 2-2, 4-4 and 5-5.
But three Salas errors gave Longoria an 8-5 lead. Longoria got to game point by forcing Salas into skipping another shot. But Salas fought off four match points, and close within three points at 10-7. Longoria got the game winning point with a backhand cross court shot to go up 2-0.
Again in game three, they were close early. Longoria did go up 3-0, but Salas fought back to tie it at 3-3. After a delay because Salas was bleeding on her right elbow, she skipped a forehand shot. Salas appealed that call, and one line judge agree with the call and one disagreed, so the call stood, and Longoria led 4-3.
An ace drive serve to the left made it 5-3. Two skips by Salas took the score to 7-3, and you could see the game had gotten away from Salas. Longoria hit an ace and a service winner on drive serves to the left that made it 9-3. A Longoria forehand pinch shot got her to match point at 10-3.
Salas fought off the first match point with a strong forehand in the front court, but she skipped a forehand shot on her own serve. Longoria hit a backhand cross court shot to finish off the game, 11-3, and take the match, 3-0.
Despite the loss Salas's performances in Minneapolis this week have been strong, and they should boost her up the rankings. She's fallen to 7th, but has been as high as 3rd.
Longoria clearly got frustrated in game two, as Salas wasn't being as easy an opponent as she might have thought. But you can't hit loose shots against Longoria, as she'll clean up on any errors by her opponents. To beat Longoria, you have to make things difficult on her, and push her to the back as much as possible, because she is deadly in the front court.
The next LPRT event is the Boston Open October 28-30 in Boston, Massachusetts followed by The Paola Longoria Invitational in Monterrey, Mexico, November 4-6.
2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
LPRT Singles Final - Sunday (seeding)
(1) Paola Longoria d. (6) Samantha Salas, 11-3, 11-7, 11-3
Follow the bouncing ball….
Longoria & Salas repeat as UnitedHealthcare US Open LPRT Doubles Champions
Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas successfully defended their Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) US Open Women's Doubles title Saturday by defeating Frédérique Lambert and Veronica Sotomayor, 15-10, 15-0, at the 2016 United Healthcare US Open in Minneapolis.
Game one was close, as they were tied at 4, 5, 6, and 7, but Longoria and Salas then pulled ahead to lead 13-7. However, after a timeout at that point, Lambert and Sotomayor got the serve back, and scored two points to make it 13-9. But two Longoria winners ended that run, and a third Longoria winner, a backhand down the line shot, put them on game point at 14-9.
Sotomayor prevented the win at that point. But on their serve Lambert and Sotomayor could only score one before giving the serve back to Longoria and Salas at 14-10. Curiously, Longoria and Salas called a timeout, which seemed unnecessary, and it was unhelpful, as Lambert and then Sotomayor hit winning serve returns to get back in the service box.
Yet they couldn't score themselves. Lambert was forced into skipping a forehand shot, and then she was called for an avoidable. On their fourth game point, Longoria and Salas won game one, as Sotomayor skipped a backhand serve return.
Although they lost game one, Lambert's and Sotomayor's performance showed that they could possibly get it to a tie-breaker. But their performance in game two was wanting, as Salas took over. She served first to open game two, and they scored three points, including a service winner for the second point.
A Sotomayor backhand caused a hideout, but two Salas winners - a forehand splat shot, and a forehand cross court - denied Lambert and Sotomayor from scoring, and they didn't get another opportunity to serve, as Salas served twelve straight times, producing 12 points and a 15-0 win.
In that point streak, Salas hit three winners and Lambert was called for two avoidables, including one that yielded match point.
The next LPRT event is the Boston Open October 28-30 in Boston, Massachusetts followed by The Paola Longoria Invitational in Monterrey, Mexico, November 4-6.
2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
LPRT Doubles Final - Saturday (seeds)
(1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. (3) Frédérique Lambert & Veronica Sotomayor, 15-10, 15-0
Follow the bouncing ball….
Game one was close, as they were tied at 4, 5, 6, and 7, but Longoria and Salas then pulled ahead to lead 13-7. However, after a timeout at that point, Lambert and Sotomayor got the serve back, and scored two points to make it 13-9. But two Longoria winners ended that run, and a third Longoria winner, a backhand down the line shot, put them on game point at 14-9.
Sotomayor prevented the win at that point. But on their serve Lambert and Sotomayor could only score one before giving the serve back to Longoria and Salas at 14-10. Curiously, Longoria and Salas called a timeout, which seemed unnecessary, and it was unhelpful, as Lambert and then Sotomayor hit winning serve returns to get back in the service box.
Yet they couldn't score themselves. Lambert was forced into skipping a forehand shot, and then she was called for an avoidable. On their fourth game point, Longoria and Salas won game one, as Sotomayor skipped a backhand serve return.
Although they lost game one, Lambert's and Sotomayor's performance showed that they could possibly get it to a tie-breaker. But their performance in game two was wanting, as Salas took over. She served first to open game two, and they scored three points, including a service winner for the second point.
A Sotomayor backhand caused a hideout, but two Salas winners - a forehand splat shot, and a forehand cross court - denied Lambert and Sotomayor from scoring, and they didn't get another opportunity to serve, as Salas served twelve straight times, producing 12 points and a 15-0 win.
In that point streak, Salas hit three winners and Lambert was called for two avoidables, including one that yielded match point.
The next LPRT event is the Boston Open October 28-30 in Boston, Massachusetts followed by The Paola Longoria Invitational in Monterrey, Mexico, November 4-6.
2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
LPRT Doubles Final - Saturday (seeds)
(1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. (3) Frédérique Lambert & Veronica Sotomayor, 15-10, 15-0
Follow the bouncing ball….
Rojas & Rojas are 2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open IRT Doubles Champions
Brothers Jose and Marco Rojas are the 2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Men's Doubles Champions, as they defeated Daniel De La Rosa and Edson Martinez, 15-10, 15-5, Saturday at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in Minneapolis.
After the win the brothers agreed they were on "Cloud 9." Jose said "it's indescribable really," and Marco was "lost to words. The moment still hasn't hit yet."
They also both felt they took a "leap of faith" last year, as they left partners that they had been successful with. Jose was playing with Jansen Allen, and together that pair won the 2015 Pan American Games Men's Doubles gold medal, while Marco played with Jose Diaz.
After those break ups, the brothers lost in the semi-finals last year, and Marco saw Diaz get to the US Open final with Jake Bredenbeck, and then win the US Team Championship that earned that pair a spot on Team USA for the World Championships last summer.
But the brothers wanted to win together, and said it was extra special to win with each other. Jose said, "being able to do it with my man here: wow!" He added "we wanted to do it [play together] for our father, who's the whole reason why we play racquetball." Mr. Rojas was courtside for all of his sons games in Minneapolis, including their championship victory.
The US Open is a long tournament, and Jose admitted to feeling "beat up," but he's beat up as a US Open Champion, so recovering from the tournament will be that much easier.
2016 United Healthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
IRT Men’s Doubles - Final - Saturday
Jose Rojas & Marco Rojas d. Daniel De La Rosa & Edson Martinez, 15-10, 15-5
Follow the bouncing ball….
After the win the brothers agreed they were on "Cloud 9." Jose said "it's indescribable really," and Marco was "lost to words. The moment still hasn't hit yet."
They also both felt they took a "leap of faith" last year, as they left partners that they had been successful with. Jose was playing with Jansen Allen, and together that pair won the 2015 Pan American Games Men's Doubles gold medal, while Marco played with Jose Diaz.
After those break ups, the brothers lost in the semi-finals last year, and Marco saw Diaz get to the US Open final with Jake Bredenbeck, and then win the US Team Championship that earned that pair a spot on Team USA for the World Championships last summer.
But the brothers wanted to win together, and said it was extra special to win with each other. Jose said, "being able to do it with my man here: wow!" He added "we wanted to do it [play together] for our father, who's the whole reason why we play racquetball." Mr. Rojas was courtside for all of his sons games in Minneapolis, including their championship victory.
The US Open is a long tournament, and Jose admitted to feeling "beat up," but he's beat up as a US Open Champion, so recovering from the tournament will be that much easier.
2016 United Healthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
IRT Men’s Doubles - Final - Saturday
Jose Rojas & Marco Rojas d. Daniel De La Rosa & Edson Martinez, 15-10, 15-5
Follow the bouncing ball….
Saturday, October 8, 2016
2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open IRT Semi-finals
The International Racquetball Tour (IRT) 2016 United Healthcare US Open final in Minneapolis Sunday will set a record before it even begins, as it will be the 5th time IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk and #2 Rocky Carson have met in the US Open, breaking a tie for most finals with the same two players they held with Sudsy Monchik and Cliff Swain. Waselenchuk is 4-0 in those finals against Carson.
Waselenchuk had the shorter road to the final, as he needed only three games to defeat Jose Rojas, 11-1, 11-6, 11-1, while Carson went to a tie-breaker with Daniel De La Rosa, winning 8-11, 11-3, 9-11, 11-7, 11-0.
Waselenchuk hit 10 aces or service winners against Rojas, and some were from an usual technique for him. Later in the match, Waselenchuk used a walking drive serve, taking a couple of steps to the left and then usually driving the ball back to the right side.
Carson and De La Rosa match was back and forth. De La Rosa had an early lead in game one at 6-3. Then Carson led 8-6, but De La Rosa called a time out at that point and Carson didn't score another point, as De La Rosa got five unanswered points to win game one, 11-8.
Game two was all Carson, as he led 10-0. "You don't want to allow a guy to get into a rhythm, or get that extra confidence back," said Carson afterwards. But while he tried to close it out, De La Rosa did score three points before game two ended at 11-3.
Game three was long. In game three, there were 54 rallies compared with 35 in game one, and 31 in game two. As with game one, in game three the players went back and forth, and it was De La Rosa that pulled ahead at the end to win it 11-9. We might expect the player who wins such a long game would have an advantage for the rest of the match, and likely win it.
However, in game four it didn't seem like De La Rosa carried any momentum over from game three, as the players were close early. He did take a slight lead on Carson at 6-4, but they went back and forth with sideouts at that point. After on the sixth rally at that score, Carson hit a backhand pinch for a winner, and momentum change as Carson outscored De La Rosa 7-1 as he won game four 11-7 to force a fifth and deciding game.
In game five, they played 10 rallies before someone scored. Carson was that someone, and after he scored the first, he scored ten more without De La Rosa scoring at all. Thus, what was a tight, close match was not did not finish that way, as Carson blanked De La Rosa in game five, 11-0.
The IRT final of the 2016 United Healthcare US Open will be noon Sunday at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. You can watch the final via the IRT Network.
2016 United Healthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
IRT Men’s Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1 Kane Waselenchuk d. 5 Jose Rojas, 11-1, 11-6, 11-1
2 Rocky Carson d. 3 Daniel De La Rosa, 8-11, 11-3, 9-11, 11-7, 11-0
IRT Men’s Singles - Final - Sunday
1 Kane Waselenchuk v. 2 Rocky Carson - Noon
Follow the bouncing ball….
Waselenchuk had the shorter road to the final, as he needed only three games to defeat Jose Rojas, 11-1, 11-6, 11-1, while Carson went to a tie-breaker with Daniel De La Rosa, winning 8-11, 11-3, 9-11, 11-7, 11-0.
Waselenchuk hit 10 aces or service winners against Rojas, and some were from an usual technique for him. Later in the match, Waselenchuk used a walking drive serve, taking a couple of steps to the left and then usually driving the ball back to the right side.
Carson and De La Rosa match was back and forth. De La Rosa had an early lead in game one at 6-3. Then Carson led 8-6, but De La Rosa called a time out at that point and Carson didn't score another point, as De La Rosa got five unanswered points to win game one, 11-8.
Game two was all Carson, as he led 10-0. "You don't want to allow a guy to get into a rhythm, or get that extra confidence back," said Carson afterwards. But while he tried to close it out, De La Rosa did score three points before game two ended at 11-3.
Game three was long. In game three, there were 54 rallies compared with 35 in game one, and 31 in game two. As with game one, in game three the players went back and forth, and it was De La Rosa that pulled ahead at the end to win it 11-9. We might expect the player who wins such a long game would have an advantage for the rest of the match, and likely win it.
However, in game four it didn't seem like De La Rosa carried any momentum over from game three, as the players were close early. He did take a slight lead on Carson at 6-4, but they went back and forth with sideouts at that point. After on the sixth rally at that score, Carson hit a backhand pinch for a winner, and momentum change as Carson outscored De La Rosa 7-1 as he won game four 11-7 to force a fifth and deciding game.
In game five, they played 10 rallies before someone scored. Carson was that someone, and after he scored the first, he scored ten more without De La Rosa scoring at all. Thus, what was a tight, close match was not did not finish that way, as Carson blanked De La Rosa in game five, 11-0.
The IRT final of the 2016 United Healthcare US Open will be noon Sunday at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. You can watch the final via the IRT Network.
