De La Rosa, Montoya & Parrilla win at 2023 IRT Williams Accounting & Consulting Open

The top seeds won both singles and doubles at the 2023 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Williams Accounting & Consulting Open in Lilburn, Georgia on Sunday. In singles, top seed Daniel De La Rosa beat 3rd seed Jake Bredenbeck, 15-10, 15-12, while in doubles top seeds Rodrigo Montoya and Andree Parrilla defeated 2nd seeds De La Rosa and Alejandro Landa, 15-12, 13-15, 11-5. De La Rosa has been in all three singles finals this year, winning two of them. Also, Montoya’s been in two doubles finals in 2023, winning both times, while Landa has been in all three doubles finals this year, but has yet to win one.

In three IRT events this year, no one has won both singles and doubles at the same event.

De La Rosa led for most of game one versus Bredenbeck, and he got to game point at 14-7. But Bredenbeck fought off four game points, and got a few points of his own before De La Rosa ended it by forcing Bredenbeck into skipping a forehand return off a drive jam serve to the left side.

Bredenbeck carried that late game momentum over into game two, taking a 5-0 lead. He maintained the lead up to 9-9, and when De La Rosa won the next point to lead 10-9, Bredenbeck called a timeout.

The timeout didn’t turn the tide, as De La Rosa lengthened his lead to 13-9, but Bredenebck did come back to within one at 13-12. Bredenbeck gave De La Rosa his 14th point when he skipped a backhand shot that he tried to kill from waist high.

De La Rosa got the win on the next rally, although there was a bit a controversy to the end. De La Rosa hit a forehand shot down the right side that went off the side wall to the front wall, and rolled. But it hit the side wall at around floor level a couple feet from the front, so it seemed like it was a skip. That is, it seemed it rolled in, as well as out, and the referee called it a skip. But De La Rosa, who had fist pumped after making the shot, appealed the call, and the line judges both disagreed with the referee’s call, so it was overturned; the shot was judged to be good. Match over.

Bredenbeck looked stunned at the call being overturned.

Afterwards, De La Rosa congratulated Bredenbeck, saying “he played amazing. He gives everything on the court.”

For his part, Bredenbeck said “Daniel’s a hell of a player. Obviously one of the best in the world [and he] continues to prove that.” Bredenbeck said he was “just a little bit off and at this level that doesn’t work,” and “I didn’t feel like I was hitting the ball clean, like I was yesterday.” He was a little frustrated to not perform how he wanted.

But overall Bredenbeck feels he’s “starting to put the pieces together,” and still feels “like I’m learning and growing and getting better. Hopefully, I can continue to improve and start getting wins instead of 2nd places.”

In the doubles final, Montoya and Parrilla jumped out to a 11-0 lead in game one, and got to game point at 14-7. De La Rosa and Landa did fight back and get within two at 14-12, but couldn’t complete the comeback.

In game two, De La Rosa and Landa led early, 5-1 and 8-2, but Montoya and Parrilla led late, 12-9 and 13-11. Yet they couldn’t finish it out, as De La Rosa and Landa came back to win 15-13, as Landa hit a winning forehand cross court shot, and hobbled off the court.

Credit to Landa for gutting it out through the match, as he was clearly showing the effects of the ankle injury he suffered in the quarterfinals against Samuel Murray.

Early in the tie-breaker, it seemed that Landa’s perseverance was going to be rewarded with a win, as he and De La Rosa took a 5-1 lead. But unfortunately for them, that’s all the points they got, as Montoya and Parrilla scored ten unanswered points to win the breaker 11-5, and take the title.

The match winner came as Landa pushed a shot down the line from the front court, and Parrilla was there in before Landa could get out of the way. Parrilla held up and an avoidable was called. De La Rosa and Landa appealed, but the line judges - this time - agreed with the referee’s call, ending the match. Unlike De La Rosa and Landa's semi-final, there was no protest at the outcome of that appeal.

The IRT will next play in Minneapolis for the Minnesota Hall of Fame event, March 2-5, 2023. If you missed any of the action from Georgia, check out IRT YouTube channel.

