Kelani Bailey and Sharon Jackson are the 2018 USA Racquetball Women’s Doubles Champions. They defeated Rhonda Rajsich and Sheryl Lotts, 15-10, 11-15, 11-8, in the final of the USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships in Tempe, Arizona. This is the first title for both Bailey and Jackson, and the win qualifies them to represent the USA in the 2018 International Racquetball Federation (IRT) World Championships in China this August.
Rocky Carson and Sudsy Monchik won the Men’s Doubles title Saturday, as they defeated David Horn and Mauro Rojas, 15-14, 15-8.
The women’s final was a streaky match. After dropping the first game, Rajsich and Lotts took a 8-0 lead in game two, only to see Bailey and Jackson come back to lead 10-8. That put them in position to win the match in two straight games. However, Rajsich and Lotts weren’t going to go quietly, as they came back to win game two 15-11 and force a tie-breaker.
In the breaker, Rajsich and Lotts again took the early lead at 5-0 with Bailey and Jackson coming back to 5-4, and then tying the game at 7-7. It was back and forth from there to 8-8. Bailey and Jackson scored points on back to back rallies to make it 10-8. But their first match point was lost because a penalty hinder was called on Bailey. They appealed but the line judges upheld the call.
With the serve back, Rajsich and Lotts had the advantage despite the score. However, back to back skips - first by Rajsich and then by Lotts - and they gave the serve back to their opponents.
Bailey and Jackson won it on their 2nd match point, as Bailey - playing the left side - drove serve to Rajsich, and the ball came out of the back left corner into the middle, where Rajsich hit it into the floor with her forehand. A disappointing end to a great match.
National Team Qualifying - Singles
Rajsich will have a chance at a measure of revenge on Sunday, as she’ll play Bailey in the final of the National Team Qualifying singles division. Rajsich defeated Erika Manilla, 15-8, 15-4, in one semi-final, and Bailey beat Lotts, 15-8, 15-8, in the other.
On the men’s side, it’ll be #1 versus #2 in the final, as top seed Rocky Carson defeated Jake Bredenbeck in the semi-finals Saturday, 15-13, 15-9, and 2nd seed Charlie Pratt fended off a strong challenge from David Horn, 15-6, 12-15, 11-6.
You can watch the finals live from Tempe via the USA Racquetball LiveStream Channel. The Men’s and Women’s Doubles finals will be early Sunday afternoon. Note the match times below are Mountain time.
2018 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships
Tempe, Arizona
US National Team Divisions
Men's Doubles
Final - Saturday
2) Rocky Carson & Sudsy Monchik v. 4) David Horn & Mauro Rojas - 4:10 PM
Women's Doubles
Final - Saturday
3) Kelani Bailey & Sharon Jackson d. 4) Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts, 15-10, 11-15, 11-8
Men’s Singles
Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Rocky Carson d. 4) Jake Bredenbeck, 15-13, 15-9
2) Charlie Pratt d. 3) David Horn, 15-6, 12-15, 11-6
Final - Sunday
1) Rocky Carson v. 2) Charlie Pratt - 1:50 PM
Women's Singles
Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Rhonda Rajsich d. 5) Erika Manilla, 15-8, 15-4
7) Kelani Bailey d. 6) Sheryl Lotts, 15-8, 15-8
Final - Sunday
1) Rhonda Rajsich v. 7) Kelani Bailey - 12:40 PM
Follow the bouncing ball....
Saturday, February 10, 2018
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