2016 United Healthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
IRT Men’s Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1 Kane Waselenchuk d. 5 Jose Rojas, 11-1, 11-6, 11-1
2 Rocky Carson d. 3 Daniel De La Rosa, 8-11, 11-3, 9-11, 11-7, 11-0
IRT Men’s Singles - Final - Sunday
1 Kane Waselenchuk v. 2 Rocky Carson - Noon
Follow the bouncing ball….
2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open LPRT Semi-finals
Samantha Salas upset Frédérique Lambert, the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour's (LPRT's) #2 player, 12-10, 4-11, 11-7, 11-3, in the semi-finals of the 2016 United Healthcare US Open, so Salas will play in her first ever US Open final on Sunday.
Salas started well in game one, going up 3-0, and she led for most of the game. But Lambert caught up at 9-9. Lambert got to game point with a backhand pinch shot, but on that game point she skipped forehand shot that seemed like a makable set up off the back wall. Salas proceeded to score three straight points on consecutive rallies ending with an ace drive serve to the left side - Lambert's backhand.
In game two, Lambert was in control the whole way, as she got a 3-0 lead, and went on to win 11-4. Lambert scored the first two points of game three also, but Salas got the next five to lead 5-2. Lambert drew within two at 9-7, but a forehand skip gave Salas back the serve, and as in game one, she closed it out on her first opportunity, winning the next two rallies. Game point came as Lambert skipped a backhand return shot.
Although she was down 2-1 in games, Lambert got the first three points of game four to lead 3-0. However, that was all she got, as Salas scored eleven unanswered points to win game four 11-3, and take the match 3-1.
Thus, Salas will be in her first US Open final Sunday. She'd played in four US Open semi-finals previous in consecutive years from 2010 to 2013, but today was the Salas's first US Open semi-final win.
Salas's opponent will be a familiar one: 6 time US Open Champion Paola Longoria, who is Salas's doubles partner. Longoria defeated 5th seed Jessica Parrilla, 11-0, 11-3, 11-2, in the other semi-final. That match was brief, and clearly frustrating to Parrilla, who didn't score a point until Longoria had 3 in game two. Parrilla did get the first points of game three, but Longoria didn't let her get any more, winning that one 11-2.
Unofficially, we have Longoria with 9 aces or service winners in the match.
By the time they face off in the LPRT Women's Singles final, they may already be US Open Champions, as Longoria and Salas are in the LPRT Women's Doubles final against Lambert and Veronica Sotomayor, which will be played Saturday evening.
The LPRT Women's Singles final of the 2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open will be Sunday at 10 AM at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. You can watch it via the IRT Network.
2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
LPRT Singles Semi-finals - Saturday
1 Paola Longoria d. 5 Jessica Parrilla, 11-0, 11-3, 11-2
6 Samantha Salas d. 2 Frédérique Lambert, 12-10, 4-11, 11-7, 11-3
LPRT Singles Final - Sunday
1 Paola Longoria v. 6 Samantha Salas - 10 AM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Salas started well in game one, going up 3-0, and she led for most of the game. But Lambert caught up at 9-9. Lambert got to game point with a backhand pinch shot, but on that game point she skipped forehand shot that seemed like a makable set up off the back wall. Salas proceeded to score three straight points on consecutive rallies ending with an ace drive serve to the left side - Lambert's backhand.
In game two, Lambert was in control the whole way, as she got a 3-0 lead, and went on to win 11-4. Lambert scored the first two points of game three also, but Salas got the next five to lead 5-2. Lambert drew within two at 9-7, but a forehand skip gave Salas back the serve, and as in game one, she closed it out on her first opportunity, winning the next two rallies. Game point came as Lambert skipped a backhand return shot.
Although she was down 2-1 in games, Lambert got the first three points of game four to lead 3-0. However, that was all she got, as Salas scored eleven unanswered points to win game four 11-3, and take the match 3-1.
Thus, Salas will be in her first US Open final Sunday. She'd played in four US Open semi-finals previous in consecutive years from 2010 to 2013, but today was the Salas's first US Open semi-final win.
Salas's opponent will be a familiar one: 6 time US Open Champion Paola Longoria, who is Salas's doubles partner. Longoria defeated 5th seed Jessica Parrilla, 11-0, 11-3, 11-2, in the other semi-final. That match was brief, and clearly frustrating to Parrilla, who didn't score a point until Longoria had 3 in game two. Parrilla did get the first points of game three, but Longoria didn't let her get any more, winning that one 11-2.
Unofficially, we have Longoria with 9 aces or service winners in the match.
By the time they face off in the LPRT Women's Singles final, they may already be US Open Champions, as Longoria and Salas are in the LPRT Women's Doubles final against Lambert and Veronica Sotomayor, which will be played Saturday evening.
The LPRT Women's Singles final of the 2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open will be Sunday at 10 AM at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. You can watch it via the IRT Network.
2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
LPRT Singles Semi-finals - Saturday
1 Paola Longoria d. 5 Jessica Parrilla, 11-0, 11-3, 11-2
6 Samantha Salas d. 2 Frédérique Lambert, 12-10, 4-11, 11-7, 11-3
LPRT Singles Final - Sunday
1 Paola Longoria v. 6 Samantha Salas - 10 AM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Friday, October 7, 2016
2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open IRT Doubles Semi-finals
Brothers Jose and Marco Rojas knocked off Ben Croft and Kane Waselenchuk, the two time defending International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Men's Doubles champions, 12-15, 15-11, 11-5 in the semi-finals of the 2016 United Healthcare US Open in Minneapolis. Marco Rojas called it "one of the top wins in my career."
Rojas and Rojas were up throughout game one, including a 9-5 lead, only to see the champions come back and take the lead at 13-12, and go on to win it. Then the champs took a 7-2 lead in game two at which point Rojas and Rojas called a time out.
Asked what they were thinking at that point, Marco said he thought back to last year, when they lost to Croft and Waselenchuk by dropping a close first game, and then getting blown out in the second, and he "didn't want a repeat of that."
Jose added that they'd matured since then because of that loss, and "we just took it one point at at time. 0-0. It's always just 0-0."
When play resumed, Marco hit a winning return that got them the serve back, but they only scored one point, making it 7-3. Waselenchuk make a great diving backhand shot that rolled to get the serve back for his side. And you might have thought the match was going to go there way, but Croft and Waselenchuk only scored one point to make it 8-3.
Then the game stalled. No one scored for six rallies. Jose Rojas made a shot that got the game moving again, and the brothers worked their way up to 8-8, where it stalled again. Ten rallies produced no points.
Waselenchuk broke the deadlock with a drive to the left side that was service winner, making it 9-8. But the Rojas's tied it at 9-9, and the teams went back and forth to 11-11.
From there the brothers scored on four consecutive rallies, including two serve return skips by Waselenchuk, to win game two, 15-11, and level the match at a game a piece.
They were back and forth in game three. Rojas and Rojas served first, and took a 2-0 lead. But the champions scored four points to lead 4-2. Then the brothers tied the score at 4-4, and went ahead 8-4 in one service inning, including a great diving forehand by Marco for their 5th point. After making that shot, Marco saw "the crowd explode," and thought "oh yeah, they got our backs."
Croft and Waselenchuk scored once on their next time with serve, but Jose got them the serve back with a great backhand return pinch shot. The brothers closed it out on that service inning. An encroachment call got them to 9-5. Jose hit a forehand pinch that got them to match point at 10-5, but a hard Croft shot forced a skip from Marco, so they were denied on their first match point.
But not their second, as Marco hit a backhand that their opponents couldn't retrieve.
The Rojas brother will play Daniel De La Rosa and Edson Martinez in Saturday's final, as De La Rosa and Martinez defeated last year's finalists Jake Bredenbeck and Jose Diaz, 15-3, 15-12, in the first semi-final. But it was a remarkable performance by Bredenbeck, who played left handed as he'd injured his right shoulder early in the day against De La Rosa in the quarterfinals of singles. Thus, he couldn't hit the ball right handed.
Bredenbeck was remarkably competent with his left hand, and as the match went on, he seemed to improve, such that he was drive serving left handed late in game two. However, it wasn't enough, so De La Rosa and Martinez are into the final for the first time.
The IRT doubles semi-finals conclude Friday evening, and the IRT doubles final at the 2016 United Healthcare US Open will be 5 PM Saturday at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. IRT Network.
2016 United Healthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
IRT Men’s Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday evening
4 Jose Rojas & Marco Rojas d. 1 Ben Croft & Kane Waselenchuk, 12-15, 15-11, 11-5
Daniel De La Rosa & Edson Martinez d. 2 Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz, 15-3, 15-12
IRT Men’s Doubles - Final - Saturday
4 Jose Rojas & Marco Rojas v. Daniel De La Rosa & Edson Martinez
Follow the bouncing ball….
Rojas and Rojas were up throughout game one, including a 9-5 lead, only to see the champions come back and take the lead at 13-12, and go on to win it. Then the champs took a 7-2 lead in game two at which point Rojas and Rojas called a time out.
Asked what they were thinking at that point, Marco said he thought back to last year, when they lost to Croft and Waselenchuk by dropping a close first game, and then getting blown out in the second, and he "didn't want a repeat of that."
Jose added that they'd matured since then because of that loss, and "we just took it one point at at time. 0-0. It's always just 0-0."
When play resumed, Marco hit a winning return that got them the serve back, but they only scored one point, making it 7-3. Waselenchuk make a great diving backhand shot that rolled to get the serve back for his side. And you might have thought the match was going to go there way, but Croft and Waselenchuk only scored one point to make it 8-3.
Then the game stalled. No one scored for six rallies. Jose Rojas made a shot that got the game moving again, and the brothers worked their way up to 8-8, where it stalled again. Ten rallies produced no points.
Waselenchuk broke the deadlock with a drive to the left side that was service winner, making it 9-8. But the Rojas's tied it at 9-9, and the teams went back and forth to 11-11.
From there the brothers scored on four consecutive rallies, including two serve return skips by Waselenchuk, to win game two, 15-11, and level the match at a game a piece.
They were back and forth in game three. Rojas and Rojas served first, and took a 2-0 lead. But the champions scored four points to lead 4-2. Then the brothers tied the score at 4-4, and went ahead 8-4 in one service inning, including a great diving forehand by Marco for their 5th point. After making that shot, Marco saw "the crowd explode," and thought "oh yeah, they got our backs."
Croft and Waselenchuk scored once on their next time with serve, but Jose got them the serve back with a great backhand return pinch shot. The brothers closed it out on that service inning. An encroachment call got them to 9-5. Jose hit a forehand pinch that got them to match point at 10-5, but a hard Croft shot forced a skip from Marco, so they were denied on their first match point.
But not their second, as Marco hit a backhand that their opponents couldn't retrieve.
The Rojas brother will play Daniel De La Rosa and Edson Martinez in Saturday's final, as De La Rosa and Martinez defeated last year's finalists Jake Bredenbeck and Jose Diaz, 15-3, 15-12, in the first semi-final. But it was a remarkable performance by Bredenbeck, who played left handed as he'd injured his right shoulder early in the day against De La Rosa in the quarterfinals of singles. Thus, he couldn't hit the ball right handed.
Bredenbeck was remarkably competent with his left hand, and as the match went on, he seemed to improve, such that he was drive serving left handed late in game two. However, it wasn't enough, so De La Rosa and Martinez are into the final for the first time.
The IRT doubles semi-finals conclude Friday evening, and the IRT doubles final at the 2016 United Healthcare US Open will be 5 PM Saturday at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. IRT Network.
2016 United Healthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
IRT Men’s Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday evening
4 Jose Rojas & Marco Rojas d. 1 Ben Croft & Kane Waselenchuk, 12-15, 15-11, 11-5
Daniel De La Rosa & Edson Martinez d. 2 Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz, 15-3, 15-12
IRT Men’s Doubles - Final - Saturday
4 Jose Rojas & Marco Rojas v. Daniel De La Rosa & Edson Martinez
Follow the bouncing ball….
2016 United Healthcare US Open LPRT Doubles Semi-finals
Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) US Open Women's Doubles defending champions Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas earned a chance to defend their title by defeating Sheryl Lotts and Rhonda Rajsich, 15-4, 15-3, in the semi-finals at the 2016 United Healthcare US Open. Lotts and Rajsich were up 4-0 in game one, and 3-2 in game two, but those leads were short lived.
In the final, Longoria and Salas will face 3rd seeds Frédérique Lambert and Veronica Sotomayor, who defeated Cristina Amaya and Adriana Riveros, 15-7, 15-9, in the other semi-final.
If Longoria and Salas win on Saturday, it will be a third consecutive title for Longoria, who won it two years ago with Sotomayor as her partner against Rajsich and Maria Jose Vargas.
The LPRT doubles final is Saturday at 4 PM at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. You can watch the action via the IRT Network.