2023 IRT Williams Accounting & Consulting Open
February 16-19, 2023 - Lilburn, Georgia

Final - Sunday

1) Daniel De La Rosa d. 3) Jake Bredenbeck, 15-10, 15-12

IRT Doubles - Final - Sunday

1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla d. 2) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa, 15-12, 13-15, 11-5

Follow the bouncing ball….

Mejia, Longoria & Rajsich win at 2023 LPRT at Arizona State Doubles Championships

It appears there’s a new sheriff in town, or at least on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT), as Montserrat Mejia won for the third straight time on Saturday. She came back from a game down to defeat Maria Jose Vargas, 12-15, 15-2, 11-4, to win the LPRT at the Arizona State Doubles Championships title in Tempe, Arizona. The win is the 4th of Mejia’s career, one fewer than Vargas’s five titles, and 15th most overall in LPRT history.

Two of the winningest women in pro racquetball - Paola Longoria and Rhonda Rajsich - teamed up in doubles and won the title. They defeated Valeria Centellas and Natalia Mendez, 15-8, 15-12, to win their second title together. The first came back in October 2016 at the Boston Open.

Both Longoria and Rajsich have other usual partners, but neither of their partners were in Tempe, so they paired up, which proved to be a successful decision.

The LPRT will next be in action at The Boston Open, March 3-5 in Boston, Massachusetts. If you missed any of the action from Arizona - and there were several upsets worth checking out - go to the LPRT YouTube channel.

2023 LPRT at Arizona State Doubles Championships
February 15-19, 2023 - Tempe, Arizona

Final - Saturday

3) Montserrat Mejia d. 16) Maria Jose Vargas, 12-15, 15-2, 11-4

Doubles - Final - Saturday

3) Paola Longoria & Rhonda Rajsich d. 4) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez, 15-8, 15-12

Follow the bouncing ball….

Controversy in doubles semis at 2023 IRT Williams Accounting & Consulting Open

The top seeds in doubles will meet in the final of the 2023 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Williams Accounting & Consulting Open in Lilburn, Georgia on Sunday, although one team should consider themselves lucky to be there. Top seeds Rodrigo Montoya and Andree Parrilla beat 4th seeds Sebastian Franco and Adam Manilla, 15-8, 15-9, in one semi-final, and 2nd seeds Daniel De La Rosa and Alejandro Landa narrowly defeated 3rd seeds Jake Bredenbeck and Samuel Murray, 12-15, 15-12, 11-9.

But at 10-9 in the breaker, Bredenbeck hit a shot that went high and wide around the court, so De La Rosa followed it around, and then held up as it got to the right side where Bredenbeck was. An avoidable, or penalty hinder, was called, but Murray and Bredenbeck appealed, as an avoidable call would end the match at 11-9.

The line judges were split: one disagreed, one didn’t see it, so the result was a replay, as one official thought it was an avoidable, one didn’t and one was neutral. The Racquetball Blog staff thought the avoidable call was fair enough.

But what happened next wasn’t.

After the appeal outcome was determined to be a replay, Landa picked up the ball and slammed it at the backwall, narrowly missing Murray. Presumably, Landa was hitting in the direction of one of the line judges.

That kind of behaviour demands a technical, and in an international match it would have gotten one. Indeed, we thought more than one technical could have been assessed, and possibly a match dismissal, because that kind of behaviour is completely unacceptable. Doing such a thing really warrants a match forfeit, and if Landa had received such a penalty, he should have no complaints.

Yet it’s Bredenbeck and Murray who should have complaints, as Landa was assessed no penalty for slamming the ball into the back glass. Landa got nothing, when he should have got a straight red card, to use a soccer analogy.

On the next rally, Murray skipped a backhand shot after Landa hit a forehand cross court to the left side, and that ended the game, 11-9, and match, 2-1.

Landa does have a history of angry outburts on court, and he was forfeited out of the semi-finals of Mixed Doubles at last year’s Pan American Championships for bad behaviour. So, if he had been dismissed from today’s semi, it wouldn’t have been his first time.

