Semi-finals at Mexican National Selection Team Event

Rodrigo Montoya - the current International Racquetball Federation (IRF) Men's Singles World Champion and Pan American Games Men’s Singles Champion — lost in the Round of 16 to Eduardo Portillo, 15-9, 15-11, at the 2020 Mexican National Team Selection Event in Tijuana. The loss means Montoya won’t be able to defend his World Championship at the 2020 IRF World Championships in August.

Ouch.

How Montoya and Portillo - the 11th and 9th players on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) - were seeded 7th and 10th in this event may be puzzling, but in this event last year, Montoya was only a quarterfinalist and Portillo lost in the Round of 32.

The Men’s Singles final will be #1 versus #2, as veteran Alvaro Beltran will take on Daniel De La Rosa in the final Saturday. In Friday’s semi-finals, Beltran needed a tie-breaker to defeat 4th seed Javier Mar, 15-8, 1-15, 11-9, while De La Rosa defeated a surprise semi-finalist in 11th seed Sebastian Fernandez, 15-10, 15-11. Also, De La Rosa ousted Portillo in the quarterfinals, 15-12, 14-15, 11-2.

In women’s play, the top half of the draw has been full of surprises. Ninth seed Jessica Parrilla upset top seed Monserrat Mejia, 15-9, 15-11, in the quarterfinals. Mejia won this event last year by upsetting Paola Longoria in the final.

This year Parrilla will play Longoria in the final Saturday, as Parrilla defeated 12th seed Lucia Gonzalez, 15-12, 15-10, in one semi-final, and Longoria beat 3rd seed Samantha Salas Solis, 15-14, 15-9, in the other.

Gonzalez got to the semis with two upset wins. She beat 5th seed Nancy Enriquez in the Round of 16, 15-2, 15-11, and then outlasted 4th seed Alexandra Herrera, 15-11, 8-15, 11-2, in the quarterfinals.

Campeonato Nacional Selectivo FMR
Tijuana, Mexico - February 25-29, 2020

Women's Open - Final - Saturday

2) Paola Longoria v. 9) Jessica Parrilla - 2 PM

3rd Place - Saturday

2) Samantha Salas Solis d. 12) Lucia Gonzalez - Noon

Semi-finals

9) Jessica Parrilla d. 12) Lucia Gonzalez, 15-12, 15-10
2) Paola Longoria d. 3) Samantha Salas Solis, 15-14, 15-9

Quarterfinals

9) Jessica Parrilla d. 1) Monserrat Mejia, 15-9, 15-11
12) Lucia Gonzalez d. 4) Alexandra Herrera, 15-11, 8-15, 11-2

3) Samantha Salas Solis d. 6) Susana Acosta, 15-4, 15-9
2) Paola Longoria d. 10) Erin Rivera, 15-0, 15-3

Round of 16

1) Monserrat Mejia - BYE
9) Jessica Parrilla d. 8) Ximena Martinez, 15-10, 15-0

12) Lucia Gonzalez d. 5) Nancy Enriquez, 15-2, 15-11
4) Alexandra Herrera d. 13) Angela Veronica Ortega Sabido, 15-3, 15-5

3) Samantha Salas Solis d. 14) Abril Sacristán, 15-2, 15-0
6) Susana Acosta d. 11) Karime Estrella, 15-6, 15-10

10) Erin Rivera d. 7) Maria Gutierrez, 15-9, 15-12
2) Paola Longoria d. 15) Alejandra Zuniga, 15-1, 15-1

Women's Open Doubles

Final - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis v. 2) Alexandra Herrera & Monserrat Mejia - 5 PM

Semi-finals - Friday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis d. 4) Erin Rivera & Jessica Parrilla, 15-9, 15-10
2) Alexandra Herrera & Monserrat Mejia d. 6) Maria Gutierrez & Angela Veronica Ortega Sabido, 15-3, 15-4

Quarterfinals

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis d. 8) Cythia Gutierrez & Naomi Ros, 15-3, 15-0
4) Erin Rivera & Jessica Parrilla d. 5) Nancy Enriquez & Daniela Rios, 15-3, 15-9

6) Maria Gutierrez & Angela Veronica Ortega Sabido d. 3) Susana Acosta & Abril Sacristán, 15-1, 9-15, 11-7
2) Alexandra Herrera & Monserrat Mejia d. 7) Ximena Martinez & Alejandra Zuñiga, 15-7, 15-5

Men's Open Singles

Final - Saturday

1) Alvaro Beltran v. 2) Daniel De La Rosa - 1 PM

3rd Place - Saturday

4) Javier Mar v. 11) Sebastian Fernandez - 11 AM

Semi-finals

1) Alvaro Beltran d. 4) Javier Mar, 15-8, 1-15, 11-9
2) Daniel De La Rosa d. 11) Sebastian Fernandez, 15-10, 15-11

Quarterfinals

1) Alvaro Beltran d. 8) Christian Longoria, 12-15, 15-12, 11-3
4) Javier Mar d. 5) Gerardo Franco, 15-12, 15-5

11) Sebastian Fernandez d. 3) Alan Natera, 15-11, 15-11
2) Daniel De La Rosa d. 10) Eduardo Portillo, 15-12, 14-15, 11-2