2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
LPRT Doubles Semi-finals - Friday
1 Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 4 Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich, 15-4, 15-3
3 Frédérique Lambert & Veronica Sotomayor d. Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros, 15-7, 15-9
LPRT Doubles Final - Saturday
1 Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 3 Frédérique Lambert & Veronica Sotomayor - 4 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
In the final, Longoria and Salas will face 3rd seeds Frédérique Lambert and Veronica Sotomayor, who defeated Cristina Amaya and Adriana Riveros, 15-7, 15-9, in the other semi-final.
If Longoria and Salas win on Saturday, it will be a third consecutive title for Longoria, who won it two years ago with Sotomayor as her partner against Rajsich and Maria Jose Vargas.
The LPRT doubles final is Saturday at 4 PM at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. You can watch the action via the IRT Network.
2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
LPRT Doubles Semi-finals - Friday
1 Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 4 Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich, 15-4, 15-3
3 Frédérique Lambert & Veronica Sotomayor d. Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros, 15-7, 15-9
LPRT Doubles Final - Saturday
1 Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 3 Frédérique Lambert & Veronica Sotomayor - 4 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
2016 United Healthcare US Open LPRT Quarterfinals
Frédérique Lambert, the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour's (LPRT's) #2 player, got blanked in the first game of her quarterfinal match with Cristina Amaya, but came back to win in four games, 0-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-8, at the 2016 United Healthcare US Open. Lambert will play LPRT #6 Samantha Salas in the semi-finals on Saturday, as Salas was an upset winner over LPRT #3, and last year's US Open finalist, Rhonda Rajsich, 11-8, 7-11, 4-11, 11-7, 12-10.
But Natalia Mendez's luck ran out in the quarters, as the 19 year old surprise quarterfinalist, lost to 5th seed Jessica Parrilla, 11-9, 13-11, 11-8. In the semi-finals, Parrilla plays LPRT #1 Paola Longoria who dispatched of veteran left-hander Susana Acosta in three straight games, 11-0, 11-1, 11-2.
The LPRT quarterfinals conclude Friday afternoon with the semi-finals on Saturday, and the final of the 2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open will be Sunday at 10 AM at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. You can watch the action via the IRT Network.
2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
LPRT Singles Quarterfinals - Friday
1 Paola Longoria d. 9 Susana Acosta, 11-0, 11-1, 11-2
5 Jessica Parrilla d. Natalia Mendez, 11-9, 13-11, 11-8
6 Samantha Salas d. 3 Rhonda Rajsich, 11-8, 7-11, 4-11, 11-7, 12-10
2 Frédérique Lambert d. 7 Cristina Amaya, 0-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-8
LPRT Singles Semi-finals - Saturday
1 Paola Longoria v. 5 Jessica Parrilla - 1 PM
2 Frédérique Lambert v. 6 Samantha Salas - 10 AM
Follow the bouncing ball….
But Natalia Mendez's luck ran out in the quarters, as the 19 year old surprise quarterfinalist, lost to 5th seed Jessica Parrilla, 11-9, 13-11, 11-8. In the semi-finals, Parrilla plays LPRT #1 Paola Longoria who dispatched of veteran left-hander Susana Acosta in three straight games, 11-0, 11-1, 11-2.
The LPRT quarterfinals conclude Friday afternoon with the semi-finals on Saturday, and the final of the 2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open will be Sunday at 10 AM at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. You can watch the action via the IRT Network.
2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
LPRT Singles Quarterfinals - Friday
1 Paola Longoria d. 9 Susana Acosta, 11-0, 11-1, 11-2
5 Jessica Parrilla d. Natalia Mendez, 11-9, 13-11, 11-8
6 Samantha Salas d. 3 Rhonda Rajsich, 11-8, 7-11, 4-11, 11-7, 12-10
2 Frédérique Lambert d. 7 Cristina Amaya, 0-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-8
LPRT Singles Semi-finals - Saturday
1 Paola Longoria v. 5 Jessica Parrilla - 1 PM
2 Frédérique Lambert v. 6 Samantha Salas - 10 AM
Follow the bouncing ball….
2016 United Healthcare US Open IRT Quarterfinals
Jose Rojas fought back from two games down to defeat Alvaro Beltran, 10-12, 9-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-6, and advance to the semi-finals of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) 2016 United Healthcare US Open in Minneapolis for only the second time in his career. Rojas's first US Open semi was in 2011. "It feels amazing," Rojas said about winning today and getting to the semi-finals.
Rojas had leads in both game one and two, and looked like he would win both of them, but Beltran, the 4th seed, came back to go up 2-0. Asked afterwards what his thoughts were at that point, Rojas said "0-0" and that he just wanted to play it "one point at at time, chipping away."
Rojas won game three 11-6, leading it all the way. But in game four, Beltran went up 9-4, and was two points from winning the match. Yet, Rojas came back with seven unanswered points starting with an ace drive serve to the left side. While Rojas was scoring those points, Beltran only won two rallies, and those side outs produced no points.
Rojas said he was "definitely surprised" that's it's only his 2nd US Open semi, but he's glad he made it today, and he appreciates it more.
Asked if he's changed anything in the last year that's caused the improvement in his performance, Rojas said "I believe in myself. The past couple of years, it wasn't the best," but that's changed now, and he'll be back on Semi-Final Saturday at the US Open.
Rojas will need that inner belief in the semis, as he'll face IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk, who is the 8 time defending champion and is seeking his 12th US Open title. Waselenchuk beat Sebastian Franco, 11-2, 11-4, 11-4, in the quarters. Waselenchuk didn't feel like he was at his best against Franco, especially drive serving. Waselenchuk felt his drive serve wasn't coming in early on, so he tried to get Franco to shoot more with the lob serves, and then "relied on my feet to get me in position to end the rally."
Sad outcome to the Daniel De La Rosa and Jake Bredenbeck match, as Bredenbeck had to forfeit the match in game three after he hurt his right shoulder diving towards the right side wall to keep the ball in play. The match was 1-1 in games with De La Rosa ahead by one point 6-5 in the third.
De La Rosa will play IRT #2 Rocky Carson in the semi-finals on Saturday, which will be a rematch of last year's semi-final that was won by De La Rosa. Carson beat IRT #7 Marco Rojas, 11-2, 9-11, 11-6, 11-2, in the quarterfinals.
The IRT quarterfinals conclude Friday, semi-finals Saturday, and the IRT final of the 2016 United Healthcare US Open will be Sunday October 9 at noon at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. You can watch the action via the IRT Network.
2016 United Healthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
IRT Men’s Singles - Quarterfinals - Friday
1 Kane Waselenchuk d. 8 Sebastian Franco, 11-2, 11-4, 11-4
5 Jose Rojas d. 4 Alvaro Beltran, 10-12, 9-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-6
3 Daniel De La Rosa d. 11 Jake Bredenbeck, 8-11, 11-1, 6-5, injury forfeit
2 Rocky Carson d. 7 Marco Rojas, 11-2, 9-11, 11-6, 11-2
IRT Men’s Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1 Kane Waselenchuk v. 5 Jose Rojas - 2 PM
2 Rocky Carson v. 3 Daniel De La Rosa - 11 AM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Rojas had leads in both game one and two, and looked like he would win both of them, but Beltran, the 4th seed, came back to go up 2-0. Asked afterwards what his thoughts were at that point, Rojas said "0-0" and that he just wanted to play it "one point at at time, chipping away."
Rojas won game three 11-6, leading it all the way. But in game four, Beltran went up 9-4, and was two points from winning the match. Yet, Rojas came back with seven unanswered points starting with an ace drive serve to the left side. While Rojas was scoring those points, Beltran only won two rallies, and those side outs produced no points.
Rojas said he was "definitely surprised" that's it's only his 2nd US Open semi, but he's glad he made it today, and he appreciates it more.
Asked if he's changed anything in the last year that's caused the improvement in his performance, Rojas said "I believe in myself. The past couple of years, it wasn't the best," but that's changed now, and he'll be back on Semi-Final Saturday at the US Open.
Rojas will need that inner belief in the semis, as he'll face IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk, who is the 8 time defending champion and is seeking his 12th US Open title. Waselenchuk beat Sebastian Franco, 11-2, 11-4, 11-4, in the quarters. Waselenchuk didn't feel like he was at his best against Franco, especially drive serving. Waselenchuk felt his drive serve wasn't coming in early on, so he tried to get Franco to shoot more with the lob serves, and then "relied on my feet to get me in position to end the rally."
Sad outcome to the Daniel De La Rosa and Jake Bredenbeck match, as Bredenbeck had to forfeit the match in game three after he hurt his right shoulder diving towards the right side wall to keep the ball in play. The match was 1-1 in games with De La Rosa ahead by one point 6-5 in the third.
De La Rosa will play IRT #2 Rocky Carson in the semi-finals on Saturday, which will be a rematch of last year's semi-final that was won by De La Rosa. Carson beat IRT #7 Marco Rojas, 11-2, 9-11, 11-6, 11-2, in the quarterfinals.
The IRT quarterfinals conclude Friday, semi-finals Saturday, and the IRT final of the 2016 United Healthcare US Open will be Sunday October 9 at noon at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. You can watch the action via the IRT Network.
2016 United Healthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
IRT Men’s Singles - Quarterfinals - Friday
1 Kane Waselenchuk d. 8 Sebastian Franco, 11-2, 11-4, 11-4
5 Jose Rojas d. 4 Alvaro Beltran, 10-12, 9-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-6
3 Daniel De La Rosa d. 11 Jake Bredenbeck, 8-11, 11-1, 6-5, injury forfeit
2 Rocky Carson d. 7 Marco Rojas, 11-2, 9-11, 11-6, 11-2
IRT Men’s Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1 Kane Waselenchuk v. 5 Jose Rojas - 2 PM
2 Rocky Carson v. 3 Daniel De La Rosa - 11 AM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Thursday, October 6, 2016
2016 United Healthcare US Open - LPRT Doubles Quarterfinal
One upset happened in Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) doubles and it came via an 11-10 tie-breaker at the 2016 United Healthcare US Open, as Cristina Amaya and Adriana Riveros the #2 seeds Alexandra Herrera and Monserrat Mejia, the surprise finalists last year, 4-15, 15-13, 11-10, in the quarterfinals.
In the semi-finals, Amaya and Riveros will play the new team of Frédérique Lambert and Veronica Sotomayor, who defeated Jessica Parrilla and Monserrat Perez, 15-13, 15-11.
In the other semi, defending champions Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas will play Sheryl Lotts and Rhonda Rajsich. Longoria and Salas defeated sisters Danielle Key and Michelle Key, 15-10, 15-9, in one quarterfinal, while Lotts and Rajsich needed a tie-breaker to beat Susana Acosta and Jessica Maldonado, 13-15, 15-1, 11-3.
The LPRT doubles semi-finals will be Friday evening, and final Saturday at 4 PM at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
LPRT Doubles Quarterfinals - Thursday
1 Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. Danielle Key & Michelle Key, 15-10, 15-9
4 Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich d. Susana Acosta & Jessica Maldonado, 13-15, 15-1, 11-3
3 Frédérique Lambert & Veronica Sotomayor d. Jessica Parrilla & Monserrat Perez, 15-13, 15-11
Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros d. 2 Alexandra Herrera & Monserrat Mejia, 4-15, 15-13, 11-10
LPRT Doubles Semi-finals - Friday
1 Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 4 Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich
3 Frédérique Lambert & Veronica Sotomayor v. Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros
Follow the bouncing ball….
In the semi-finals, Amaya and Riveros will play the new team of Frédérique Lambert and Veronica Sotomayor, who defeated Jessica Parrilla and Monserrat Perez, 15-13, 15-11.
In the other semi, defending champions Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas will play Sheryl Lotts and Rhonda Rajsich. Longoria and Salas defeated sisters Danielle Key and Michelle Key, 15-10, 15-9, in one quarterfinal, while Lotts and Rajsich needed a tie-breaker to beat Susana Acosta and Jessica Maldonado, 13-15, 15-1, 11-3.
The LPRT doubles semi-finals will be Friday evening, and final Saturday at 4 PM at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
LPRT Doubles Quarterfinals - Thursday
1 Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. Danielle Key & Michelle Key, 15-10, 15-9
4 Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich d. Susana Acosta & Jessica Maldonado, 13-15, 15-1, 11-3
3 Frédérique Lambert & Veronica Sotomayor d. Jessica Parrilla & Monserrat Perez, 15-13, 15-11
Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros d. 2 Alexandra Herrera & Monserrat Mejia, 4-15, 15-13, 11-10
LPRT Doubles Semi-finals - Friday
1 Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 4 Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich
3 Frédérique Lambert & Veronica Sotomayor v. Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros
Follow the bouncing ball….
2016 United Healthcare US Open IRT Doubles Quarterfinals
Two time defending International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Men's Doubles champions, Ben Croft and Kane Waselenchuk, were hard pressed to in the first match of their title defense by David Horn and Andree Parrilla, but they proved their mettle and came back from a game down to win, 13-15, 15-5, 11-6.