Singles semi-finals

Landa defaulted his singles semi-final to De La Rosa, as he’s still hobbling from the right ankle injury he picked up during his quarterfinal match with Murray. Thus, he chose to save himself for the doubles final rather than play the singles semi.

In the other semi, 3rd seed Jake Bredenbeck came back from a game down to upset 2nd seed Andree Parrilla, 7-15, 15-11, 11-8, and put him in Sunday’s final against De La Rosa. It’ll be Bredenbeck’s 4th career IRT final, and he’s won one of the previous three.

De La Rosa holds the edge over Bredenbeck on tour, as he’s won 10 of their 12 meetings. Four of their last six matches went to tie-breaker, but De La Rosa won in two straight games in their most recent match at last month’s Lewis Drug Pro-Am. Bredenbeck hasn’t beaten De La Rosa since May 2019.

You can see the IRT action via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. The singles final is Sunday at 11 AM with doubles to follow at noon. All times Eastern.

2023 IRT Williams Accounting & Consulting Open
February 16-19, 2023 - Lilburn, Georgia

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Daniel De La Rosa d. 4) Alejandro Landa, forfeit
3) Jake Bredenbeck d. 2) Andree Parrilla, 7-15, 15-11, 11-8

Final - Sunday

1) Daniel De La Rosa v. 3) Jake Bredenbeck - 11 AM

IRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla d. 4) Sebastian Franco & Adam Manilla, 15-8, 15-9
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa d. 3) Jake Bredenbeck & Samuel Murray, 12-15, 15-12, 11-9

IRT Doubles - Final - Sunday

1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla v. 2) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa - Noon

Follow the bouncing ball….

Vargas faces Meija in final of 2023 LPRT at the Arizona State Doubles Championships

Maria Jose Vargas has returned to the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) with a vengence, as she’s put herself into the final at the LPRT at the Arizona State Doubles Championships in Tempe, Arizona. She’s playing in just her first LPRT event of the season after taking time off to have her third child. Yet she showed no signs of rust, as Vargas defeated Natalia Mendez, 15-7, 15-7.

In the final, Vargas will face 3rd seed Montserrat Mejia as Mejia defeated 10th seed Angelica Barrios, 15-6, 15-5, in Arizona Friday.

While the singles semi-finals weren’t close, the doubles finals were. One of them was nominally an upset, although we’re reluctant to call a win by a team comprised of the LPRT’s current #1 player and a former #1 player, although Paola Longoria (current #1) and Rhonda Rajsich (former #1) were seeded 3rd behind 2nd seeds Gabriela Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez. Yet Longoria and Rajsich came out on top in three games, winning 15-11, 10-15, 11-3.

In the final, Longoria and Rajsich will play 4th seeds Valeria Centellas and Natalia Mendez, who defeated 8th seeds Angelica Barrios and Brenda Laime in two straight games, 15-14, 15-5.

You can watch the finals live from Arizona via the LPRT YouTube channel. The singles final will be Saturday at 1 PM with the doubles final to follow at 2 PM. All times MST.

2023 LPRT at Arizona State Doubles Championships
February 15-19, 2023 - Tempe, Arizona

Semi-finals - Friday

16) Maria Jose Vargas d. 5) Natalia Mendez, 15-7, 15-7
3) Montserrat Mejia d. 10) Angelica Barrios, 15-6, 15-5

Final - Saturday

3) Montserrat Mejia d. 16) Maria Jose Vargas - 1 PM

Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday

4) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez d. 8) Angelica Barrios & Brenda Laime, 15-14, 15-5
3) Paola Longoria & Rhonda Rajsich d. 2) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-11, 10-15, 11-3

Doubles - Final - Saturday

3) Paola Longoria & Rhonda Rajsich v. 4) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez - 2 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Top seeds through to the semi-finals at 2023 IRT Williams Accounting & Consulting Open

Daniel De La Rosa, the #1 player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), is through to the semi-finals at the 2023 IRT Williams Accounting & Consulting Open in Lilburn, Georgia, as he beat 8th seed Adam Manilla, 15-11, 15-4, in the quarterfinals Friday. De La Rosa is trying to get to his third final in as many IRT events this year. He’s 1-1 in the first two finals of the season.

