Longoria wins twice at 2020 LPRT Florida Pro-Am

Paola Longoria, the #1 player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT), defeated LPRT #2 Maria Jose Vargas on Sunday in the final of the LPRT Florida Pro-Am in Davie, Florida, 15-6, 15-12. Longoria has won five of the six LPRT events this season, and defeated Vargas in four of the finals. Her only loss was to Vargas in Virginia Beach.

Longoria also got the better of Vargas in doubles, albeit narrowly, as she and Alexandra Herrera defeated Vargas and Natalia Mendez, 15-14, 15-14. Longoria’s won four of the six LPRT doubles finals this season. Perhaps ironically, Longoria’s only losses have been to Herrera, when the two were playing with their usual partners. Longoria usually plays with Samantha Salas and Herrera with Montserrat Mejia, but neither Salas or Mejia were in Florida, so Longoria and Herrera teamed up.

In the singles final, Longoria and Vargas were close early in game one, but after being tied at 5-5, Longoria outscored Vargas 10-1 to finish off the game. She carried that momentum over into game two, as Longoria took an 8-3 lead.

But Vargas battled back, and actually led late in the game at 12-11. But Longoria is #1 for a reason - well, many reasons really, but one of them is her ability to come through in the clutch, and she did it again Sunday. Longoria got the last four points of game two to win it and the match in two straight games.

Clutch play was also evident in the doubles final, as Longoria and Herrera had to fight off game point in each game in order to win the match over Vargas and Mendez.

The LPRT will be back in action later this month, when they travel to Greenville, South Carolina for the Sweet Caroline Open, January 24-26. If you missed any of the Florida action, check out the LPRT YouTube channel, where the matches are archived.

2020 LPRT Florida Pro-Am, January 10-12, 2020
Davie, Florida

Final - Sunday

1) Paola Longoria d. 2) Maria Jose Vargas, 15-6, 15-12

Doubles - Final - Sunday

1) Paola Longoria & Alexandra Herrera d. 2) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas, 15-14, 15-14

Follow the bouncing ball….