2022 LPRT TeamRoot.com Super Max Slam - Round of 32

The Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour’s (LPRT’s) 2021-22 season wraps up this weekend with the 2022 TeamRoot.com Super Max Slam, which has become the traditional season ending event held in Overland Park, Kansas. There’s a strong field of 28 players including the top 15 ranked LPRT players and 19 of the top 21. LPRT #1 Paola Longoria leads the field, along with two time winner on tour LPRT #2 Alexandra Herrera.

But neither of them is the defending TeamRoot.com champion. That is Montserrat Mejia, who upset Longoria in the final last year after defeating Herrera in the quarterfinals. That could happen again this year, as Mejia is seeded 6th, so could play Herrera en route to the final.

Mejia is off to a good start, as she defeated 27th seed Martina Katz, 15-2, 15-3, in the Round of 32. Katz was runner up in Girls U18 at last year’s International Racquetball Federation World Junior Championships. Mejia will play 11th seed Kelani Lawrence in the Round of 16 this afternoon, as Lawrence beat 22nd seed Camila Rivero, 15-5, 15-5, in the 32s.

Doubles

Longoria and Samantha Salas are the top seeds in doubles, which is no surprise, but what is surprising is that the 2nd seeds are Herrera and Erika Manilla and the 3rd seeds are Mejia and Jessica Parrilla. This surprising because Herrera has successfully played with Mejia for several years, but when Mejia wasn’t at the last tournament in South Carolina Herrera played with Parrilla, and they won, beating Longoria and Salas in the final.

So, why are we messing with success here? Not sure. If any changes were to be made from the Herrera and Mejia partnership, we would have thought Herrera and Parrilla would play together given their win last month. But the players have chosen otherwise.

Finally, what a difference a year can make. Erika Manilla was seeded 31st at last year’s TeamRoot.com event, and played in the singles Round of 64. This year she’s the 9th seed, and the highest seeded USA player in the field, ahead of veteran Rhonda Rajsich, who is 10th. That’s remarkable progress in just one year.

You can watch the LPRT TeamRoot.com event live via the LPRT YouTube channel or the LPRT website (click “LPRT Live” at the top of the page). The Round of 32 began at 9 AM with the Round of 16 starting at 2 PM. The quarterfinals will be 11 and noon Saturday. Doubles began Thursday, and continues Friday evening at 6 and 7 PM Friday with the Round of 16 followed by the quarterfinals at noon and 1 PM Saturday. The singles semi-finals are Saturday at 4 and 5 PM and the doubles semis at 6 and 7 PM. The singles final will be noon Sunday with the doubles final to follow at 1 PM. All times central. 

2022 LPRT TeamRoot.com, June 9-12, 2022
Overland Park, Kansas 

Round of 32 - Friday 

1) Paola Longoria - BYE
17) Sheryl Lotts d. 16) Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-14, 13-15, 11-5

9) Erika Manilla d. 24) Susana Acosta, 15-3, 15-10
8) Jessica Parrilla d. 25) Stephanie Synhorst, 15-4, 15-3

5) Gabriela Martinez d. 28) Sunshine Arterburn, 15-1, 6-0, injury forfeit
12) Brenda Laime d. 21) Annie Roberts, 15-2, 15-5

13) Samantha Salas d. 20) Adriana Riveros, 15-1, 15-11
4) Natalia Mendez - BYE

3) Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
14) Carla Muñoz d. 19) Micaela Meneses, 15-0, 15-4

11) Kelani Lawrence d. 22) Camila Rivero, 15-5, 15-5
6) Montserrat Mejia d. 27) Martina Katz, 15-2, 15-3

7) Angelica Barrios d. 26) Linda Tyler, 15-9, 15-14
10) Rhonda Rajsich d. 23) Adrienne Haynes, 15-1, 15-2

18) Hollie Scott d. 15) Valeria Centellas, 15-7, 11-15, 11-7
2) Alexandra Herrera - BYE  

Round of 16 - Friday 

1) Paola Longoria v. 17) Sheryl Lotts - 5 PM
8) Jessica Parrilla v. 9) Erika Manilla - 5 PM

5) Gabriela Martinez v. 12) Brenda Laime - 2 PM
4) Natalia Mendez v. 13) Samantha Salas - 2 PM

3) Maria Jose Vargas v. 14) Carla Muñoz - 3 PM
6) Montserrat Mejia v. 11) Kelani Lawrence - 3 PM

7) Angelica Barrios v. 10) Rhonda Rajsich - 4 PM
2) Alexandra Herrera v. 18) Hollie Scott - 4 PM

Doubles - Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas - BYE
8) Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich d. 9) Micaela Meneses & Adriana Riveros, 15-6, 5-15, 11-1

5) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 12) Susana Acosta & Martina Katz, 15-8, 15-6
4) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez - BYE

3) Montserrat Mejia & Jessica Parrilla - BYE
6) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott d. 11) T. J. Baumbaugh & Linda Tyler, 15-2, 15-14

7) Brenda Laime & Carla Muñoz d. 10) Camila Rivero & Annie Roberts, 15-5, 15-14
2) Alexandra Herrera & Erika Manilla - BYE

Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 8) Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich - 7 PM
4) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez v. 5) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez - 7 PM

3) Montserrat Mejia & Jessica Parrilla v. 6) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott - 6 PM
2) Alexandra Herrera & Erika Manilla v. 7) Brenda Laime & Carla Muñoz - 6 PM

 Follow the bouncing ball….