The outcome was in doubt early, as Horn and Parrilla took a 9-1 lead in game one. But Croft and Waselenchuk got a side out then, and called a time out. After some back and forth rallies, Croft and Waselenchuk put together a string of points to cut the lead to 9-7. Horn and Parrilla scored another point to make it 10-7, but then six points went by for the champs, which got them the lead at 13-10.
It looked like the champions were free and clear, but the young challengers had other ideas, and they got the serve back and ran five straight points to win game one, 15-13.
In game one, Waselenchuk took all the serve returns, as he and Croft played an I formation initially. Parrilla hit lobs to the right side - the side he was playing - and with Waselenchuk returning them, Croft was pushed to the left, so the lefty-righty team of Waselenchuk and Croft had their backhands to the sidewalls. That might have helped Horn and Parrilla get their lead.
Game two saw Croft and Waselenchuk taking the big lead, going up 10-1, and keeping it to win comfortably and force a tie-breaker.
In the breaker, it was close early, and then Horn and Parrilla got a slight lead at 4-2. But the champions held them there, and scored seven straight points to lead 9-4. Horn and Parrilla got to within three after Waselenchuk skipped a couple of shots, but then a Horn skip got the champions the serve again.
A Waselenchuk winner got them to match point, and then Horn skipped a backhand shot to end the match.
Croft and Waselenchuk will play the Rojas brothers, Jose and Marco, in the semi-finals Friday. Rojas and Rojas defeated Charlie Pratt and Dylan Reid, 15-13, 11-15, 11-9, Thursday.
In another tie-breaker, Bredenbeck and Diaz, last year's finalists, squeaked past Sebastian Franco and Mario Mercado, 15-13, 10-15, 11-7. In the breaker Bredenbeck and Diaz were up early at 4-1, but Franco and Mercado tied it at 4-4. Bredenbeck and Diaz went ahead again at 6-4, only see Franco and Mercado tie it again at 6-6.
But after Franco skipped two shots - one of them forced - that made the score 8-6 for Bredenbeck and Diaz, the lead never changed. Diaz hit an ace serve that got them to match point. Mercado, on the right side, hit a winning cross court return on the first match point, but on the second Franco skipped and forehand shot that ended it at 11-7.
In the semi-finals, Bredenbeck and Diaz will play Daniel De La Rosa and Edson Martinez, who were upset winners over Rocky Carson and Alvaro Beltran, 15-6, 15-13.
The IRT doubles semi-finals will be Friday evening, and the IRT doubles final at the 2016 United Healthcare US Open will be 5 PM Saturday at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2016 United Healthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
IRT Men’s Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday evening
1 Ben Croft & Kane Waselenchuk v. David Horn & Andree Parrilla, 6-15, 15-13, 11-6
4 Jose Rojas & Marco Rojas d. Dylan Reid & Charlie Pratt, 15-13, 11-15, 11-9
Daniel De La Rosa & Edson Martinez d. 3 Alvaro Beltran & Rocky Carson, 15-6, 15-13
2 Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz d. Sebastian Franco & Mario Mercado, 15-13, 10-15, 11-7
IRT Men’s Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday evening
1 Ben Croft & Kane Waselenchuk v. 4 Jose Rojas & Marco Rojas
2 Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz v. Daniel De La Rosa & Edson Martinez
Follow the bouncing ball….
The outcome was in doubt early, as Horn and Parrilla took a 9-1 lead in game one. But Croft and Waselenchuk got a side out then, and called a time out. After some back and forth rallies, Croft and Waselenchuk put together a string of points to cut the lead to 9-7. Horn and Parrilla scored another point to make it 10-7, but then six points went by for the champs, which got them the lead at 13-10.
It looked like the champions were free and clear, but the young challengers had other ideas, and they got the serve back and ran five straight points to win game one, 15-13.
In game one, Waselenchuk took all the serve returns, as he and Croft played an I formation initially. Parrilla hit lobs to the right side - the side he was playing - and with Waselenchuk returning them, Croft was pushed to the left, so the lefty-righty team of Waselenchuk and Croft had their backhands to the sidewalls. That might have helped Horn and Parrilla get their lead.
Game two saw Croft and Waselenchuk taking the big lead, going up 10-1, and keeping it to win comfortably and force a tie-breaker.
In the breaker, it was close early, and then Horn and Parrilla got a slight lead at 4-2. But the champions held them there, and scored seven straight points to lead 9-4. Horn and Parrilla got to within three after Waselenchuk skipped a couple of shots, but then a Horn skip got the champions the serve again.
A Waselenchuk winner got them to match point, and then Horn skipped a backhand shot to end the match.
Croft and Waselenchuk will play the Rojas brothers, Jose and Marco, in the semi-finals Friday. Rojas and Rojas defeated Charlie Pratt and Dylan Reid, 15-13, 11-15, 11-9, Thursday.
In another tie-breaker, Bredenbeck and Diaz, last year's finalists, squeaked past Sebastian Franco and Mario Mercado, 15-13, 10-15, 11-7. In the breaker Bredenbeck and Diaz were up early at 4-1, but Franco and Mercado tied it at 4-4. Bredenbeck and Diaz went ahead again at 6-4, only see Franco and Mercado tie it again at 6-6.
But after Franco skipped two shots - one of them forced - that made the score 8-6 for Bredenbeck and Diaz, the lead never changed. Diaz hit an ace serve that got them to match point. Mercado, on the right side, hit a winning cross court return on the first match point, but on the second Franco skipped and forehand shot that ended it at 11-7.
In the semi-finals, Bredenbeck and Diaz will play Daniel De La Rosa and Edson Martinez, who were upset winners over Rocky Carson and Alvaro Beltran, 15-6, 15-13.
The IRT doubles semi-finals will be Friday evening, and the IRT doubles final at the 2016 United Healthcare US Open will be 5 PM Saturday at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2016 United Healthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
IRT Men’s Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday evening
1 Ben Croft & Kane Waselenchuk v. David Horn & Andree Parrilla, 6-15, 15-13, 11-6
4 Jose Rojas & Marco Rojas d. Dylan Reid & Charlie Pratt, 15-13, 11-15, 11-9
Daniel De La Rosa & Edson Martinez d. 3 Alvaro Beltran & Rocky Carson, 15-6, 15-13
2 Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz d. Sebastian Franco & Mario Mercado, 15-13, 10-15, 11-7
IRT Men’s Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday evening
1 Ben Croft & Kane Waselenchuk v. 4 Jose Rojas & Marco Rojas
2 Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz v. Daniel De La Rosa & Edson Martinez
Follow the bouncing ball….
2016 United Healthcare US Open - LPRT Round of 16
Natalia Mendez won again in the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) division of the 2016 United Healthcare US Open. Mendez, unseeded going into the event, defeated 20th seed Cecilia Pratt, 11-5, 11-6, 11-3, in the Round of 16 Thursday, which puts her into the US Open quarterfinals for the first time in her career.
In the quarters, Mendez faces 5th seed Jessica Parrilla, who reached the quarters for only the 2nd time in her career, as she beat Jessica Maldonado, 11-0, 11-3, 7-11, 11-1.
In other action, luck ran out for juniors Gabriela Martinez and Jordan Cooperrider, as they were defeated in the 16s. Martinez lost to 3rd seed Rhonda Rajsich, 11-3, 11-4, 10-12, 11-7, and Cooperrider was beaten by 6th seed Samantha Salas, 7-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-4. Rajsich and Salas will face off in the quarters on Friday.
Overall, the six of the top eight seeds are in the quarterfinals, including LPRT #1 Paola Longoria who easily beat 16th seed Monserrat Mejia in the 16s, 11-2, 11-3, 11-1. Longoria will play veteran left-hander Susana Acosta in the quarters, as Acosta defeated Carla Muñoz, 6-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-6.
The LPRT Round of 16 concludes Thursday, and the quarterfinals will be Friday with the semi-finals on Saturday, and the LPRT final of the 2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open will be Sunday at 10 AM at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
LPRT Singles Round of 16 - Thursday
1 Paola Longoria d. 16 Monserrat Mejia, 11-2, 11-3, 11-1
9 Susana Acosta d. 8 Carla Muñoz, 6-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-6
5 Jessica Parrilla d. 21 Jessica Maldonado, 11-0, 11-3, 7-11, 11-1
Natalia Mendez d. 20 Cecilia Pratt, 11-5, 11-6, 11-3
3 Rhonda Rajsich d. 19 Gabriela Martinez, 11-3, 11-4, 10-12, 11-7
6 Samantha Salas d. 22 Jordan Cooperrider, 7-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-4
7 Cristina Amaya d. 10 Michelle Key, 11-4, 11-5, 11-2
2 Frédérique Lambert d. 15 Sheryl Lotts, 11-2, 11-4, 11-7
LPRT Singles Quarterfinals - Friday
1 Paola Longoria v. 9 Susana Acosta
5 Jessica Parrilla v. Natalia Mendez
3 Rhonda Rajsich v. 6 Samantha Salas
2 Frédérique Lambert v. 7 Cristina Amaya
Follow the bouncing ball….
In the quarters, Mendez faces 5th seed Jessica Parrilla, who reached the quarters for only the 2nd time in her career, as she beat Jessica Maldonado, 11-0, 11-3, 7-11, 11-1.
In other action, luck ran out for juniors Gabriela Martinez and Jordan Cooperrider, as they were defeated in the 16s. Martinez lost to 3rd seed Rhonda Rajsich, 11-3, 11-4, 10-12, 11-7, and Cooperrider was beaten by 6th seed Samantha Salas, 7-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-4. Rajsich and Salas will face off in the quarters on Friday.
Overall, the six of the top eight seeds are in the quarterfinals, including LPRT #1 Paola Longoria who easily beat 16th seed Monserrat Mejia in the 16s, 11-2, 11-3, 11-1. Longoria will play veteran left-hander Susana Acosta in the quarters, as Acosta defeated Carla Muñoz, 6-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-6.
The LPRT Round of 16 concludes Thursday, and the quarterfinals will be Friday with the semi-finals on Saturday, and the LPRT final of the 2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open will be Sunday at 10 AM at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
LPRT Singles Round of 16 - Thursday
1 Paola Longoria d. 16 Monserrat Mejia, 11-2, 11-3, 11-1
9 Susana Acosta d. 8 Carla Muñoz, 6-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-6
5 Jessica Parrilla d. 21 Jessica Maldonado, 11-0, 11-3, 7-11, 11-1
Natalia Mendez d. 20 Cecilia Pratt, 11-5, 11-6, 11-3
3 Rhonda Rajsich d. 19 Gabriela Martinez, 11-3, 11-4, 10-12, 11-7
6 Samantha Salas d. 22 Jordan Cooperrider, 7-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-4
7 Cristina Amaya d. 10 Michelle Key, 11-4, 11-5, 11-2
2 Frédérique Lambert d. 15 Sheryl Lotts, 11-2, 11-4, 11-7
LPRT Singles Quarterfinals - Friday
1 Paola Longoria v. 9 Susana Acosta
5 Jessica Parrilla v. Natalia Mendez
3 Rhonda Rajsich v. 6 Samantha Salas
2 Frédérique Lambert v. 7 Cristina Amaya
Follow the bouncing ball….
2016 United Healthcare US Open IRT Round of 16
The International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Round of 16 at the 2016 United Healthcare US Open in Minneapolis has seen no upsets so far. But David Horn almost got the better of 4th seed Alvaro Beltran, as they went five games. However, the former US Open finalist came out on top, as Beltran defeated David Horn, 11-4, 1-11, 12-10, 8-11, 11-7.
They were close early in the breaker, and tied 2-2. Then Beltran edged ahead with three consecutive points, including one of his smooth backhand pinch shots, to make it 5-2. Horn called timeout at that point, and he was able to get the serve back when play resumed, and scored two points to make it 5-4 in Beltran's favour.
However, Beltran maintained the lead through the breaker. Horn did draw within one again at 8-7, but he didn't get past seven, as Beltran closed it out with a backhand pinch shot, 11-7.
Beltran will face 5th seed Jose Rojas, who went through Alejandro Landa like a buzzsaw, winning 11-1, 11-7, 11-0. Rojas drove served very well, and kept Landa off balance. Landa clearly got frustrated in the match, and that didn't help his cause.
Also, you might think it's a typo, but it's not. IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk did beat 16th seed Andree Parrilla, 11-0, 11-0, 11-0. That's quite the score line, and should concerning to anyone else in the draw, especially Sebastian Franco, who'll play Waselenchuk in the quarterfinals Friday.
The IRT quarterfinals are Friday, semi-finals Saturday, and the IRT final of the 2016 United Healthcare US Open will be Sunday October 9 at noon at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. You can watch the action via the IRT Network.