Round of 16

1) Alvaro Beltran d. 17) Erick Cuevas Fernandez, 15-0, 15-13
8) Christian Longoria d. 9) Andree Parrilla, 15-6, 11-15, 11-4

5) Gerardo Franco d. 12) Javier Estrada, 15-6, 13-15, 11-7
4) Javier Mar d. 20) Manuel Moncada, 15-5, 15-8

3) Alan Natera d. 19) Sebastian Longoria, 15-10, 15-1
11) Sebastian Fernandez d. 6) Alejandro Cardona, 15-8, 15-8

10) Eduardo Portillo d. 7) Rodrigo Montoya, 15-9, 15-11
2) Daniel De La Rosa d. 18) Homar Prieto, 15-6, 15-5

Round of 32

1) Alvaro Beltran - BYE
17) Erick Cuevas Fernandez d. 16) Kevin Alejandro Rios Hernandez, 15-2, 15-3

9) Andree Parrilla d. 24) Miguel Rodriguez Jr., 15-6, 15-13
8) Christian Longoria d. 25) Andres Ruelas Jr., 15-5, 15-7

5) Gerardo Franco - BYE
12) Javier Estrada d. 21) Felipe Muñoz, 15-6, 15-4

20) Manuel Moncada d. 13) Daniel Rodriguez, 15-7, 15-10
4) Javier Mar - BYE

3) Alan Natera - BYE
19) Sebastian Longoria d. 14) Guillermo Jesus Ortega Jr., 15-9, 15-5

11) Sebastian Fernandez d. 22) Erick Trujillo, 15-11, 15-12
6) Alejandro Cardona - BYE

7) Rodrigo Montoya d. 26) Cesar Barragan, 15-5, 15-5
10) Eduardo Portillo d. 23) Juan Loreto, 15-2, 15-11

18) Homar Prieto d. 15) Fernando Gutiérrez, 15-2, 15-2
2) Daniel De La Rosa - BYE

Men's Open Doubles

Final - Saturday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya v. 2) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa - 4 PM

Semi-finals

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 4) Javier Estrada & Alan Natera, 15-4, 15-14
2) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa d. 6) Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo, 8-15, 15-7, 11-10

Quarterfinals

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 9) Manuel Moncada & Guillermo Jesus Ortega Jr., 15-8, 15-2
4) Javier Estrada & Alan Natera d. 5) Sebastian Fernandez & Miguel Rodriguez Jr., 15-13, 15-12

6) Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo d. 3) Sebastian Longoria & Erick Trujillo, 15-6, 15-5
2) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa d. 10) Cesar Barragan & Christian Longoria, 15-14, 15-11

Round of 16

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
9) Manuel Moncada & Guillermo Jesus Ortega Jr. d. 8) Omar Gastelum & Cristhian Sanchez, 15-9, 15-10

5) Sebastian Fernandez & Miguel Rodriguez Jr. d. 12) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco, 5-15, 15-7, 11-8
4) Javier Estrada & Alan Natera d. 13) Armando Cota & Javier Gonzalez Motta, 15-4, 15-5

3) Sebastian Longoria & Erick Trujillo - BYE
6) Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo d. 11) Erick Cuevas Fernandez & Juan Loreto, 15-8, 15-7

10) Cesar Barragan & Christian Longoria d. 10) Homar Prieto & Sebastian Hernandez, 15-5, 15-10
2) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….

USA Racquetball News

USA Racquetball made some notable announcements this month. They have appointed Jim Durham to be the Head Coach of the USA Adult Racquetball Team. Durham succeeds Dave Ellis, who has coached Team USA for most of the past decade or more.

You might be thinking “Jim who?” And that was the reaction of some of The Racquetball Blog staff. But Durham has been involved in racquetball since 1978, and has competed as an open and open age level player. Also, he has “decades of experience coaching championship football, basketball, baseball, and track teams,” according to the USAR press release.

Durham is from Fresno, California, and will be the coach for two events this year: the 2020 Pan American Championships in April and the 2020 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in August.

Durham, a relative unknown coach, will have a team with several veteran players. Aimee Ruiz, Sudsy Monchik and Alejandro Landa all qualified to be on the Worlds team based on winning National Doubles earlier this month, and Rocky Carson is the leading player in the race to claim a men’s singles spot. That’s a lot of veteran experience to manage.

But in addition to that there will be some young players on the team. Erika Manilla was Ruiz’s partner in winning the Women’s Doubles title, so she’s on the team. Further Hollie Scott has the inside track to earn a spot in singles. Manilla and Scott have international experience via the USA Junior Team, but neither has played at Worlds - or the Pan Am Championships.

Couple that combination of players with the fact that Team USA will go to Worlds having won no gold medals in 2018, which was a first in racquetball history, and you can see how it’s an interesting time to be the Team USA Head Coach.

USA Racquetball Hall of Fame

The 2020 USA Racquetball Hall of Fame inductees will be Jason Mannino, Gregg Peck, and Hank Marcus. They will be inducted in May at the USA Racquetball National Singles Championship in College Station, Texas.

