It was not a good day to be a #1 seed in doubles at the USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships in Tempe, Arizona, as the top seeds in both Men’s and Women’s National Team Qualifying lost in the semi-finals, as three of the four semis went breaker. The bigger surprise came on the women’s side, as the defending champions - and current World Champions - Aimee Ruiz and Janel Tisinger - lost to 4th seeds Rhonda Rajsich and Sheryl Lotts, 15-8, 8-15, 11-8.
How surprising that outcome? Ruiz and Tisinger have won the title four of the last five years. Moreover, Ruiz has been the USA Women’s Doubles champion 11 of the past 13 seasons. But the two years she wasn’t, Rajsich was (and both times her partner was Kim Russell-Waselenchuk).
Rajsich and Lotts will play 3rd seeds Kelani Bailey and Sharon Jackson in the final, as Bailey and Jackson beat 2nd seeds Erika Manilla and Jackie Paraiso-Larsson, 15-2, 15-14.
Jake Bredenbeck and Jose Diaz, seeking their 2nd title in three seasons, were the top seeds on the men’s side, but they were ousted by 4th seeds David Horn and Mauro Rojas, 15-10, 5-15, 11—8, in the semi-finals. Horn and Rojas will play 2nd seeds Rocky Carson and Sudsy Monchik, who defeated 6th seeds Adam Manilla and Nicholas Riffel, 8-15, 15-13, 11-8.
Thus, the doubles finals look like a new scene, as only three of the eight players have won the title before. Two of them are Carson and Rajsich, who have won nine and two doubles titles, respectively. The other player is Monchik, who has one National Doubles title to his name, which he won with Tim Sweeney back in 1993-94.
National Team Qualifying - Singles
One might say there’s a bit of a changing of the guard in women’s singles at the USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships, as the younger, higher seeded players won three of the four quarterfinals. Rhonda Rajsich, the #1 seed, was the exception, as she comfortably won her match against Sara Jeys, 15-1, 15-1.
But #2 seed Sharon Jackson fell to her doubles partner, 7th seed Kelani Bailey, 15-4, 15-14. Jackson came from behind in game two to get a game point against Bailey, but couldn’t convert, allowing Bailey to win in two straight.
Bailey will play Sheryl Lotts in the semi-finals on Saturday, as Lotts defeated 3rd seed veteran Jackie Paraiso-Larsson, 15-12, 15-10. Janel Tisinger, the 4th seed, lost to 5th seed Erika Manilla, 15-10, 12-15, 11-4, and Manilla will play Rajsich in the semis.
The higher seeds all won, and won comfortably, on the men’s side. Top seed Rocky Carson beat Dane Elkins, 15-3, 15-7. He’ll play Jake Bredenbeck in the semi-finals Saturday, as Bredenbeck beat Adam Manilla, 15-3, 15-8. On the bottom of the draw, 2nd seed Charlie Pratt defeated Nicholas Riffel, 15-3, 15-6, so will face David Horn in the semis, as Horn beat Robert Collins, 15-7, 15-3.
You can watch the action live from Tempe via the USA Racquetball LiveStream Channel. The Men’s and Women’s Doubles finals will be Saturday afternoon with the Singles finals on Sunday. Note the match times below are Mountain time.
2018 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships
Tempe, Arizona
US National Team Divisions
Men's Doubles
Semi-finals - Friday
4) David Horn & Mauro Rojas d. 1) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz, 15-10, 5-15, 11—8
2) Rocky Carson & Sudsy Monchik d. 6) Adam Manilla & Nicholas Riffel, 8-15, 15-13, 11-8
Final - Saturday
2) Rocky Carson & Sudsy Monchik v. 4) David Horn & Mauro Rojas - 4:10 PM
Women's Doubles
Semi-finals - Friday
4) Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts d. 1) Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger, 15-8, 8-15, 11-8
3) Kelani Bailey & Sharon Jackson d. 2) Erika Manilla & Jacqueline Paraiso, 15-2, 15-14
Final - Saturday
3) Kelani Bailey & Sharon Jackson v. 4) Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts - 3 PM
Men’s Singles
Quarterfinals - Friday
1) Rocky Carson d. 8) Dane Elkins, 15-3, 15-7
4) Jake Bredenbeck d. 5) Adam Manilla, 15-3, 15-8
3) David Horn d. 6) Robert Collins, 15-7, 15-3
2) Charlie Pratt d. 7) Nicholas Riffel, 15-3, 15-6
Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Rocky Carson v. 4) Jake Bredenbeck - 1:50 PM
2) Charlie Pratt v. 3) David Horn - 12:40 PM
Women's Singles
Quarterfinals - Friday
1) Rhonda Rajsich d. 9) Sara Jeys, 15-1, 15-1
5) Erika Manilla d. 4) Janel Tisinger, 15-10, 12-15, 11-4
6) Sheryl Lotts d. 3) Jacqueline Paraiso, 15-12, 15-10
7) Kelani Bailey d. 2) Sharon Jackson, 15-4, 15-14
Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Rhonda Rajsich v. 5) Erika Manilla - 10:20 AM
6) Sheryl Lotts v. 7) Kelani Bailey - 11:30 AM
Follow the bouncing ball....
Friday, February 9, 2018
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