2016 United Healthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
IRT Men’s Singles - Round of 16 - Thursday
1 Kane Waselenchuk d. 16 Andree Parrilla, 11-0, 11-0, 11-0
8 Sebastian Franco d. 9 Felipe Camacho, 10-12, 11-8, 11-1, 11-4
5 Jose Rojas d. Alejandro Landa, 11-1, 11-7, 11-0
4 Alvaro Beltran d. David Horn, 11-4, 1-11, 12-10, 8-11, 11-7
3 Daniel De La Rosa d. Jose Diaz, 11-3, 5-11, 11-5, 11-0
11 Jake Bredenbeck d. Javier Mar, 11-2, 11-5, 4-11, 12-10
7 Marco Rojas d. Eduardo Garay, 11-6, 11-2, 11-4
2 Rocky Carson d. Andres Acuña, 11-1, 11-1, 11-3
IRT Men’s Singles - Quarterfinals - Friday
1 Kane Waselenchuk v. 8 Sebastian Franco
4 Alvaro Beltran v. 5 Jose Rojas
3 Daniel De La Rosa v. 11 Jake Bredenbeck
2 Rocky Carson v. 7 Marco Rojas
Follow the bouncing ball….
They were close early in the breaker, and tied 2-2. Then Beltran edged ahead with three consecutive points, including one of his smooth backhand pinch shots, to make it 5-2. Horn called timeout at that point, and he was able to get the serve back when play resumed, and scored two points to make it 5-4 in Beltran's favour.
However, Beltran maintained the lead through the breaker. Horn did draw within one again at 8-7, but he didn't get past seven, as Beltran closed it out with a backhand pinch shot, 11-7.
Beltran will face 5th seed Jose Rojas, who went through Alejandro Landa like a buzzsaw, winning 11-1, 11-7, 11-0. Rojas drove served very well, and kept Landa off balance. Landa clearly got frustrated in the match, and that didn't help his cause.
Also, you might think it's a typo, but it's not. IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk did beat 16th seed Andree Parrilla, 11-0, 11-0, 11-0. That's quite the score line, and should concerning to anyone else in the draw, especially Sebastian Franco, who'll play Waselenchuk in the quarterfinals Friday.
The IRT quarterfinals are Friday, semi-finals Saturday, and the IRT final of the 2016 United Healthcare US Open will be Sunday October 9 at noon at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. You can watch the action via the IRT Network.
2016 United Healthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
IRT Men’s Singles - Round of 16 - Thursday
1 Kane Waselenchuk d. 16 Andree Parrilla, 11-0, 11-0, 11-0
8 Sebastian Franco d. 9 Felipe Camacho, 10-12, 11-8, 11-1, 11-4
5 Jose Rojas d. Alejandro Landa, 11-1, 11-7, 11-0
4 Alvaro Beltran d. David Horn, 11-4, 1-11, 12-10, 8-11, 11-7
3 Daniel De La Rosa d. Jose Diaz, 11-3, 5-11, 11-5, 11-0
11 Jake Bredenbeck d. Javier Mar, 11-2, 11-5, 4-11, 12-10
7 Marco Rojas d. Eduardo Garay, 11-6, 11-2, 11-4
2 Rocky Carson d. Andres Acuña, 11-1, 11-1, 11-3
IRT Men’s Singles - Quarterfinals - Friday
1 Kane Waselenchuk v. 8 Sebastian Franco
4 Alvaro Beltran v. 5 Jose Rojas
3 Daniel De La Rosa v. 11 Jake Bredenbeck
2 Rocky Carson v. 7 Marco Rojas
Follow the bouncing ball….
2016 United Healthcare US Open IRT Round of 32
Some early upsets in the Round of 32 of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) competition at the 2016 United Healthcare US Open in Minneapolis. The highest seed going out so far is 6th seed Jansen Allen, who lost to Javier Mar, 11-8, 11-1, 11-2. Mar faces Jake Bredenbeck in the Round of 16 later today, as Bredenbeck fought back from 1-2 down against Edson Martinez, winning 11-2, 9-11, 5-11, 11-3, 11-3.
Also the 12th, 13th and 14th seeds are all out. Alejandro Landa knocked off 12th Robert Collins, 11-5, 11-4, 11-5, David Horn took out 13th Mauricio Zelada in five games, 11-7, 11-2, 7-11, 11-13, 11-0, and Jose Diaz beat 14th seed Scott McClellan, 11-0, 11-5, 11-2.
The 15th seed Charlie Pratt also lost. Andres Acuña defeated Pratt, 11-6, 12-10, 11-5, and will play 2nd seed Rocky Carson in the Round of 16, as Carson beat Thomas Fuhrmann, 11-3, 11-5, 11-3.
The men will play twice on Thursday with the Round of 32 and 16. Then the quarterfinals will be Friday, semi-finals Saturday, and the IRT final of the 2016 United Healthcare US Open will be Sunday October 9 at noon at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2016 United Healthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
IRT Men’s Singles - Round of 32 - Thursday
1 Kane Waselenchuk d. Rodrigo Montoya, 11-2, 11-5, 11-6
16 Andree Parrilla d. Cliff Swain, 6-11, 11-8, 11-3, 11-9
9 Felipe Camacho d. Teobaldo Fumero, 11-1, 9-11, 11-9, 11-6
8 Sebastian Franco d. Christian Longoria, 7-11, 11-4, 9-11, 11-0, 11-2
5 Jose Rojas d. Samuel Murray, 11-9, 11-6, 11-1
Alejandro Landa d. 12 Robert Collins, 11-5, 11-4, 11-5
David Horn d. 13 Mauricio Zelada, 11-7, 11-2, 7-11, 11-13, 11-0
4 Alvaro Beltran d. Mauro Rojas, 11-6, 7-11, 11-1, 11-3
3 Daniel De La Rosa d. Dylan Reid, 11-6, 11-2, 13-11
Jose Diaz d. 14 Scott McClellan, 11-0, 11-5, 11-2
11 Jake Bredenbeck d. Edson Martinez, 11-2, 9-11, 5-11, 11-3, 11-3
Javier Mar d. 6 Jansen Allen, 11-8, 11-1, 11-2
7 Marco Rojas d. Jonathan Burns, 11-4, 3-11, 11-4, 11-8
Eduardo Garay d. 10 Mario Mercado, 11-5, 11-5, 9-11, 10-12, 12-10
Andres Acuña d. 15 Charlie Pratt, 11-6, 12-10, 11-5
2 Rocky Carson d. Thomas Fuhrmann, 11-3, 11-5, 11-3
IRT Men’s Singles - Round of 16 - Thursday
1 Kane Waselenchuk v. 16 Andree Parrilla
8 Sebastian Franco v. 9 Felipe Camacho
5 Jose Rojas v. Alejandro Landa
4 Alvaro Beltran v. David Horn
3 Daniel De La Rosa v. Jose Diaz
11 Jake Bredenbeck v. Javier Mar
7 Marco Rojas v. Eduardo Garay
2 Rocky Carson v. Andres Acuña
Follow the bouncing ball….
Also the 12th, 13th and 14th seeds are all out. Alejandro Landa knocked off 12th Robert Collins, 11-5, 11-4, 11-5, David Horn took out 13th Mauricio Zelada in five games, 11-7, 11-2, 7-11, 11-13, 11-0, and Jose Diaz beat 14th seed Scott McClellan, 11-0, 11-5, 11-2.
The 15th seed Charlie Pratt also lost. Andres Acuña defeated Pratt, 11-6, 12-10, 11-5, and will play 2nd seed Rocky Carson in the Round of 16, as Carson beat Thomas Fuhrmann, 11-3, 11-5, 11-3.
The men will play twice on Thursday with the Round of 32 and 16. Then the quarterfinals will be Friday, semi-finals Saturday, and the IRT final of the 2016 United Healthcare US Open will be Sunday October 9 at noon at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2016 United Healthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
IRT Men’s Singles - Round of 32 - Thursday
1 Kane Waselenchuk d. Rodrigo Montoya, 11-2, 11-5, 11-6
16 Andree Parrilla d. Cliff Swain, 6-11, 11-8, 11-3, 11-9
9 Felipe Camacho d. Teobaldo Fumero, 11-1, 9-11, 11-9, 11-6
8 Sebastian Franco d. Christian Longoria, 7-11, 11-4, 9-11, 11-0, 11-2
5 Jose Rojas d. Samuel Murray, 11-9, 11-6, 11-1
Alejandro Landa d. 12 Robert Collins, 11-5, 11-4, 11-5
David Horn d. 13 Mauricio Zelada, 11-7, 11-2, 7-11, 11-13, 11-0
4 Alvaro Beltran d. Mauro Rojas, 11-6, 7-11, 11-1, 11-3
3 Daniel De La Rosa d. Dylan Reid, 11-6, 11-2, 13-11
Jose Diaz d. 14 Scott McClellan, 11-0, 11-5, 11-2
11 Jake Bredenbeck d. Edson Martinez, 11-2, 9-11, 5-11, 11-3, 11-3
Javier Mar d. 6 Jansen Allen, 11-8, 11-1, 11-2
7 Marco Rojas d. Jonathan Burns, 11-4, 3-11, 11-4, 11-8
Eduardo Garay d. 10 Mario Mercado, 11-5, 11-5, 9-11, 10-12, 12-10
Andres Acuña d. 15 Charlie Pratt, 11-6, 12-10, 11-5
2 Rocky Carson d. Thomas Fuhrmann, 11-3, 11-5, 11-3
IRT Men’s Singles - Round of 16 - Thursday
1 Kane Waselenchuk v. 16 Andree Parrilla
8 Sebastian Franco v. 9 Felipe Camacho
5 Jose Rojas v. Alejandro Landa
4 Alvaro Beltran v. David Horn
3 Daniel De La Rosa v. Jose Diaz
11 Jake Bredenbeck v. Javier Mar
7 Marco Rojas v. Eduardo Garay
2 Rocky Carson v. Andres Acuña
Follow the bouncing ball….
2016 United Healthcare US Open - LPRT Singles Round of 32
The Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Round of 32 has begun at the 2016 United Healthcare US Open, and already there are upsets. More than one. In fact, more than two. Natalia Mendez has the biggest win, as she ousted 4th seed Alexandra Herrera in four games, 7-11, 11-0, 11-7, 11-6. Mendez will play another upset winner in the Round of 16 in 20th seed Cecilia Pratt, who defeated 13th seed Maria Renee Rodriguez, 11-4, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8.
Mendez or Pratt will be a US Open quarterfinalist.
After winning a five game match late last night the luck ran out for Janel Tisinger, who fell in straight games to 5th seed Jessica Parrilla, 11-1, 11-1, 11-4. Parrilla plays 21st seed Jessica Maldonado, who upset 12th seed Adrienne Haynes, 11-5, 11-1, 11-7.
And there have been wins from two junior players. Guatemalan junior Gabriela Martinez, the 19th seed, defeated 14th seed Veronica Sotomayor, who was a semi-finalist here last year, 11-0, 12-10, 11-7, and American junior Jordan Cooperrider, seeded 22nd, beat 11th seed Adriana Riveros, 11-6, 11-4, 6-11, 11-4. In the 16s, Martinez faces either 3rd seed Rhonda Rajsich or Eleni Guzman, and Cooperrider will play either 6th seed Samantha Salas or Jenny Daza.
Dramatic comeback by 10th seed Michelle Key, who dropped the first two games against 23rd seed Sharon Jackson, and was down 10-7 in the fifth. But she managed to pull it out, 4-11, 1-11, 11-6, 11-9, 12-10, fighting off four match points along the way. An ace drive serve to the left got Key to 11-10, and on the next rally she hit a shot that wrapped around the court into the back left corner. Jackson swung at it, but failed to make contact, giving Key the match.
The LPRT Round of 32 continues Thursday with the Round of 16 to follow Thursday afternoon. The quarterfinals will be Friday with the semi-finals on Saturday, and the LPRT final of the 2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open will be Sunday at 10 AM at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
LPRT Singles Round of 32 - Thursday
1 Paola Longoria d. Youngock Lee, 11-3, 11-0, 11-1
16 Monserrat Mejia d. 17 Carolina Rivera, 11-2, 11-1, 11-8
9 Susana Acosta d. 24 Laura Brandt, 11-4, 11-6, 11-2
8 Carla Muñoz d. Hollie Scott, 11-6, 11-8, 12-10
5 Jessica Parrilla d. Janel Tisinger, 11-1, 11-1, 11-4
21 Jessica Maldonado d. 12 Adrianne Haynes, 11-5, 11-1, 11-7
20 Cecilia Pratt d. 13 Maria Renee Rodriguez, 11-4, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8
Natalia Mendez d. 4 Alexandra Herrera, 7-11, 11-0, 11-7, 11-6
3 Rhonda Rajsich d. Eleni Guzman, 11-9, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7
19 Gabriela Martinez d. 14 Veronica Sotomayor, 11-0, 12-10, 11-7
22 Jordan Cooperrider d. 11 Adriana Riveros, 11-6, 11-4, 6-11, 11-4
6 Samantha Salas d. Jenny Daza, 11-9, 11-4, 11-7
7 Cristina Amaya d. Maritza Franco, 12-10, 11-8, 11-3
10 Michelle Key d. 23 Sharon Jackson, 4-11, 1-11, 11-6, 11-9, 12-10
15 Sheryl Lotts d. 18 Da’monique Davis, 11-5, 11-5, 10-12, 11-6
2 Frédérique Lambert d. Erika Manilla, 11-3, 11-8, 11-7
LPRT Singles Round of 32 - Thursday
1 Paola Longoria v. 16 Monserrat Mejia
8 Carla Muñoz v. 9 Susana Acosta
5 Jessica Parrilla v. 21 Jessica Maldonado
20 Cecilia Pratt v. Natalia Mendez
3 Rhonda Rajsich v. 19 Gabriela Martinez
6 Samantha Salas v. 22 Jordan Cooperrider
7 Cristina Amaya v. 10 Michelle Key
2 Frédérique Lambert v. 15 Sheryl Lotts
Follow the bouncing ball….
