50th Annual USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships - Thursday results

The USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships are on at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, although only a few matches have been played in the US Team Qualifying Divisions. In a small upset, Robert Collins and David Horn, the 5th seeds, defeated 4th seeds Jake Bredenbeck and Anthony Herrera, 15-10, 15-6. Bredenbeck suffered a right shoulder injury at last year’s US Open and he’s still not fully recovered from that. Thus, he’s playing most of the time with his left hand, which was a challenge for both him and his opponents.

Collins and Horn will play top seeds Rocky Carson and Jose Diaz in the semi-finals on Friday. In the other semi, 2nd seeds Jose Rojas and Marco Rojas are up against Jansen Allen and Charlie Pratt, who took out Thomas Carter and Zachary Patterson, 15-10, 15-11, on Thursday in the quarters.

On the women’s side, there was only one match on Thursday, when Kelani Bailey and Sharon Jackson defeated Miriam McCloskey and Fran Transfiguracion, 15-9, 15-7, to book a semi-final showdown with top seeds and defending USA Champions Aimee Ruiz and Janel Tisinger, who are also the current World Champions. In the other semi-final, 2nd seeds Rhonda Rajsich and Sheryl Lotts will play 3rd seeds Da’monique Davis and Jacqueline Paraiso.

Singles Play

For the second year, the USA Doubles Championship also has a singles division for players who are trying to qualify for the US National Team. Rocky Carson is the top seed on the men’s side, and looks to be the odds on favourite to win the division. Things are not so clear on the women’s side.

Rhonda Rajsich is the top seed, but this will be her first tournament since the death of her father last October. Moreover, her results last season were lower than expected, as she lost early at the World Championships and hadn’t made it past the quarterfinals at any of the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) events she’s played. Thus, it’s difficult to know what to expect from her this weekend.

Rajsich is scheduled to play 8th seed Kelani Bailey first, and then the winner of 4th seed Janel Tisinger and 5th seed Cheryl Gudinas for a spot in the final. On the other side of the draw, 2nd seed Sharon Jackson faces 7th seed Da’monique Davis first with the winner meeting either 3rd seed Jacqueline Paraiso or 6ht seed Sheryl Lotts in the semi-finals.

You can watch some of the action live from Tempe via the USA Racquetball Livestream channel.

2017 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships
Tempe, Arizona
US National Team Divisions

Men's Doubles

Quarter finals - Thursday

1) Jose Diaz & Rocky Carson - BYE
5) Robert Collins & David Horn d. 4) Anthony Herrera & Jake Bredenbeck, 15-10, 15-6

3) Charlie Pratt & Jansen Allen v. 6) Thomas Carter & Zachary Patterson, 15-10, 15-11
2) Marco Rojas & Jose Rojas - BYE

Semi-finals - Friday

1) Jose Diaz & Rocky Carson v. 5) Robert Collins & David Horn
2) Marco Rojas & Jose Rojas v. 3) Charlie Pratt & Jansen Allen

Women's Doubles

Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger - BYE
5) Kelani Bailey & Sharon Jackson d. 4) Miriam McCloskey & Fran Transfiguracion, 15-9, 15-7

3) Da’monique Davis & Jacqueline Paraiso - BYE
2) Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts - BYE

Semi-finals - Friday

1) Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger v. 5) Kelani Bailey & Sharon Jackson
2) Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts v. 3) Da’monique Davis & Jacqueline Paraiso

Men’s Singles

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Rocky Carson v. 8) Majeed Shahin
4) Charlie Pratt v. 5) Jose Diaz

3) David Horn v. 6) Thomas Carter
2) Jake Bredenbeck v. 7) Robert Collins

Women's Singles

Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
8) Kelani Bailey d. 9) Fran Transfiguracion, 15-4, 15-6

5) Cheryl Gudinas - BYE
4) Janel Tisinger - BYE

3) Jacqueline Paraiso - BYE
6) Sheryl Lotts - BYE

7) Da’monique Davis - BYE
2) Sharon Jackson - BYE

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Rhonda Rajsich v. 8) Kelani Bailey
4) Janel Tisinger v. 5) Cheryl Gudinas

3) Jacqueline Paraiso v. 6) Sheryl Lotts
2) Sharon Jackson v. 7) Da’monique Davis

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