Mannino was an elite level player for 15 years, finishing in the top 10 on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) in each of those years. He was the #1 player in 2002-03, and won the US Open Championship twice: 1999 and 2006. His 22 IRT wins is the 7th on the all time wins list. In addition to being an elite player, Mannino was IRT President for 8 years - 2009 to 2017, and has led numerous racquetball clinics over the years, often in conjunction with Fran Davis. Mannino and Davis co-authored Championship Racquetball in 2011.

Peck, like, Mannino, was an elite player. He won 4 times on the IRT (20th all time). He was in the top 10 for seven consecutive seasons: 1981-82 to 1987-88. In addition, Peck coached the USA Junior Team in 1999 and 2000 with great success. Furthermore, he brought in both Cheryl Gudinas and Mike Guidry, who were key contributors in the following years. Peck joins his older brother Dave Peck in the Hall of Fame; Dave Peck was inducted in 1997. They are the only siblings in the Hall of Fame.

Hank Marcus’s most significant contributions to racquetball have been off the court, as he’s been a tournament organizer and tour administrator for decades. Marcus was the head of the men’s pro tour from 1989 to 2001, including when its current name - International Racquetball Tour - was adopted in 1991. In addition,, Marcus founded World Outdoor Racquetball (WOR) in 2004.

Mannino, Peck and Marcus are all very deserving of a place in the USAR Hall of Fame, and we congratulate them on receiving this honour.

Follow the bouncing ball….

Samuel Murray and Michèle Morissette won the Men's and Women's divisions, respectively, at the second Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event of the season on the weekend in Winnipeg, Manitoba, which was held in conjunction with the 46th Annual Keystone Classic. In their respective finals, Murray had to come back from a game down to defeat Coby Iwaasa, 8-15, 15-7, 11-1, and Morissette beat Christine Richardson, 15-6, 15-11. Their victories will help Murray and Morissette qualify for the 2020 World Championships to be held next year in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

Murray, the #1 ranked men’s player in Canada and currently 8th on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), got off to a slow start in game one, as Iwaasa went out to a 12-0 lead. Murray came back to 13-8, so Iwaasa called a timeout, and was able to close out the game after that.

They were even early in game two with a tie at 5-5. From there, Murray went out to a 10-5 lead, and closed it out at 15-7. He carried that momentum into the tie-breaker, as Murray won it going away, 11-1.

Morissette played well against Richardson in the women’s final. She did have a bit of trouble closing out game two, as Richardson scored several points with Morissette on 14. But when Richardson got to 11, Morissette called a timeout. When play resumed, Richardson, who had been hitting drive Z serves to Morissette’s backhand, hit a serve to Morissette’s forehand, and it was returned for a winner. Morissette won the game and match on the next rally, as Richardson skipped a backhand return.

This is the second event in the qualification process for the 2020 International Racquetball Federation (

Sunday, February 9, 2020

Scott and Carson win at 2020 USAR National Doubles Championships

Hollie Scott put herself in the driver’s seat to earn a spot on Team USA for the 2020 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in San Luis Potosi, Mexico in August, as she won Women’s Singles at the 2020 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships Sunday at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. Scott hung on to outlast Erika Manilla, 15-5, 9-15, 11-9, in the final. Players make the Worlds team based on performances at the 2019 US Open, this weekend’s US Team Singles competition, and the 2020 US National Singles Championships in May.

By our calculations, if Scott gets to the final at National Singles, she’ll be on the team. In fact, if she loses in the semi-finals, Scott will still make the team unless Manilla loses the final to either Rhonda Rajsich or Kelani Bailey-Lawrence. Manilla will be on the team if she gets to the final at National Singles.

Both Rajsich and Bailey-Lawrence can get a spot on the team with a win at National Singles. If either fail to win, they will need help to make it.

Rocky Carson won Men’s US Team Singles in Tempe by defeating Alejandro Landa, 15-6, 15-14, in the final. But Landa is still ahead of Carson in the points race for the team, as Landa did much better than Carson at last year’s US Open (a semi-final versus a Round of 16 result). But if either Carson or Landa make the semi-finals, he will be on the team, unless the other one loses to either Jake Bredenbeck and David Horn in the final at National Singles.

A win at National Singles is probably what Bredenbeck or Horn need to get on the team, unless both Carson and Landa lose early at National Singles, which seems unlikely. Thomas Carter or Adam Manilla could make the team with a win at National if either Carson or Landa fail to make the semis.

On the other hand, Charlie Pratt would likely need to win National Singles and have a lot of help, if he’s going to make the Team USA.

If you missed any of the action from Tempe check out the USA Racquetball LiveStream channel. The next USA Racquetball event will be the 2020 National High School Championships in Portland, Oregon, February 26 to March 1. The 2020 USA National Singles Championships will be May 27-31 on the campus of Texas A & M University in College Station, Texas.

2020 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships
February 5-9, 2020 - Tempe, Arizona
US National Team Divisions

Men’s Singles

Final - Sunday

1) Rocky Carson d. 2) Alejandro Landa, 15-6, 15-14

3rd place

3) Jake Bredenbeck v. 4) David Horn, double forfeit

Women's Singles

Final - Sunday

3) Hollie Scott d. 4) Erika Manilla, 15-5, 9-15, 11-9

3rd place

1) Rhonda Rajsich, d. 2) Kelani Bailey Lawrence, 15-11, 15-4

Follow the bouncing ball....