In the semis, De La Rosa will face 4th seed Alejandro Landa, who defeated 5th seed Samuel Murray, 15-13, 2-15, 11-8. It looked like Murray was going to take the breaker, as he was up 6-2, when Landa went down clutching at his right ankle. It didn't seem there wasn’t any contact between the players or that Landa went over on the ankle, so it was a strange injury. Yet he stayed down for 7 min, but play did resumed after about 9 min.

Murray got two more points to extend his lead to 8-2, and put himself in the driver’s seat to win the breaker and reach his first semi-final of the season.

But he wouldn’t score again, or even serve, as Landa won 9 straight points on as many rallies after switching his serve to a lob nick off the left side wall (i.e., to Murray's backhand).

The first two points were three shot rallies, as Murray left backhand pinch returns up and Landa hit winners off them. Landa got two more winners off more loose shots by Murray, making the score 8-6, so Murray called a timeout.

When play resumed, Landa hit backhand pinch winners on back to back rallies to tie the game 8-8. Murray thought the second skipped, but the line judges upheld the referee’s good shot call.

Landa closed out the game, and match, with three forehand winners back to back to back. The first was a wide angle pass from left centre to the right side putting the ball around Murray. The second was a reverse pinch shot, and the third was cross court kill shot to win the game 11-8, and the match 2 games to 1.

Landa was clearly hobbled by his right leg injury, but Murray didn’t do much to move Landa around the court. And perhaps with the knowledge that he didn’t want to move much, Landa tried to be precise with his shots, and succeeded in doing so, as all 9 points in his comeback were winners. Murray didn’t skip any shots, but he also didn’t make shots that made Landa uncomfortable.

Thus, it was an impressive comeback by Landa, and it will be interesting to see how fit he is in the semi-finals against De La Rosa Saturday night. But first Landa will team up with De La Rosa in the doubles semis against Murray and Jake Bredenbeck Saturday afternoon.

Bredenbeck is in the other singles semi-final, as he beat 11th seed Sebastian Franco, 15-8, 15-3. He’ll play 2nd seed Andree Parrilla in the semis, as Parrilla defeated 7th seed Andrés Acuña, 15-3, 15-4.

You can see the IRT action via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. The singles semi-finals will be 6 and 7 PM Saturday. The doubles semis are Saturday at noon and 1 PM. The singles final is Sunday at 11 AM with doubles to follow at noon. All times Eastern.

2023 IRT Williams Accounting & Consulting Open
February 16-19, 2023 - Lilburn, Georgia

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Daniel De La Rosa d. 8) Adam Manilla, 15-11, 15-4
4) Alejandro Landa d. 5) Samuel Murray, 15-13, 2-15, 11-8

3) Jake Bredenbeck d. 11) Sebastian Franco, 15-8, 15-3
2) Andree Parrilla d. 7) Andrés Acuña, 15-3, 15-4

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Daniel De La Rosa v. 4) Alejandro Landa - 7 PM
2) Andree Parrilla v. 3) Jake Bredenbeck - 6 PM

IRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla v. 4) Sebastian Franco & Adam Manilla - Noon
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa v. 3) Jake Bredenbeck & Samuel Murray - 1 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Barrios defeats Herrera at 2023 LPRT at Arizona State Doubles Championships

The upsets continued in the quarterfinals of the 2023 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) at the Arizona State Doubles Championships in Tempe, Arizona, as 10th seed Angelica Barrios defeated LPRT #2 Alexandra Herrera, 15-12, 15-11, the day after LPRT #1 Paola Longoria lost in the Round of 16 for the first time since 2007. Barrios looks to be in good form to defend the Women’s Singles Pan American Championship title that she won last year. This year’s Pan Am Championships begin March 31 in Guatemala.

Barrios will play 3rd seed Montserrat Mejia in the semi-finals, as Mejia defeated 6th seed Jessica Parrilla, 15-11, 15-4. Parrilla had a lead in game one, but couldn’t hold it, as Mejia came back to win that game and then take the match in two straight games.

