The LPRT goes to the beach

The Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) is in Virginia Beach, Virginia this weekend for the 2nd event of its 2019-20 season. It’s a new event for the LPRT, but hosted by a well known name: Malia Bailey - a four time top 10 women’s pro player and three time International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Champion in Women’s Doubles. She was also inducted into the USA Racquetball (USAR) Hall of Fame earlier this year. But Bailey isn’t just hosting the event: she’s in the draw! Both singles and doubles. There are 19 players in total competing this weekend including 9 of the top 11 LPRT players.

Paola Longoria, the LPRT’s #1 player, got off to a good start this season by winning the first event in San Luis Potosi, Mexico last month. She’ll try to make it two in a row in Virginia Beach. Standing in her way will be Samantha Salas, the LPRT’s #2 player and Longoria’s doubles partner, LPRT #3 Maria Jose Vargas and LPRT #5 veteran Rhonda Rajsich.

Longoria and Salas didn’t win doubles in San Luis Potosi last month, but the team that beat them in the final - Alexandra Herrera and Montserrat Mejia - isn’t in Virginia. Their greatest battle may come from 2nd seeds Vargas and Natalia Mendez.

Play begins Friday afternoon and evening. The singles quarterfinals will be Saturday morning beginning at 11:45 AM and 12:30 PM with the semi-finals Saturday at 6:30 PM and 7:15 PM. The singles final will be Sunday at noon. The doubles semi-finals are Saturday night at 8 and 8:45 PM with the final Sunday at 1 PM. All times Eastern. You can watch the action live via the LPRT website, or the LPRT YouTube channel.

2019 LPRT by the Beach - Chesapeake
Virginia Beach, Virginia, September 6-8, 2019

LPRT Singles - Round of 32 - Friday

1 Paola Longoria - BYE
16 Erin Rivera v.17 Amie Brewer - 5:15 PM

9 Brenda Laime - BYE
8 Adriana Riveros - BYE

5 Natalia Mendez - BYE
12 Adrienne Haynes - BYE

13 Carla Muñoz - BYE
4 Rhonda Rajsich - BYE

3 Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
14 Kelani Lawrence v. 19 Megan Shelton - 5:15 PM

11 Sheryl Lotts - BYE
6 Nancy Enriquez - BYE

7 Masiel Rivera - BYE
10 Cassi Lee - BYE

15 Jessica Parrilla v. 18 Malia Bailey - 5:15 PM
2 Samantha Salas - BYE

LPRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday

1 Paola Longoria v. 16 Erin Rivera or 17 Amie Brewer - 9 PM
8 Adriana Riveros v. 9 Brenda Laime - 7:30 PM

5 Natalia Mendez v. 12 Adrienne Haynes - 6 PM
4 Rhonda Rajsich v. 13 Carla Muñoz - 6 PM

3 Maria Jose Vargas v. 14 Kelani Lawrence or 19 Megan Shelton - 8:15 PM
6 Nancy Enriquez v. 11 Sheryl Lotts - 6:45 PM

7 Masiel Rivera v. 10 Cassi Lee - 6:45 PM
2 Samantha Salas v. 15 Jessica Parrilla or 18 Malia Bailey - 8:15 PM

LPRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Saturday

1 Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 8 T. J. Baubaugh & Cassi Lee - 2 PM
4 Nancy Enriquez & Jessica Parrilla v. 5 Kelani Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts - 2 PM

3 Brenda Laime & Masiel Rivera v. 6 Erin Rivera & Adriana Riveros - 1:15 PM
2 Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas v. 7 Malia Bailey & Carla Muñoz - 1:15 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….