Landa & Monchik and Manilla & Ruiz are the 2020 USA National Doubles Champions

Alejandro Landa and Sudsy Monchik won a 3rd straight tie-breaker 11-9, and this victory got them the title at the USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships Saturday at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, as they won Men’s US Team Qualifying Doubles division with a win over 2nd seeds Jake Bredenbeck and Jose Diaz in the final, 15-13, 4-15, 11-9. The win gives them the right to represent the USA at the 2020 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in San Luis Potosi, Mexico in August.

It will be Monchik’s 2nd consecutive IRF World Championship, as he and Rocky Carson were the US Team that took home silver in Men’s Doubles two years ago in Costa Rica. Landa will represent the USA for the first time, as he recently changed affiliations from Mexico to the USA. Landa is a dual USA-Mexico citizen.

Women’s top seeds Erika Manilla and Aimee Ruiz defeated 3rd seeds Hollie Scott and Lexi York, 15-6, 15-9, to win the Women’s US Team Qualifying Doubles division. It’s the first win for Manilla, but a bit of old hat for Ruiz as it’s her 12th US Women’s Doubles title. Manilla is the fourth partner Ruiz has won with, and is in good company, as Ruiz’s previous partners are Laura Fenton (twice), Jackie Paraiso (5 times), and Janel Tisinger-Ledkins (5 times).

Singles Play

There were two upsets in Women’s Singles, as 4th seed Erika Manilla held on in a tie-breaker to defeat top seed Rhonda Rajsich, 15-3, 12-15, 11-7, and 3rd seed Hollie Scott came back from a game down to defeat 2nd seed Kelani Bailey Lawrence, 12-15, 15-12, 11-3.

But in Men’s Singles, it will be #1 versus #2, as top seed Rocky Carson defeated 4th seed David Horn, 15-4, 8-15, 11-6, and 2nd seed Alejandro Landa beat 3rd seed Jake Bredenbeck, 15-4, 15-13.

You can watch the singles finals live from Tempe via the USA Racquetball website. 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 Standard Time.

2020 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships
February 5-9, 2020 - Tempe, Arizona
US National Team Divisions

Men's Doubles

Final - Saturday

5) Alejandro Landa & Sudsy Monchik d. 2) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz, 15-13, 4-15, 11-9

Women's Doubles

Final - Saturday

1) Erika Manilla & Aimee Ruiz d. 3) Hollie Scott & Lexi York, 15-6, 15-9

Men’s Singles

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Rocky Carson d. 4) David Horn, 15-4, 8-15, 11-6
2) Alejandro Landa d. 3) Jake Bredenbeck, 15-4, 15-13

Final - Sunday

1) Rocky Carson v. 2) Alejandro Landa - 12:15 PM

Women's Singles

Semi-finals - Saturday

4) Erika Manilla d. 1) Rhonda Rajsich, 15-3, 12-15, 11-7
3) Hollie Scott d. 2) Kelani Bailey Lawrence, 12-15, 15-12, 11-3

Final - Sunday

3) Hollie Scott v. 4) Erika Manilla - 11:10 AM

Follow the bouncing ball....

Friday results from 2020 USAR National Doubles Championships

Alejandro Landa and Sudsy Monchik knocked off the defending champions Rocky Carson and Charlie Pratt, 8-15, 15-9, 11–9, in the semi-finals of Men’s Team Qualifying Doubles at the USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships Friday at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. They will play 2nd seeds Jake Bredenbeck and Jose Diaz in the final on Saturday, as Bredenbeck and Diaz beat 6th seeds Erik Garcia and David Horn, 11-15, 15-5, 11-3, in the other semi-final.

Monchik is one match away from representing the USA at a second consecutive International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championship. Two years ago he and Carson were the US Team that took home silver in Men’s Doubles.

The 2020 USA National Doubles Champions will earn the right to represent their country at the 2020 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in San Luis Potosi, Mexico in August.

Third seeds Hollie Scott and Lexi York upset 2nd seeds Kelani Bailey Lawrence and Sheryl Lotts, 15-8, 15-13, in the semi-finals of Women’s Team Qualifying Doubles. Scott and York will play top seeds Erika Manilla and Aimee Ruiz in the final Saturday. Manilla and Ruiz, the top seeds, beat 4th seeds Jazmin Trevino and Erin Slutzky, 15-7, 15-7, in the other semi-final.

Singles Play

The top four seeds are through to the semi-finals in both Men’s and Women’s National Team Singles. On the men’s side, top seed Rocky Carson beat 8th seed Maurice Miller, 15-6, 15-5, and 2nd seed Alejandro Landa defeated 7th seed Adam Manilla, 15-12, 15-4.

In Women's Singles, #1 seed Rhonda Rajsich beat 8th seed Jessica Chen, 15-2, 15-2, and 2nd seed Kelani Bailey Lawrence defeated 7th seed Cassi Lee, 15-6, 15-1.

You can watch some of the action live from Tempe via the USA Racquetball website. 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 Standard Time.