Mejia was the only higher seed to win in the quarters and the only top four seed to make the semi-finals, as 4th seed Erika Manilla lost to 5th seed Natalia Mendez, 8-15, 15-10, 11-0. Mendez will play 16th seed - but five time winner on tour - Maria Jose Vargas in the semis, as Vargas came back from a game down to defeat 9th seed Kelani Lawrence, 13-15, 15-8, 11-3.

The last event with two double digit seeds in the semis - and only one top four seed - was last year's Team.Root Super Max Slam, when Hollie Scott (seeded 18th) and Samantha Salas (13th) made the semis and Longoria (1st) was the only top four seed. Mejia as the 6th seed rounded out the semis. That time, Longoria and Mejia won their respective semis and then Longoria defeated Mejia in the final. That could be taken as positive for Mejia this time, as the top seed came out on top at the Team.Root event, and she's the top seed remaining this time, or bad for Mejia, as she didn't win the last time there were similar semi-finalists.

You can watch the action live from Arizona via the LPRT YouTube channel. Play continues Friday afternoon with singles semi-finals at 4 and 5 PM. The doubles semi-finals will be 6 and 7 PM. The singles final will be Saturday at 1 PM with the doubles final to follow at 2 PM. All times MST.

2023 LPRT at Arizona State Doubles Championships
February 15-19, 2023 - Tempe, Arizona

Quarterfinals - Friday

16) Maria Jose Vargas d. 9) Kelani Lawrence, 13-15, 15-8, 11-3
5) Natalia Mendez d. 4) Erika Manilla, 8-15, 15-10, 11-0

3) Montserrat Mejia d. 6) Jessica Parrilla, 15-11, 15-4
10) Angelica Barrios d. 2) Alexandra Herrera, 15-12, 15-11

Semi-finals - Friday

5) Natalia Mendez v. 16) Maria Jose Vargas - 5 PM
3) Montserrat Mejia v. 10) Angelica Barrios - 4 PM

Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday

4) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez v. 8) Angelica Barrios & Brenda Laime - 7 PM
2) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez v. 3) Paola Longoria & Rhonda Rajsich - 6 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Franco upsets Montoya at 2023 IRT Williams Accounting & Consulting Open

Sebastian Franco, the 11th seed, had the only upset in the Round of 16 at the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Williams Accounting & Consulting Open in Lilburn, Georgia Friday, as he beat 6th seed Rodrigo Montoya, 15-4, 15-11, in what was a battle of International Racquetball Federation (IRF). Franco won Men’s Doubles at Worlds in 2014, and Montoya has won three World Championships: Man’s Singles in 2016, Men’s Doubles in 2021, and Mixed Doubles in 2022.

But this day belonged to Franco, who will play in the quarters for the first time since January 2022, which was also in Lilburn. Georgia has been good for him. In the quarters, Franco will play 3rd seed Jake Bredenbeck, who beat 14th seed Robert Collins, 15-4, 15-7, in the Round of 16.

IRT #1 Daniel De La Rosa defeated 17th seed Juan Salvatierra in two straight games, 15-2, 15-9. Indeed all the matches in the 16s were over in two games, although there were three 15-14 games. Adam Manilla played one of those, as he defeated 9th seed Thomas Carter, 15-14, 15-6, in a battle of left-handers. Manilla and De La Rosa will square off in the quarterfinals.

IRT #2 Andree Parrilla beat 15th seed Erick Cuevas Fernandez, 15-3, 15-3, and will play 7th seed Andrés Acuña, who snuffed out 23rd seed Jose Daniel Ugalde’s run in the tournament, 15-0, 15-5.

Finally, former doubles partners Alejandro Landa and Samuel Murray will play off in the quarters, as Landa defeated 13th seed Jaime Martell, 15-14, 15-5, and Murray beat 12th seed Alan Natera, 15-8, 15-14.

