Quarterfinals of USA Racquetball 2017 Intercollegiate Championships

Melania Sauma of Arizona State had the biggest upset on quarterfinal day at the USA Racquetball 2017 Intercollegiate Championships in Fountain Valley, California, as she defeated 3rd seed Erika Manilla of Northern Arizona, 3-15, 15-5, 11-9, in what was a rematch of last year’s International Racquetball Federation (IRF) Girl’s U18 gold medal match that Manilla won.

The tiebreaker was very close, as often seems to be the case in when the first two games are very lopsided. Manilla got off the better start in the breaker, going out to a 5-0 lead. Sauma got a couple of points back to make it 5-2, when Manilla served what looked like an ace drive serve to the left side. Sauma appealed that it was a wet ball, and was successful. The referee said “replay,” but prior to the next rally, the referee called 6-2, rather than 5-2, mistakenly giving Manilla a point.

Nonetheless, Sauma came back to tie Manilla at 6-6. Indeed, Sauma got seven unanswered points to go from 6-2 to 9-6. Manilla called a timeout at that point, and when play resumed she got the serve back, and made her move. Manilla scored three straight points to make it 9-9, which led to a Sauma timeout.

The ensuing rally was a scrappy one that Sauma won with a forehand shot to the left side. She then scored her 10th point by forcing Manilla into a backhand skip by driving the ball cross court with a strong forehand shot. Then on her first match point Manilla skipped a forehand shot that was an unforced error.

Afterwards, Sauma said it was difficult to play against Manilla, as they have grown up together by going to IRF World Junior Championships: Sauma representing Costa Rica and Manilla the USA. “I love her,” Sauma said, “she’s like my sister.”

Sauma will play 2nd seed Lexi York of Oregon State in the semi-finals Friday, as York beat Lindsey Raven of Brigham Young, 15-2, 15-6. In the other semi-final, defending champion Carla Muñoz of Colorado State will play Katie Nieswiadomy of Texas A & M.

On the Men’s side, Thomas Carter (Baldwin Wallace) is the top seed, as he was a semi-finalist last year. But the 2015 champion Adam Manilla (Erika’s brother) is back in the draw after missing the event last year. They will meet in the semis, as Carter defeated Brennan Jennings (Texas, San Antonio), 15-3, 15-9, and Manilla beat Alejandro Almada (Texas), 15-10, 15-3, in the quarterfinals.

USA Racquetball is streaming the Intercollegiate Championships live via LiveStream.

2017 USA Racquetball Intercollegiate Championships
Fountain Valley, California
(with seedings)

Women's Singles - Quarterfinals

1) Carla Muñoz (Colorado State) d. 8) Pooja Sheevam (Colorado), 15-6, 15-1
4) Katie Nieswiadomy (Texas A&M) d 5) Madeline Gauch (Missouri), 9-15, 15-13, 15-1

6) Melania Sauma (Arizona State) d. 3) Erika Manilla (Northern Arizona), 3-15, 15-5, 11-9
2) Lexi York (Oregon State) d. 7) Lindsey Raven (Brigham Young), 15-2, 15-6

Women's Singles - Semi-finals

1) Carla Muñoz (Colorado State) v. 4) Katie Nieswiadomy (Texas A&M) - 3:10 PM
2) Lexi York (Oregon State) v. 6) Melania Sauma (Arizona State) - 1:30 PM

Women's Doubles - Quarterfinals

1) Erica Lipski & Lexi York (Oregon State) d. 9) Lori Kumorek & Carly Myers (Baldwin Wallace), 15-0, 15-0
4) Erin Boadway & Erika Manilla (Northern Arizona) d. 5) Rachel Pabelico & Pooja Sheevam (Colorado), 15-1, 15-3

13) Samantha Baker & Carla Muñoz (Colorado State) d. 3) Lindsey Raven & Krista Yourstone (Brigham Young), 15-2, 15-6
2) Madeline Gauch & Christina Hughes (Missouri) d. 10) Tylynn Barker & Courtnie Duncan (Utah State), 15-11, 15-6

Women's Doubles - Semi-finals Friday

1) Erica Lipski & Lexi York (Oregon State) v. 4) Erin Boadway & Erika Manilla (Northern Arizona) - 4:50 PM
2) Madeline Gauch & Christina Hughes (Missouri) v. 13) Samantha Baker & Carla Muñoz (Colorado State) - 5:40 PM

Men's Singles - Quarterfinals

1) Thomas Carter (Baldwin Wallace) d. 8) Brennen Jennings (Texas at San Antonio), 15-3, 15-9
4) Adam Manilla (Colorado) d. 5) Alejandro Almada (Texas), 15-10, 15-3

3) Erik Garcia (Colorado State) d. 6) Sam Bredenbeck (Oregon State), 15-4, 15-1
2) Mauro Rojas (Delta) d. 7) Andrew Clarke (New Mexico), 15-10, 15-12

Men's Singles - Semi-finals Friday

1) Thomas Carter (Baldwin Wallace) v. 4) Adam Manilla (Colorado) - 1:30 PM
2) Mauro Rojas (Delta) v. 3) Erik Garcia (Colorado State) - 2:20 PM

Men's Doubles - Quarterfinals

1) Erik Garcia & Brad Schopieray (Colorado State, Pueblo) d. 9) Andrew Clarke & Remy Feldman (New Mexico), 15-6, 15-5
4) Mauro Rojas & Francisco Troncoso (Delta College) d. 5) Jesse Giron & Ryan Patterson (Arizona State), 15-5, 15-8

3) Adam Manilla & Nick Riffel (Colorado) d. 6) Alejandro Almada & Devon Dorn (Texas), 15-6, 15-8
2) Thomas Carter & Manolo Sandoval (Baldwin Wallace) d. 7) Sam Bredenbeck & Ryan Chin (Oregon State), 15-2, 15-3

Men's Doubles - Semi-finals Friday

1) Erik Garcia & Brad Schopieray (Colorado State, Pueblo) v. 4) Mauro Rojas & Francisco Troncoso (Delta College) - 5:40 PM
2) Thomas Carter & Manolo Sandoval (Baldwin Wallace) v. 3) Adam Manilla & Nick Riffel (Colorado) - 4:50

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