2020 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships
February 5-9, 2020 - Tempe, Arizona
US National Team Divisions

Men's Doubles

Semi-finals - Friday

5) Alejandro Landa & Sudsy Monchik d. 1) Rocky Carson & Charlie Pratt, 8-15, 15-9, 11-9
2) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz d. 6) Erik Garcia & David Horn, 11-15, 15-5, 11-3

Final - Saturday

2) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz v. 5) Alejandro Landa & Sudsy Monchik - 3:35 PM

Women's Doubles

Semi-finals - Friday

1) Erika Manilla & Aimee Ruiz d. 4) Jazmin Trevino & Erin Slutzky, 15-7, 15-7
3) Hollie Scott & Lexi York d. 2) Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts, 15-8, 15-13

Final - Saturday

1) Erika Manilla & Aimee Ruiz v. 3) Hollie Scott & Lexi York - 1:25 PM

Men’s Singles

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Rocky Carson d. 8) Maurice Miller, 15-6, 15-5
4) David Horn d. 12) Mauricio Zelada, 15-10, 15-7

3) Jake Bredenbeck d. 6) Thomas Carter, 15-7, 15-5
2) Alejandro Landa d. 7) Adam Manilla, 15-12, 15-4

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Rocky Carson v. 4) David Horn - 12:20 PM
2) Alejandro Landa v. 3) Jake Bredenbeck - 10:10 AM

Women's Singles

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Rhonda Rajsich d. 8) Jessica Chen, 15-2, 15-2
4) Erika Manilla d. 5) Sheryl Lotts, 5-15, 15-7, 11-3

3) Hollie Scott d. 6) Lexi York, 15-8, 15-9
2) Kelani Bailey Lawrence d. 7) Cassi Lee, 15-6, 15-1

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Rhonda Rajsich v. 4) Erika Manilla - 11:15 AM
2) Kelani Bailey Lawrence v. 3) Hollie Scott - 9:05 AM

Follow the bouncing ball....

Thursday results from 2020 USAR National Doubles Championships

There were a couple of upsets at the USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships Thursday at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. But is really an upset when the #2 player on the International Racquetball Tour and a racquetball legend win a match?

Alejandro Landa - IRT #2 - and Sudsy Monchik - said legend - were the 5th seeds in Men’s US Team Doubles, and they narrowly beat 4th seeds and former Doubles Champions Jansen Allen and Tony Carson, 13-15, 15-12, 11-9. In the breaker, Landa and Monchik led 3-0, but that was the biggest lead either team had, as it was back and forth the whole way with ties at 3, 4, 6, 7 and 9.

Landa and Monchik got to 9 first, when Landa hit a forehand reverse winner that made it 9-7. Allen and Carson called a timeout at that point, and when play resumed two winners by Carson get them the serve back. They tied it with a winner from Allen and a skip by Landa.

But they lost serve in a weird way. Allen hit a ball that was high, so it came off the back wall - and hit Allen in the back as he crouched down in an attempt to get out of the way. If that wasn’t weird enough, on the next rally the ball found Allen’s racquet a second time after he’d hit it. Thus, Allen - and his racquet - got hit by the ball on consecutive rallies.

That’s not good.

Landa and Monchik took advantage. They got another bit of good fortune on the next rally, when Carson slipped as he was hitting a backhand, which looked like a good set up for him but resulted in a skip. Monchik finished off the match with a backhand reverse pinch shot.

Top seeds and defending Champions, Rocky Carson and Charlie Pratt will play Landa and Monchik in the semi-finals Friday. Carson and Pratt beat 9th seeds Robert Collins and Mauricio Zelada, 15-9, 15-3, in the quarters.

Another upset happened on the other side of the men’s draw, when 6th seeds Erik Garcia and David Horn got the better of 3rd seeds Adam Manilla and Nicholas Riffel, 7-15, 15-3, 11-5. Garcia and Horn will play 2nd seeds - and last year’s finalists - Jake Bredenbeck and Jose Diaz, who needed a breaker to get past 7th seeds Maurice Miller and Troy Warigon, 15-7, 13-15, 11-7.


In Women’s Doubles, 4th seeds Jazmin Trevino and Erin Slutzky fought off match point to come back and defeat 5th seeds Cassi Lee and Fran Transfiguracion, 3-15, 15-14, 11-8. They will play Erika Manilla and Aimee Ruiz, the top seeds, in the semi-finals on Friday.

The other semi will be 2nd seeds Kelani Bailey Lawrence and Sheryl Lotts versus 3rd seeds Hollie Scott and Lexi York, as Scott and York beat 6th seeds Jessica Chen and Graci Wargo, 15-4, 15-3, in the quarters Thursday.

The USA National Doubles Champions will earn the right to represent their country at the 2020 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in San Luis Potosi, Mexico in August.

Singles Play

In Men’s Team Singles, 12th seed Mauricio Zelada was the big winner, as he knocked off 5th seed Charlie Pratt, 15-12, 15-11, in the Round of 16. Zelada will play 4th seed David Horn in the quarterfinals, as Horn beat 13th seed Troy Warigon, 15-5, 15-4, in the 16s.