There were no upsets in the doubles quarterfinals. Top seeds Rodrigo Montoya and Andree Parrilla beat 9th seed Juan Francisco Cueva and Jose Daniel Ugalde, 15-7, 15-11, and will play the righty-lefty team of Sebastian Franco and Adam Manilla, as they won a see-saw match with Andrés Acuña and Alan Natera, 15-6, 3-15, 11-3.

The other semi will be 2nd seed Daniel De La Rosa and Alejandro Landa versus 3rd seeds Jake Bredenbeck and Samuel Murray. In the quarters, De La Rosa and Landa beat 7th seeds Edwin Galicia and Juan Salvatierra, 15-5, 15-8, while Bredenbeck and Murray defeated 6th seeds Kadim Carrasco and Erick Trujillo, 15-10, 15-4.

You can see some of the IRT action via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. The singles quarterfinals begin Friday at 5 PM with the semi-finals at 6 and 7 PM Saturday. The doubles quarterfinals are at 2 PM Friday with the semis Saturday at noon and 1 PM. The singles final is Sunday at 11 AM with doubles to follow at noon. All times Eastern.

2023 IRT Williams Accounting & Consulting Open
February 16-19, 2023 - Lilburn, Georgia

IRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Daniel De La Rosa d. 17) Juan Salvatierra, 15-2, 15-9
8) Adam Manilla d. 9) Thomas Carter, 15-14, 15-6

5) Samuel Murray d. 12) Alan Natera, 15-8, 15-14
4) Alejandro Landa d. 13) Jaime Martell, 15-14, 15-5

3) Jake Bredenbeck d. 14) Robert Collins, 15-4, 15-7
11) Sebastian Franco d. 6) Rodrigo Montoya, 15-4, 15-11

7) Andrés Acuña d. 23) Jose Daniel Ugalde, 15-0, 15-5
2) Andree Parrilla d. 15) Erick Cuevas Fernandez, 15-3, 15-3

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Daniel De La Rosa v. 8) Adam Manilla - 7 PM
4) Alejandro Landa v. 5) Samuel Murray - 8 PM

3) Jake Bredenbeck v. 11) Sebastian Franco - 5 PM
2) Andree Parrilla v. 7) Andrés Acuña - 6 PM

IRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla d. 9) Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde, 15-7, 15-11
4) Sebastian Franco & Adam Manilla d. 5) Andrés Acuña & Alan Natera, 15-6, 3-15, 11-3

3) Jake Bredenbeck & Samuel Murray d. 6) Kadim Carrasco & Erick Trujillo, 15-10, 15-4
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa d. 7) Edwin Galicia & Juan Salvatierra, 15-5, 15-8

IRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla v. 4) Sebastian Franco & Adam Manilla - Noon
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa v. 3) Jake Bredenbeck & Samuel Murray - 1 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Play begins at 2023 IRT Williams Accounting & Consulting Open

Matches between a wily veteran and a young gun are always fun, and there was one of them Thursday at the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Williams Accounting & Consulting Open in Lilburn, Georgia. This time the wily veteran Jose Daniel Ugalde beat young up and comer Erick Trujillo, 15-8, 15-11, in the Round of 32. In the Round of 16, Ugalde will play 7th seed Andrés Acuña, who was a winner over Rodrigo Salgado Jr., 15-2, 15-11.

There were three tie-breakers in the 32s. Ninth seed Thomas Carter held on to defeat 24th seed Juan Francisco Cueva, 15-4, 9-15, 11-1, and will play 8th seed Adam Manilla in the quarters; Manilla beat Matt Fontana, 15-2, 15-4, in the 32s.

Robert Collins, the 14th seed, came back from a game down to defeat Edwin Galicia, 10-15, 15-13, 11-4. He’ll play 3rd seed Jake Bredenbeck in the 16s, as Bredenbeck beat Diego Gatica, 15-1, 15-3.

Finally, 15th seed Erick Cuevas Fernandez defeated 18th seed Guillermo Jesus Orega Jr., 15-9, 7-15, 11-7, to set up a showdown with 2nd seed Andree Parrilla, who was a winner over 31st seed Roberto Castro, 15-2, 15-0.