Mendez or Pratt will be a US Open quarterfinalist.
After winning a five game match late last night the luck ran out for Janel Tisinger, who fell in straight games to 5th seed Jessica Parrilla, 11-1, 11-1, 11-4. Parrilla plays 21st seed Jessica Maldonado, who upset 12th seed Adrienne Haynes, 11-5, 11-1, 11-7.
And there have been wins from two junior players. Guatemalan junior Gabriela Martinez, the 19th seed, defeated 14th seed Veronica Sotomayor, who was a semi-finalist here last year, 11-0, 12-10, 11-7, and American junior Jordan Cooperrider, seeded 22nd, beat 11th seed Adriana Riveros, 11-6, 11-4, 6-11, 11-4. In the 16s, Martinez faces either 3rd seed Rhonda Rajsich or Eleni Guzman, and Cooperrider will play either 6th seed Samantha Salas or Jenny Daza.
Dramatic comeback by 10th seed Michelle Key, who dropped the first two games against 23rd seed Sharon Jackson, and was down 10-7 in the fifth. But she managed to pull it out, 4-11, 1-11, 11-6, 11-9, 12-10, fighting off four match points along the way. An ace drive serve to the left got Key to 11-10, and on the next rally she hit a shot that wrapped around the court into the back left corner. Jackson swung at it, but failed to make contact, giving Key the match.
The LPRT Round of 32 continues Thursday with the Round of 16 to follow Thursday afternoon. The quarterfinals will be Friday with the semi-finals on Saturday, and the LPRT final of the 2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open will be Sunday at 10 AM at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
LPRT Singles Round of 32 - Thursday
1 Paola Longoria d. Youngock Lee, 11-3, 11-0, 11-1
16 Monserrat Mejia d. 17 Carolina Rivera, 11-2, 11-1, 11-8
9 Susana Acosta d. 24 Laura Brandt, 11-4, 11-6, 11-2
8 Carla Muñoz d. Hollie Scott, 11-6, 11-8, 12-10
5 Jessica Parrilla d. Janel Tisinger, 11-1, 11-1, 11-4
21 Jessica Maldonado d. 12 Adrianne Haynes, 11-5, 11-1, 11-7
20 Cecilia Pratt d. 13 Maria Renee Rodriguez, 11-4, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8
Natalia Mendez d. 4 Alexandra Herrera, 7-11, 11-0, 11-7, 11-6
3 Rhonda Rajsich d. Eleni Guzman, 11-9, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7
19 Gabriela Martinez d. 14 Veronica Sotomayor, 11-0, 12-10, 11-7
22 Jordan Cooperrider d. 11 Adriana Riveros, 11-6, 11-4, 6-11, 11-4
6 Samantha Salas d. Jenny Daza, 11-9, 11-4, 11-7
7 Cristina Amaya d. Maritza Franco, 12-10, 11-8, 11-3
10 Michelle Key d. 23 Sharon Jackson, 4-11, 1-11, 11-6, 11-9, 12-10
15 Sheryl Lotts d. 18 Da’monique Davis, 11-5, 11-5, 10-12, 11-6
2 Frédérique Lambert d. Erika Manilla, 11-3, 11-8, 11-7
LPRT Singles Round of 32 - Thursday
1 Paola Longoria v. 16 Monserrat Mejia
8 Carla Muñoz v. 9 Susana Acosta
5 Jessica Parrilla v. 21 Jessica Maldonado
20 Cecilia Pratt v. Natalia Mendez
3 Rhonda Rajsich v. 19 Gabriela Martinez
6 Samantha Salas v. 22 Jordan Cooperrider
7 Cristina Amaya v. 10 Michelle Key
2 Frédérique Lambert v. 15 Sheryl Lotts
Follow the bouncing ball….
2016 United Healthcare US Open - IRT Doubles
No surprises in the last round of qualifying in Men's Doubles in the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) division at the 2016 United Healthcare US Open in Minneapolis, although there was one tie-breaker. Sebastian Franco and Mario Mercado needed three games to get past Nicolas Bousquet and Samuel Murray, 6-15, 15-13, 11-6. Franco and Mercado will play 2nd seeds Jake Bredenbeck and Jose Diaz in the quarterfinals this evening.
The final round of IRT doubles qualifying ends Thursday morning with the quarterfinals to follow Thursday evening. The semi-finals will be Friday evening, and the IRT doubles final at the 2016 United Healthcare US Open will be 5 PM Saturday at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2016 United Healthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
IRT Men’s Doubles - Qualifying - Round 3 Thursday morning
Q1 - Dylan Reid & Charlie Pratt d. Justus Benson & Andrew Conti, 15-9, 15-2
Q4 - David Horn & Andree Parrilla d. Mike Orr & Shawn Royster, 15-2, 15-5
Q3 - Sebastian Franco & Mario Mercado d. Nicolas Bousquet & Samuel Murray, 6-15, 15-13, 11-6
Q2 - Daniel De La Rosa & Edson Martinez d. Erik Garcia & Brad Schopieray, 15-10, 15-2
IRT Men’s Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday evening
1 Ben Croft & Kane Waselenchuk v. David Horn & Andree Parrilla
4 Jose Rojas & Marco Rojas v. Dylan Reid & Charlie Pratt
3 Alvaro Beltran & Rocky Carson v. Daniel De La Rosa & Edson Martinez
2 Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz v. Sebastian Franco & Mario Mercado
Follow the bouncing ball….
The final round of IRT doubles qualifying ends Thursday morning with the quarterfinals to follow Thursday evening. The semi-finals will be Friday evening, and the IRT doubles final at the 2016 United Healthcare US Open will be 5 PM Saturday at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2016 United Healthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
IRT Men’s Doubles - Qualifying - Round 3 Thursday morning
Q1 - Dylan Reid & Charlie Pratt d. Justus Benson & Andrew Conti, 15-9, 15-2
Q4 - David Horn & Andree Parrilla d. Mike Orr & Shawn Royster, 15-2, 15-5
Q3 - Sebastian Franco & Mario Mercado d. Nicolas Bousquet & Samuel Murray, 6-15, 15-13, 11-6
Q2 - Daniel De La Rosa & Edson Martinez d. Erik Garcia & Brad Schopieray, 15-10, 15-2
IRT Men’s Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday evening
1 Ben Croft & Kane Waselenchuk v. David Horn & Andree Parrilla
4 Jose Rojas & Marco Rojas v. Dylan Reid & Charlie Pratt
3 Alvaro Beltran & Rocky Carson v. Daniel De La Rosa & Edson Martinez
2 Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz v. Sebastian Franco & Mario Mercado
Follow the bouncing ball….
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
2016 United Healthcare US Open LPRT Doubles Qualifying
Three matches are in the books in the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) doubles draw at the 2016 United Healthcare US Open, and all three have been upsets. In an all-American battle, the young team of Jordan Cooperrider and Erika Manilla took out the veteran team of Cheryl Gudinas and Sharon Jackson, 15-9, 15-8.
In the other matches, Koreans Ana Jungeon and Jin Young Seok defeated Cecilia Pratt and Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-11, 15-11, while two pairs of sisters faced off with Maritza Franco and Regina Franco overcoming Gabriela Martinez and Andrea Martinez, 12-15, 15-8, 11-8.
But so far those teams haven't survived the second round of qualifying. Susana Acosta and Jessica Maldonado defeated Jordan Cooperrider and Erika Manilla, 15-14, 15-12, and Jessica Parrilla and Monserrat Perez beat sisters Maritza and Regina Franco, 15-4, 7-15, 11-8.
The LPRT qualifying continues Wednesday at the 2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open with the quarterfinals on Thursday, semi-finals Friday, and final Saturday at 4 PM at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
LPRT Doubles Qualifying - Wednesday
Round 1
Jordan Cooperrider & Erika Manilla d. Cheryl Gudinas & Sharon Jackson, 15-9, 15-8
Ana Jungeon & Jin Young Seok d. Cecilia Pratt & Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-11, 15-11
Danielle Key & Michelle Key d. Donna Ryder & Samantha Simmons, 15-2, 15-1
Natalia Mendez & Carla Muñoz d. Eleni Guzman & Maiko Sato, 15-6, 15-8
Maritza Franco & Regina Franco d. Gabriela Martinez & Andrea Martinez, 12-15, 15-8, 11-8
Round 2
Q1: Susana Acosta & Jessica Maldonado d. Jordan Cooperrider & Erika Manilla, 15-14, 15-12
Q4: Danielle Key & Michelle Key d. Ana Jungeon & Jin Young Seok, 15-13, 15-10
Q3: Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros d. Natalia Mendez & Carla Muñoz, 15-11, 15-6
Q2: Jessica Parrilla & Monserrat Perez d. Maritza Franco & Regina Franco, 15-4, 7-15, 11-8
LPRT Doubles Quarterfinals - Thursday
1 Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. Danielle Key & Michelle Key
4 Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich v. Susana Acosta & Jessica Maldonado
3 Frédérique Lambert & Veronica Sotomayor v. Jessica Parrilla & Monserrat Perez
2 Alexandra Herrera & Monserrat Mejia v. Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros
Follow the bouncing ball….
In the other matches, Koreans Ana Jungeon and Jin Young Seok defeated Cecilia Pratt and Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-11, 15-11, while two pairs of sisters faced off with Maritza Franco and Regina Franco overcoming Gabriela Martinez and Andrea Martinez, 12-15, 15-8, 11-8.
But so far those teams haven't survived the second round of qualifying. Susana Acosta and Jessica Maldonado defeated Jordan Cooperrider and Erika Manilla, 15-14, 15-12, and Jessica Parrilla and Monserrat Perez beat sisters Maritza and Regina Franco, 15-4, 7-15, 11-8.
The LPRT qualifying continues Wednesday at the 2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open with the quarterfinals on Thursday, semi-finals Friday, and final Saturday at 4 PM at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
LPRT Doubles Qualifying - Wednesday
Round 1
Jordan Cooperrider & Erika Manilla d. Cheryl Gudinas & Sharon Jackson, 15-9, 15-8
Ana Jungeon & Jin Young Seok d. Cecilia Pratt & Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-11, 15-11
Danielle Key & Michelle Key d. Donna Ryder & Samantha Simmons, 15-2, 15-1
Natalia Mendez & Carla Muñoz d. Eleni Guzman & Maiko Sato, 15-6, 15-8
Maritza Franco & Regina Franco d. Gabriela Martinez & Andrea Martinez, 12-15, 15-8, 11-8
Round 2
Q1: Susana Acosta & Jessica Maldonado d. Jordan Cooperrider & Erika Manilla, 15-14, 15-12
Q4: Danielle Key & Michelle Key d. Ana Jungeon & Jin Young Seok, 15-13, 15-10
Q3: Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros d. Natalia Mendez & Carla Muñoz, 15-11, 15-6
Q2: Jessica Parrilla & Monserrat Perez d. Maritza Franco & Regina Franco, 15-4, 7-15, 11-8
LPRT Doubles Quarterfinals - Thursday
1 Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. Danielle Key & Michelle Key
4 Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich v. Susana Acosta & Jessica Maldonado
3 Frédérique Lambert & Veronica Sotomayor v. Jessica Parrilla & Monserrat Perez
2 Alexandra Herrera & Monserrat Mejia v. Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros
Follow the bouncing ball….
2016 United Healthcare US Open - IRT Singles Qualifying
A couple of tie-breakers were needed to determine Round of 32 qualifiers in International Racquetball Tour (IRT) draw of the 2016 United Healthcare US Open in Minneapolis Wednesday, and both Samuel Murray and Mauro Rojas came back from 0-2 down to advance to the 32s on Thursday. Murray beat Gerardo Franco, 10-12, 9-11, 11-2, 11-1, 11-3, and Rojas defeated Thomas Carter, 9-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-4.
Murray's win sets up a showdown with 5th seed Jose Rojas, and the winner of that will face the winner of 12th seed Robert Collins and Alejandro Landa, as Landa defeated Christian Wer, 11-4, 11-0, 11-4, to advance. One of those four players will be a US Open quarterfinalist.