No other upsets in the men’s Round of 16. Top seed Rocky Carson beat 16th seed Ben Baron, 15-4, 15-8, and 2nd seed Alejandro Landa defeated 15th seed Justus Benson, 15-7, 15-6.

No upsets in Women’s Team Singles, and the top seeds weren’t in action Thursday. In Friday’s quarterfinals, top seed Rhonda Rajsich will play 8th seed Jessica Chen, who was a winner over 9th seed Graci Wargo, 15-6, 15-11, on Thursday. Second seed Kelani Bailey Lawrence will play 7th seed Cassi Lee Friday, as 7th seed Lee beat 10th seed Jazmin Trevino, 15-9, 15-5, in the Round of 16.

You can watch some of the action live from Tempe via the USA Racquetball website. 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 Standard Time.

2020 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships
February 5-9, 2020 - Tempe, Arizona
US National Team Divisions

Men's Doubles

Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Rocky Carson & Charlie Pratt - BYE
9) Robert Collins & Mauricio Zelada d. 8) Thomas Gerhardt & Brent Walters, 15-13, 15-3

5) Alejandro Landa & Sudsy Monchik - BYE
4) Jansen Allen & Tony Carson - BYE

3) Adam Manilla & Nicholas Riffel - BYE
6) Erik Garcia & David Horn d. 11) Ben Baron & Preston Tribble, 15-3, 15-6

7) Maurice Miller & Troy Warigon v. 10) Justus Benson & Sam Bredenbeck, 15-5, 15-6
2) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz - BYE

Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Rocky Carson & Charlie Pratt d. 9) Robert Collins & Mauricio Zelada, 15-9, 15-3
5) Alejandro Landa & Sudsy Monchik d. 4) Jansen Allen & Tony Carson, 13-15, 15-12, 11-9

6) Erik Garcia & David Horn d. 3) Adam Manilla & Nicholas Riffel, 7-15, 15-3, 11-5
2) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz d. 7) Maurice Miller & Troy Warigon, 15-7, 13-15, 11-7

Semi-finals - Friday

1) Rocky Carson & Charlie Pratt v. 5) Alejandro Landa & Sudsy Monchik - 1:25 PM
2) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz v. 6) Erik Garcia & David Horn - 3:35 PM

Women's Doubles

Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Erika Manilla & Aimee Ruiz - BYE
4) Jazmin Trevino & Erin Slutzky d. 5) Cassi Lee & Fran Transfiguracion, 3-15, 15-14, 11-8

3) Hollie Scott & Lexi York d. 6) Jessica Chen & Graci Wargo, 15-4, 15-3
2) Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts - BYE

Semi-finals - Friday

1) Erika Manilla & Aimee Ruiz v. 4) Jazmin Trevino & Erin Slutzky - 2:30 PM
2) Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts v. 3) Hollie Scott & Lexi York - 4:40 PM

Men’s Singles

Round of 32 - Thursday

16) Ben Baron d. 17) Jacob Kingsford, 15-4, 15-3

Men’s Singles

Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Rocky Carson d. 16) Ben Baron, 15-4, 15-8
8) Maurice Miller d. 9) Erik Garcia, 15-12, 5-15, 11-6

12) Mauricio Zelada d. 5) Charlie Pratt, 15-12, 15-11
4) David Horn d. 13) Troy Warigon, 15-5, 15-4

3) Jake Bredenbeck d. 14) Nicholas Riffel, 15-11, 15-6
6) Thomas Carter d. 11) Robert Collins, 0-15, 15-7, 11-9

7) Adam Manilla d. 10) Sam Bredenbeck, 15-8, 15-12
2) Alejandro Landa d. 15) Justus Benson, 15-7, 15-6

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Rocky Carson v. 8) Maurice Miller - 6:50 PM
4) David Horn v. 12) Mauricio Zelada - 5:45 PM

3) Jake Bredenbeck v. 6) Thomas Carter - 11:15 AM
2) Alejandro Landa v. 7) Adam Manilla - 6:50 PM

Women's Singles

Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
8) Jessica Chen d. 9) Graci Wargo, 15-6, 15-11

5) Sheryl Lotts d. 12) Estafania Perez, 15-2, 15-4
4) Erika Manilla d. 13) Fran Transfiguracion, 15-6, 15-4

3) Hollie Scott - BYE
6) Lexi York d. Erin Slutzky, 14-15, 15-4, 11-2

7) Cassi Lee d. 10) Jazmin Trevino, 15-9, 15-5
2) Kelani Bailey Lawrence - BYE

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Rhonda Rajsich v. 8) Jessica Chen - 12:20 PM
4) Erika Manilla v. 5) Sheryl Lotts - 7:55 PM

3) Hollie Scott v. 6) Lexi York - 12:20 PM
2) Kelani Bailey Lawrence v. 7) Cassi Lee - 11:15 AM

Follow the bouncing ball....

2020 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships - Preview

The USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships begin Thursday at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. Rocky Carson and Charlie Pratt are the defending Men’s Doubles Champions, so they are seeded #1 in the Men’s Team Qualifying Draw with last year’s runners up Jake Bredenbeck and Jose Diaz as the #2 seeds.