Finally, in what must have been one of the longest matches in US Open history, Rodrigo Montoya came back from two games down to defeat Jaime Martell, 8-11, 9-11, 11-3, 13-11, 11-5. Montoya had to fight off match points in the fourth game to make it happen.
The men will play twice on Thursday with the Round of 32 and 16. Then the quarterfinals will be Friday, semi-finals Saturday, and the IRT final of the 2016 United Healthcare US Open will be Sunday October 9 at noon at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2016 United Healthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
IRT Men’s Singles - Qualifying - Wednesday
Round 1
Erik Garcia d. Edwin Galicia, 0-11, 10-12, 11-5, 11-6, 11-1
Jaime Martell d. Seungjun Jeon, 11-4, 11-4, 11-7
Rodrigo Montoya d. Nicholas Riffel, 11-7, 11-4, 11-8
Christian Longoria d. John Starks, 11-0, 11-3, 11-4
Teobaldo Fumero d. Andrew Conti, 10-12, 11-1, 11-7, 11-2
Christian Wer d. Bruce Robles, 8-11, 6-11, 11-4, 14-12, 11-1
Gerardo Franco d. Set Cubillos, 11-1, 11-4, 11-6
Mauro Rojas d. Andrés Gomez, 11-7, 11-1, 11-5
Tim Prigo d. Luis Avila, forfeit
Bradly Rogers d. Mike Orr, forfeit
Hiroshi Shimizu d. Mingyu Kim, 12-10, 7-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-2
Hans Mendez d. Justus Benson, 12-10, 11-8, 11-5
Jose Ubilla v. Michael Silvio, 11-6, 11-4, 11-8
Eduardo Garay d. Andrew Clarke, 11-1, 11-1, 11-4
Jonathan Burns d. Austin Cunningham, 10-12, 11-4, 11-1, 11-5
Thomas Fuhrmann d. Ben Ryder, 11-6, 11-0, 11-5
Moon Gyun Kim d. Destry Everhart, 12-10, 11-5, 5-11, 4-11, 11-8
Andres Acuña d. Aaron Booker, 11-2, 11-4, 11-0
Round 2
Q1: Cliff Swain d. Erik Garcia, 5-11, 11-2, 11-8, 11-4
Q16: Rodrigo Montoya d. Jaime Martell, 8-11, 9-11, 11-3, 13-11, 11-5
Q9: Christian Longoria d. Majeed Shahin, 11-6, 11-6, 11-1
Q8: Teobaldo Fumero d. Anthony Herrera, 11-3, 11-2, 11-5
Q5: Alejandro Landa d. Christian Wer, 11-4, 11-0, 11-4
Q12: Samuel Murray d. Gerardo Franco, 10-12, 9-11, 11-2, 11-1, 11-3
Q13: Mauro Rojas d. Thomas Carter, 9-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-4
Q4: David Horn d. Tim Prigo, 11-0, 11-7, 11-0
Q3: Jose Diaz d. Bradly Rogers, 11-6, 12-10, 11-3
Q14: Dylan Reid d. Hiroshi Shimizu, 12-10, 11-3, 12-10
Q11: Javier Mar d. Hans Mendez, injury forfeit
Q6: Edson Martinez d. Jose Ubilla, 11-0, 11-3, 11-6
Q7: Eduardo Garay d. Fernando Rios, 3-11, 12-10, 11-4, 11-1
Q10: Jonathan Burns d. Francisco Troncoso, 11-6, 11-9, 11-7
Q15: Thomas Fuhrmann d. Moon Gyun Kim, 12-10, 12-10, 10-12, 11-5
Q2: Andres Acuña d. Brad Schopieray, 11-5, 11-6, 7-11, 3-11, 12-10
IRT Men’s Singles - Round of 32 - Thursday
1 Kane Waselenchuk v. Rodrigo Montoya
16 Andree Parrilla v. Cliff Swain
9 Felipe Camacho v. Teobaldo Fumero
8 Sebastian Franco v. Christian Longoria
5 Jose Rojas v. Samuel Murray
12 Robert Collins v. Alejandro Landa
13 Mauricio Zelada v. David Horn
4 Alvaro Beltran v. Mauro Rojas
3 Daniel De La Rosa v. Dylan Reid
14 Scott McClellan v. Jose Diaz
11 Jake Bredenbeck v. Edson Martinez
6 Jansen Allen v. Javier Mar
7 Marco Rojas v. Jonathan Burns
10 Mario Mercado v. Eduardo Garay
15 Charlie Pratt v. Andres Acuña
2 Rocky Carson v. Thomas Fuhrmann
Follow the bouncing ball….
Murray's win sets up a showdown with 5th seed Jose Rojas, and the winner of that will face the winner of 12th seed Robert Collins and Alejandro Landa, as Landa defeated Christian Wer, 11-4, 11-0, 11-4, to advance. One of those four players will be a US Open quarterfinalist.
Finally, in what must have been one of the longest matches in US Open history, Rodrigo Montoya came back from two games down to defeat Jaime Martell, 8-11, 9-11, 11-3, 13-11, 11-5. Montoya had to fight off match points in the fourth game to make it happen.
The men will play twice on Thursday with the Round of 32 and 16. Then the quarterfinals will be Friday, semi-finals Saturday, and the IRT final of the 2016 United Healthcare US Open will be Sunday October 9 at noon at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2016 United Healthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
IRT Men’s Singles - Qualifying - Wednesday
Round 1
Erik Garcia d. Edwin Galicia, 0-11, 10-12, 11-5, 11-6, 11-1
Jaime Martell d. Seungjun Jeon, 11-4, 11-4, 11-7
Rodrigo Montoya d. Nicholas Riffel, 11-7, 11-4, 11-8
Christian Longoria d. John Starks, 11-0, 11-3, 11-4
Teobaldo Fumero d. Andrew Conti, 10-12, 11-1, 11-7, 11-2
Christian Wer d. Bruce Robles, 8-11, 6-11, 11-4, 14-12, 11-1
Gerardo Franco d. Set Cubillos, 11-1, 11-4, 11-6
Mauro Rojas d. Andrés Gomez, 11-7, 11-1, 11-5
Tim Prigo d. Luis Avila, forfeit
Bradly Rogers d. Mike Orr, forfeit
Hiroshi Shimizu d. Mingyu Kim, 12-10, 7-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-2
Hans Mendez d. Justus Benson, 12-10, 11-8, 11-5
Jose Ubilla v. Michael Silvio, 11-6, 11-4, 11-8
Eduardo Garay d. Andrew Clarke, 11-1, 11-1, 11-4
Jonathan Burns d. Austin Cunningham, 10-12, 11-4, 11-1, 11-5
Thomas Fuhrmann d. Ben Ryder, 11-6, 11-0, 11-5
Moon Gyun Kim d. Destry Everhart, 12-10, 11-5, 5-11, 4-11, 11-8
Andres Acuña d. Aaron Booker, 11-2, 11-4, 11-0
Round 2
Q1: Cliff Swain d. Erik Garcia, 5-11, 11-2, 11-8, 11-4
Q16: Rodrigo Montoya d. Jaime Martell, 8-11, 9-11, 11-3, 13-11, 11-5
Q9: Christian Longoria d. Majeed Shahin, 11-6, 11-6, 11-1
Q8: Teobaldo Fumero d. Anthony Herrera, 11-3, 11-2, 11-5
Q5: Alejandro Landa d. Christian Wer, 11-4, 11-0, 11-4
Q12: Samuel Murray d. Gerardo Franco, 10-12, 9-11, 11-2, 11-1, 11-3
Q13: Mauro Rojas d. Thomas Carter, 9-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-4
Q4: David Horn d. Tim Prigo, 11-0, 11-7, 11-0
Q3: Jose Diaz d. Bradly Rogers, 11-6, 12-10, 11-3
Q14: Dylan Reid d. Hiroshi Shimizu, 12-10, 11-3, 12-10
Q11: Javier Mar d. Hans Mendez, injury forfeit
Q6: Edson Martinez d. Jose Ubilla, 11-0, 11-3, 11-6
Q7: Eduardo Garay d. Fernando Rios, 3-11, 12-10, 11-4, 11-1
Q10: Jonathan Burns d. Francisco Troncoso, 11-6, 11-9, 11-7
Q15: Thomas Fuhrmann d. Moon Gyun Kim, 12-10, 12-10, 10-12, 11-5
Q2: Andres Acuña d. Brad Schopieray, 11-5, 11-6, 7-11, 3-11, 12-10
IRT Men’s Singles - Round of 32 - Thursday
1 Kane Waselenchuk v. Rodrigo Montoya
16 Andree Parrilla v. Cliff Swain
9 Felipe Camacho v. Teobaldo Fumero
8 Sebastian Franco v. Christian Longoria
5 Jose Rojas v. Samuel Murray
12 Robert Collins v. Alejandro Landa
13 Mauricio Zelada v. David Horn
4 Alvaro Beltran v. Mauro Rojas
3 Daniel De La Rosa v. Dylan Reid
14 Scott McClellan v. Jose Diaz
11 Jake Bredenbeck v. Edson Martinez
6 Jansen Allen v. Javier Mar
7 Marco Rojas v. Jonathan Burns
10 Mario Mercado v. Eduardo Garay
15 Charlie Pratt v. Andres Acuña
2 Rocky Carson v. Thomas Fuhrmann
Follow the bouncing ball….
2016 United Healthcare US Open - LPRT Singles Qualifying
The Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) qualifiers have begun at the 2016 United Healthcare US Open, and already there's been a five game tie-breaker, as Youngock Lee held off Michèle Morissette, 11-7, 9-11, 12-10, 2-11, 13-11. Lee claims the Q8 spot in the draw with the win, so she'll play LPRT #1 Paola Longoria on Thursday.
A second tie-breaker happened in a battle of international veterans with Jenny Daza of Bolivia coming back from two games down to defeat Maiko Sato of Japan, 2-11, 11-13, 11-1, 11-5, 11-8. Daza will play Regina Franco in the second round of qualifying with the winner to go against Samantha Salas in the Round of 32.
In the second round of qualifying, Janel Tisinger and Lucia Gonzalez played a match that will surely be close to the most points in a match season, as Tisinger managed to pull it out in five games, 10-12, 11-4, 12-10, 10-12, 11-9. After winning the fourth game, Gonzalez stormed out to a 7-0 lead in the fifth game.
But Tisinger stopped the bleeding, as they exchanged sideouts. Then she started to score points as she switched to a variety of soft serves to Gonzalez's backhand. Earlier in the match, Tisinger was using a drive right as her first serve. The switch did the trick, as Tisinger came back to win.
The LPRT will have two rounds on Thursday: the Round of 32 in the morning and then the Round of 16 in the afternoon. The quarterfinals will be Friday with the semi-finals on Saturday, and the LPRT final of the 2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open will be Sunday at 10 AM at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
LPRT Singles Qualifying - Wednesday
Round 1
Hollie Scott d. Kelly Gremley, 11-4, 11-1, 11-1
Samantha Simmons d. Donna Ryder, 11-6, 11-6, 11-0
Janel Tisinger d. Jazmin Trevino, 11-1, 11-5, 11-3
Jenny Daza d. Maiko Sato, 2-11, 11-13, 11-1, 11-5, 11-8
Ana Jungeon d. Robin Whitmire, 11-6, 11-0, 11-8
Erika Manilla d. Jin Young Seok, 8-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-7
Linda Tyler d. Malhee Kwon, 10-12, 11-7, 11-4, 11-8
Round 2
Q1: Hollie Scott d. Monserrat Perez, 11-5, 11-8, 11-8
Q8: Youngock Lee d. Michèle Morissette, 11-7, 9-11, 12-10, 2-11, 13-11
Q5: Natalia Mendez d. Samantha Simmons, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6
Q4: Janel Tisinger d. Lucia Gonzalez, 10-12, 11-4, 12-10, 10-12, 11-9
Q3: Jenny Daza d. Regina Franco, 11-8, 6-11, 11-8, 13-11
Q6: Eleni Guzman d. Ana Jungeon, 11-6, 11-6, 11-4
Q7: Erika Manilla d. Cheryl Gudinas, 11-4, 11-3, 11-3
Q2: Maritza Franco d. Linda Tyler, 11-2, 11-6, 11-8
LPRT Singles Round of 32 - Thursday
1 Paola Longoria v. Youngock Lee
16 Monserrat Mejia v. 17 Carolina Rivera
9 Susana Acosta v. 24 Laura Brandt
8 Carla Muñoz v. Hollie Scott
5 Jessica Parrilla v. Janel Tisinger
12 Adrianne Haynes v. 21 Jessica Maldonado
13 Maria Renee Rodriguez v. 20 Cecilia Pratt
4 Alexandra Herrera v. Natalia Mendez
3 Rhonda Rajsich v. Eleni Guzman
14 Veronica Sotomayor v. 19 Gabriela Martinez
11 Adriana Riveros v. 22 Jordan Cooperrider
6 Samantha Salas v. Jenny Daza
7 Cristina Amaya v. Maritza Franco
10 Michelle Key v. 23 Sharon Jackson
15 Sheryl Lotts v. 18 Da’monique Davis
2 Frédérique Lambert v. Erika Manilla
Follow the bouncing ball….