But there are two new teams of note in the Men’s draw. Alejandro Landa is playing in his first US Team Qualifying event, and he’s teamed up with Sudsy Monchik. They are seeded 5th. The other team of interest is the return of former Champions Jansen Allen and Tony Carson, who won the title in 2013. Allen also won it with Jose Rojas in 2015. Allen and Carson are seeded 4th, so they will play Landa and Monchik in the quarterfinals, which will be the first match for both teams.

Six teams are in the Women’s Team Qualifying division, but the title will likely go to one of the top three seeds. Either Erika Manilla and Aimee Ruiz, who are the top seeds, or 2nd seeds Kelani Bailey Lawrence and Sheryl Lotts or 3rd seeds Hollie Scott and Lexi York will take home the title.

Last year Ruiz and Janel Tisinger-Ledkins won the title by defeating Michelle De La Rosa and Danielle Maddux in the final. But then Tisinger-Ledkins tested positive for a banned substance at last year’s championships, which meant she and Ruiz vacated their title, and Tisinger-Ledkins was banned for 16 months. Thus, she’s still ineligible to compete in Tempe this week.

The USA National Doubles Champions will earn the right to represent their country at the 2020 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in San Luis Potosi, Mexico in August. The US doubles teams at the last World Championships in 2018 were Rocky Carson and Sudsy Monchik on the men’s side and Sheryl Lotts and Rhonda Rajsich on the women’s side.

Rajsich isn’t in the doubles draw this year, so it seems that she’s relying on her singles performances to get a spot on the team for Worlds.

Singles Play

USA Racquetball also has a singles division for the men and women who are looking to represent the USA at Worlds in August. In the Men’s draw, Rocky Carson is the top seed with Alejandro Landa 2nd, Jake Bredenbeck 3rd and David Horn 4th. Also of note, Charlie Pratt is seeded 5th and Adam Manilla 7th.

In the Women’s draw, Rhonda Rajsich is seeded 1st, with Kelani Bailey Lawrence 2nd, Hollie Scott 3rd, Erika Manilla 4th, Sheryl Lotts 5th and Lexi York 6th. The veteran Rajsich is still likely the player to beat, even though she’s had some inconsistent performances over the last year. But she was a semifinalist at the most recent Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) event in Greenville, South Carolina, so while one of the young up and coming players could knock off the veteran, it will take a good performance to do so.

You can watch some of the action live from Tempe via the USA Racquetball website. The Men’s and Women’s Doubles finals will be Saturday afternoon with the Singles finals on Sunday. Note the match times below are Pacific time.

2020 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships
February 5-9, 2020 - Tempe, Arizona
US National Team Divisions

Men's Doubles

Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Rocky Carson & Charlie Pratt - BYE
8) Thomas Gerhardt & Brent Walters v. 9) Robert Collins & Mauricio Zelada - 12:25 PM

5) Alejandro Landa & Sudsy Monchik - BYE
4) Jansen Allen & Tony Carson - BYE

3) Adam Manilla & Nicholas Riffel - BYE
6) Erik Garcia & David Horn v. 11) Ben Baron & Preston Tribble - 10:15 AM

7) Maurice Miller & Troy Warigon v. 10) Justus Benson & Sam Bredenbeck - 10:15 AM
2) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz - BYE

Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Rocky Carson & Charlie Pratt v. 8) Thomas Gerhardt & Brent Walters or 9) Robert Collins & Mauricio Zelada - 6:55 PM
4) Jansen Allen & Tony Carson v. 5) Alejandro Landa & Sudsy Monchik - 4:45 PM

3) Adam Manilla & Nicholas Riffel v. 6) Erik Garcia & David Horn or 11) Ben Baron & Preston Tribble - 2:35 PM
2) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz v. 7) Maurice Miller & Troy Warigon or 10) Justus Benson & Sam Bredenbeck - 2:35 PM

Women's Doubles

Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Erika Manilla & Aimee Ruiz - BYE
4) Jazmin Trevino & Erin Slutzky v. 5) Cassi Lee & Fran Transfiguracion - 10:15 AM

3) Hollie Scott & Lexi York v. 6) Jessica Chen & Graci Wargo — 11:20 AM
2) Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts - BYE

Men’s Singles

Round of 32 - Thursday

16) Ben Baron v. 17) Jacob Kingsford - 4:45 PM

Men’s Singles

Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Rocky Carson v. 16) Ben Baron or 17) Jacob Kingsford - 9:05 PM
8) Maurice Miller v. 9) Erik Garcia - 5:50 PM

5) Charlie Pratt v. 12) Mauricio Zelada - 3:40 PM
4) David Horn v. 13) Troy Warigon - 4:45 PM

3) Jake Bredenbeck v. 14) Nicholas Riffel - 6:55 PM
6) Thomas Carter v. 11) Robert Collins - 9:10 AM

7) Adam Manilla v. 10) Sam Bredenbeck - 6:55 PM
2) Alejandro Landa v. 15) Justus Benson - 8 PM

Women's Singles

Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
8) Jessica Chen v. 9) Graci Wargo - 1:30 PM

5) Sheryl Lotts v. 12) Estafania Perez - 12:25 PM
4) Erika Manilla v. 13) Fran Transfiguracion - 1:30 PM

3) Hollie Scott - BYE
6) Lexi York v. Erin Slutzky - 8 PM

7) Cassi Lee v. 10) Jazmin Trevino - 9:05 PM
2) Kelani Bailey Lawrence - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball....

Weekend Round-Up - Fernandez wins Men's Open, Mar & Montoya win Men's Doubles

Sebastian Fernandez won Men’s Open at the 22nd Lou Bradley Memorial Pro-Am in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin on the weekend. He came back from a game down to defeat Eduardo Portillo, 4-15, 15-7, 11-8. In the semi-finals, Fernandez had a walk over win against Sebastian Franco, while Portillo beat Felipe Camacho, 15-2, 15-3.

It was an impressive win for Fernandez, as Portillo’s in the top 10 of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), while Fernandez is 20th.

In Men’s Open Doubles, Javier Mar and Rodrigo Montoya defeated Javier Estrada and Alan Natera, 15-11, 15-12, in the final. In the semis, Mar and Montoya beat Justus Benson and Robert Collins, 15-8, 15-9, while Estrada and Natera defeated the veteran team of John Goth and Brent Walters, 15-9, 15-3.

Looking ahead

February is usually a light month on the pro racquetball schedule, and this year is no different. But there will big events this coming weekend with the 2020 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships in Tempe, Arizona, and the second Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event of the season, which will be held in conjunction with the 46th Annual Keystone Classic in Winnipeg.

22nd Annual Lou Bradley Memorial, January 30-February 2, 2020
Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

Men’s Open - Final

4) Sebastian Fernandez d. 2) Eduardo Portillo, 4-15, 15-7, 11-8

Semi-finals

4) Sebastian Fernandez d. 1) Sebastian Franco, forfeit
2) Eduardo Portillo d. 6) Felipe Camacho, 15-2, 15-3

Quarterfinals

1) Sebastian Franco d. 8) Lee Meinerz, 15-8, 15-11
4) Sebastian Fernandez d. 5) Eduardo Garay, 15-4, 15-1

6) Felipe Camacho d. 3) Mario Mercado, forfeit
2) Eduardo Portillo d. 7) Anthony Martin, 15-8, 15-4

Men’s Open - Final

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 2) Javier Estrada & Alan Natera, 15-11, 15-12

Semi-finals

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 4) Justus Benson & Robert Collins, 15-8, 15-9
2) Javier Estrada & Alan Natera d. 3) John Goth & Brent Walters, 15-9, 15-3

Follow the bouncing ball….

Waselenchuk defeats Mercado to win 2020 IRT Lou Bradley Memorial Pro-Am

Kane Waselenchuk defeated Mario Mercado, 15-2, 15-3, in the final of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) 22nd Annual Lou Bradley Memorial Pro-Am in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. The win further cements Waselenchuk’s status at the #1 IRT player.

It was the first time Waselenchuk and Mercado had played in a final, and Waselenchuk said “I wanted to make it a memorable one for him.”

Mercado acknowledged that Waselenchuk “played totally differently” than in their six previous meetings, which were also wins for Waselenchuk but not finals.

Mercado’s now played in two finals, losing both. The first was to Charlie Pratt back in December 2017. In contrast, Waselenchuk’s played 132 finals, winning 122 of them.

The points came fast and furious in the match. Waselenchuk went up 5-0 and then 10-0 in game one. Mercado got two points then, and Waselenchuk finished it off, 15-2.

Game two had the same storyline. Waselenchuk went out to the early lead, 7-0 this time. Mercado got a few points, making it 7-3, and then Waselenchuk finished it up, 15-3.

Waselenchuk served well in the match, hitting seven aces.

The IRT will next be in action at the 35th Annual KWM Gutterman Shamrock Shootout, March 12-15 in Lombard, Illinois. If you missed any of the action from Wisconsin, check out the IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page where the matches have been archived.

2020 IRT Lou Bradley Memorial, January 30-February 2, 2020
Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

Final - Saturday

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 11) Mario Mercado, 15-2, 15-3

Follow the bouncing ball….

Mercado & Waselenchuk into final at 2020 IRT Lou Bradley Memorial Pro-Am

Mario Mercado reached the final of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) 22nd Lou Bradley Memorial Pro-Am in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin with a win over Alejandro Landa, the IRT’s #2 player, 15-14, 15-11. It’s only the 2nd time Mercado has reached an IRT final. The last time was in Portland in 2017, when he lost to Charlie Pratt.

Mercado will play IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk in the final, as Waselenchuk beat 4th seed Alvaro Beltran, 15-7, 15-0. Beltran actually led early in game one - at 5-0 and 7-3. But when the IRT’s top player got it into gear there was no stopping him, as Waselenchuk scored 27 unanswered points en route to the victory.

Mercado has his work cut out for him.

The Lou Bradley concludes Saturday night, and you can watch the final at 8 PM CST via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page.

2020 IRT Lou Bradley Memorial, January 30-February 2, 2020
Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 4) Alvaro Beltran, 15-7, 15-0
11) Mario Mercado d. 2) Alejandro Landa, 15-14, 15-11

Final - Saturday

1) Kane Waselenchuk v. 11) Mario Mercado - 8 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….