A second tie-breaker happened in a battle of international veterans with Jenny Daza of Bolivia coming back from two games down to defeat Maiko Sato of Japan, 2-11, 11-13, 11-1, 11-5, 11-8. Daza will play Regina Franco in the second round of qualifying with the winner to go against Samantha Salas in the Round of 32.
In the second round of qualifying, Janel Tisinger and Lucia Gonzalez played a match that will surely be close to the most points in a match season, as Tisinger managed to pull it out in five games, 10-12, 11-4, 12-10, 10-12, 11-9. After winning the fourth game, Gonzalez stormed out to a 7-0 lead in the fifth game.
But Tisinger stopped the bleeding, as they exchanged sideouts. Then she started to score points as she switched to a variety of soft serves to Gonzalez's backhand. Earlier in the match, Tisinger was using a drive right as her first serve. The switch did the trick, as Tisinger came back to win.
The LPRT will have two rounds on Thursday: the Round of 32 in the morning and then the Round of 16 in the afternoon. The quarterfinals will be Friday with the semi-finals on Saturday, and the LPRT final of the 2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open will be Sunday at 10 AM at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
LPRT Singles Qualifying - Wednesday
Round 1
Hollie Scott d. Kelly Gremley, 11-4, 11-1, 11-1
Samantha Simmons d. Donna Ryder, 11-6, 11-6, 11-0
Janel Tisinger d. Jazmin Trevino, 11-1, 11-5, 11-3
Jenny Daza d. Maiko Sato, 2-11, 11-13, 11-1, 11-5, 11-8
Ana Jungeon d. Robin Whitmire, 11-6, 11-0, 11-8
Erika Manilla d. Jin Young Seok, 8-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-7
Linda Tyler d. Malhee Kwon, 10-12, 11-7, 11-4, 11-8
Round 2
Q1: Hollie Scott d. Monserrat Perez, 11-5, 11-8, 11-8
Q8: Youngock Lee d. Michèle Morissette, 11-7, 9-11, 12-10, 2-11, 13-11
Q5: Natalia Mendez d. Samantha Simmons, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6
Q4: Janel Tisinger d. Lucia Gonzalez, 10-12, 11-4, 12-10, 10-12, 11-9
Q3: Jenny Daza d. Regina Franco, 11-8, 6-11, 11-8, 13-11
Q6: Eleni Guzman d. Ana Jungeon, 11-6, 11-6, 11-4
Q7: Erika Manilla d. Cheryl Gudinas, 11-4, 11-3, 11-3
Q2: Maritza Franco d. Linda Tyler, 11-2, 11-6, 11-8
LPRT Singles Round of 32 - Thursday
1 Paola Longoria v. Youngock Lee
16 Monserrat Mejia v. 17 Carolina Rivera
9 Susana Acosta v. 24 Laura Brandt
8 Carla Muñoz v. Hollie Scott
5 Jessica Parrilla v. Janel Tisinger
12 Adrianne Haynes v. 21 Jessica Maldonado
13 Maria Renee Rodriguez v. 20 Cecilia Pratt
4 Alexandra Herrera v. Natalia Mendez
3 Rhonda Rajsich v. Eleni Guzman
14 Veronica Sotomayor v. 19 Gabriela Martinez
11 Adriana Riveros v. 22 Jordan Cooperrider
6 Samantha Salas v. Jenny Daza
7 Cristina Amaya v. Maritza Franco
10 Michelle Key v. 23 Sharon Jackson
15 Sheryl Lotts v. 18 Da’monique Davis
2 Frédérique Lambert v. Erika Manilla
Follow the bouncing ball….
2016 United Healthcare US Open - IRT Doubles Qualifying
Nothing like starting a tournament with an 11-10 tie-breaker match. But that's what happened in Men's Doubles in the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) division Wednesday as the 2016 United Healthcare US Open kicked off. David Horn and Andree Parrilla defeated Teobaldo Fumero and Rodigo Montoya, 14-15, 15-9, 11-10.
It looked like Horn and Parrilla were going to have a relatively easy time of it in game one, as they were up 14-7, but Fumero and Montoya came back with eight unanswered points to steal it. Horn and Parrilla tried to stop their opponents' momentum with a timeout at 14-10, but to no avail.
Fumero and Montoya used high lob serves into the middle of the righty-righty team of Horn and Parrilla, who each took the returns for periods of the match.
Game two was close early, and Fumero and Montoya actually led 9-5, but couldn't get off 9, as Horn and Parrilla scored ten points to take the second game 15-9.
Horn and Parrilla carried that momentum into the tie-breaker, as they went up 5-1. Horn, playing the left side, primarily drove serve in the match, and used a backhand Z serve on second serve, while Parrilla settled into a hard Z to the right, where Fumero was playing.
But Fumero and Montoya came back with eight unanswered points to go up 9-5. Horn and Parrilla got a sixth point as Fumero got hit by the ball, but gave up the serve and Fumero and Montoya got a tenth point from a Montoya forehand pinch shot.
However, Horn got the serve back with a shot that sounded bad, but was called good, and no one questioned it. And that was the only match point Fumero and Montoya got, as Horn and Parrilla scored five straight points to win 11-10. Parrilla hit a backhand pinch volley for the match winner, which was an impressive end to a great match.
Horn and Parrilla will now play the winner of Mike Orr and Shawn Royster versus Thomas Carter and Nicholas Riffel.
The final round of IRT doubles qualifying will be Thursday morning (some of matches starting at 8 AM) with the quarterfinals Thursday evening. The semi-finals will be Friday evening, and the IRT doubles final at the 2016 United Healthcare US Open will be 5 PM Saturday at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2016 United Healthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
IRT Men’s Doubles - Qualifying - Round 1 Wednesday
Cliff Swain & Jansen Allen - BYE
Justus Benson & Andrew Conti d. Seungjun Jeon & Moon Gyun Kim, 15-12, 15-13
Alejandro Landa & Christian Longoria - BYE
Dylan Reid & Charlie Pratt - BYE
Mike Orr & Shawn Royster - BYE
Thomas Carter & Nicholas Riffel - BYE
Teobaldo Fumero & Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
David Horn & Andree Parrilla - BYE
Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho - BYE
Nicolas Bousquet & Samuel Murray d. Gunhee Lee & Mingyu Kim, 15-4, 15-3
Robert Collins & Mauro Rojas - BYE
Sebastian Franco & Mario Mercado - BYE
Erik Garcia & Brad Schopieray - BYE
Keith Minor & Jeff Stark - BYE
Eduardo Garay & Javier Mar d. Thomas Fuhrmann & Bradly Rogers, 15-8, 15-11
Daniel De La Rosa & Edson Martinez - BYE
IRT Men’s Doubles - Qualifying - Round 2 Wednesday
Justus Benson & Andrew Conti d. Cliff Swain & Jansen Allen, forfeit
Dylan Reid & Charlie Pratt d. Alejandro Landa & Christian Longoria, 15-13, 15-1
Mike Orr & Shawn Royster d. Thomas Carter & Nicholas Riffel, 14-15, 15-10, 11-2
David Horn & Andree Parrilla d. Teobaldo Fumero & Rodrigo Montoya, 14-15, 15-9, 11-10
Nicolas Bousquet & Samuel Murray d. Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho, 15-8, 15-8
Sebastian Franco & Mario Mercado d. Robert Collins & Mauro Rojas, 14-15, 15-12, 11-5
Erik Garcia & Brad Schopieray d. Keith Minor & Jeff Stark, 6-15, 15-4, 11-3
Daniel De La Rosa & Edson Martinez d. Eduardo Garay & Javier Mar, 15-4, 15-6
IRT Men’s Doubles - Qualifying - Round 3 Thursday morning
Q1 - Dylan Reid & Charlie Pratt v. Justus Benson & Andrew Conti
Q4 - David Horn & Andree Parrilla v. Mike Orr & Shawn Royster
Q3 - Nicolas Bousquet & Samuel Murray v. Sebastian Franco & Mario Mercado
Q2 - Daniel De La Rosa & Edson Martinez v. Erik Garcia & Brad Schopieray
IRT Men’s Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday evening
1 Ben Croft & Kane Waselenchuk v. Q4
4 Jose Rojas & Marco Rojas v. Q1
3 Alvaro Beltran & Rocky Carson v. Q2
2 Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz v. Q3
Follow the bouncing ball….
It looked like Horn and Parrilla were going to have a relatively easy time of it in game one, as they were up 14-7, but Fumero and Montoya came back with eight unanswered points to steal it. Horn and Parrilla tried to stop their opponents' momentum with a timeout at 14-10, but to no avail.
Fumero and Montoya used high lob serves into the middle of the righty-righty team of Horn and Parrilla, who each took the returns for periods of the match.
Game two was close early, and Fumero and Montoya actually led 9-5, but couldn't get off 9, as Horn and Parrilla scored ten points to take the second game 15-9.
Horn and Parrilla carried that momentum into the tie-breaker, as they went up 5-1. Horn, playing the left side, primarily drove serve in the match, and used a backhand Z serve on second serve, while Parrilla settled into a hard Z to the right, where Fumero was playing.
But Fumero and Montoya came back with eight unanswered points to go up 9-5. Horn and Parrilla got a sixth point as Fumero got hit by the ball, but gave up the serve and Fumero and Montoya got a tenth point from a Montoya forehand pinch shot.
However, Horn got the serve back with a shot that sounded bad, but was called good, and no one questioned it. And that was the only match point Fumero and Montoya got, as Horn and Parrilla scored five straight points to win 11-10. Parrilla hit a backhand pinch volley for the match winner, which was an impressive end to a great match.
Horn and Parrilla will now play the winner of Mike Orr and Shawn Royster versus Thomas Carter and Nicholas Riffel.
The final round of IRT doubles qualifying will be Thursday morning (some of matches starting at 8 AM) with the quarterfinals Thursday evening. The semi-finals will be Friday evening, and the IRT doubles final at the 2016 United Healthcare US Open will be 5 PM Saturday at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2016 United Healthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016
IRT Men’s Doubles - Qualifying - Round 1 Wednesday
Cliff Swain & Jansen Allen - BYE
Justus Benson & Andrew Conti d. Seungjun Jeon & Moon Gyun Kim, 15-12, 15-13
Alejandro Landa & Christian Longoria - BYE
Dylan Reid & Charlie Pratt - BYE
Mike Orr & Shawn Royster - BYE
Thomas Carter & Nicholas Riffel - BYE
Teobaldo Fumero & Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
David Horn & Andree Parrilla - BYE
Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho - BYE
Nicolas Bousquet & Samuel Murray d. Gunhee Lee & Mingyu Kim, 15-4, 15-3
Robert Collins & Mauro Rojas - BYE
Sebastian Franco & Mario Mercado - BYE
Erik Garcia & Brad Schopieray - BYE
Keith Minor & Jeff Stark - BYE
Eduardo Garay & Javier Mar d. Thomas Fuhrmann & Bradly Rogers, 15-8, 15-11
Daniel De La Rosa & Edson Martinez - BYE
IRT Men’s Doubles - Qualifying - Round 2 Wednesday
Justus Benson & Andrew Conti d. Cliff Swain & Jansen Allen, forfeit
Dylan Reid & Charlie Pratt d. Alejandro Landa & Christian Longoria, 15-13, 15-1
Mike Orr & Shawn Royster d. Thomas Carter & Nicholas Riffel, 14-15, 15-10, 11-2
David Horn & Andree Parrilla d. Teobaldo Fumero & Rodrigo Montoya, 14-15, 15-9, 11-10
Nicolas Bousquet & Samuel Murray d. Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho, 15-8, 15-8
Sebastian Franco & Mario Mercado d. Robert Collins & Mauro Rojas, 14-15, 15-12, 11-5
Erik Garcia & Brad Schopieray d. Keith Minor & Jeff Stark, 6-15, 15-4, 11-3
Daniel De La Rosa & Edson Martinez d. Eduardo Garay & Javier Mar, 15-4, 15-6
IRT Men’s Doubles - Qualifying - Round 3 Thursday morning
Q1 - Dylan Reid & Charlie Pratt v. Justus Benson & Andrew Conti
Q4 - David Horn & Andree Parrilla v. Mike Orr & Shawn Royster
Q3 - Nicolas Bousquet & Samuel Murray v. Sebastian Franco & Mario Mercado
Q2 - Daniel De La Rosa & Edson Martinez v. Erik Garcia & Brad Schopieray
IRT Men’s Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday evening
1 Ben Croft & Kane Waselenchuk v. Q4
4 Jose Rojas & Marco Rojas v. Q1
3 Alvaro Beltran & Rocky Carson v. Q2
2 Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz v. Q3
Follow the bouncing ball….
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