Ugalde was also a winner in doubles, as he and Juan Francisco Cueva defeated Carlos Ramirez and Erick Cuevas Fernandez, 15-14, 12-15, 11-4, in the Round of 16. They’ll play top seeds Rodrigo Montoya and Andree Parrilla in the quarters.

The other tie-breaker in doubles happened as 7th seeds Edwin Galicia and Juan Salvatierra came back to defeat 10th seeds Diego Gatica and Rodrigo Salgado Jr., 9-15, 15-7, 11-6, to set up a match with 2nd seeds Daniel De La Rosa and Alejandro Landa.

You can see some of the IRT action via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. Singles play began Thursday afternoon and doubles will begin Thursday night at 7 PM. The singles Round of 16 will be Friday morning at 10 and 11 AM. The singles final is Sunday at 11 AM with doubles to follow at noon. All times Eastern.

2023 IRT Williams Accounting & Consulting Open
February 16-19, 2023 - Lilburn, Georgia

IRT Singles - Round of 32 - Thursday

Daniel De La Rosa - BYE
17) Juan Salvatierra d. 16) Kadim Carrasco, 15-8, 15-14

9) Thomas Carter d. 24) Juan Francisco Cueva, 15-4, 9-15, 11-1
8) Adam Manilla d. 25) Matt Fontana, 15-2, 15-4

5) Samuel Murray 3. 28) Abraham Mercado, 15-1, 15-0
12) Alan Natera d. 21) Stephen Evans, 15-1, 15-2

13) Jaime Martell d. 20) Carlos Ramirez, 15-5, 15-3
4) Alejandro Landa d. 29) DJ Mendoza, 15-8, 15-2

6) Jake Bredenbeck d. 30) Diego Gatica, 15-1, 15-3
14) Robert Collins d. 19) Edwin Galicia, 10-15, 15-13, 11-4

11) Sebastian Franco d. 22) Cody Elkins, 15-1, 15-0
6) Rodrigo Montoya d. 27) Lincoln Andres-Beck, 15-6, 15-4

7) Andrés Acuña d. 26) Rodrigo Salgado Jr., 15-2, 15-11
23) Jose Daniel Ugalde d. 10) Erick Trujillo, 15-8, 15-11

15) Erick Cuevas Fernandez d. 18) Guillermo Jesus Ortega Jr., 15-9, 7-15, 11-7
2) Andree Parrilla d. 31) Roberto Castro, 15-2, 15-0

IRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday

Daniel De La Rosa v. 17) Juan Salvatierra - 11 AM
8) Adam Manilla v. 9) Thomas Carter - 11 AM

5) Samuel Murray v. 12) Alan Natera - 11 AM
4) Alejandro Landa v. 13) Jaime Martell - 11 AM

6) Jake Bredenbeck v. 14) Robert Collins - 10 AM
6) Rodrigo Montoya v. 11) Sebastian Franco - 10 AM

7) Andrés Acuña v. 23) Jose Daniel Ugalde - 10 AM
2) Andree Parrilla v. 15) Erick Cuevas Fernandez - 10 AM

IRT Doubles - Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla - BYE
9) Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde d. 8) Carlos Ramirez & Erick Cuevas Fernandez, 15-14, 12-15, 11-4

5) Andrés Acuña & Alan Natera - BYE
4) Sebastian Franco & Adam Manilla - BYE

3) Jake Bredenbeck & Samuel Murray - BYE
6) Kadim Carrasco & Erick Trujillo d. 11) Stephen Evans & Jimmy Lan, 15-6, 15-2

7) Edwin Galicia & Juan Salvatierra d. 10) Diego Gatica & Rodrigo Salgado Jr., 9-15, 15-7, 11-6
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa - BYE

IRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla v. 9) Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde - 2 PM
4) Sebastian Franco & Adam Manilla v. 5) Andrés Acuña & Alan Natera - 2 PM

3) Jake Bredenbeck & Samuel Murray v. 6) Kadim Carrasco & Erick Trujillo - 2 PM
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa v. 7) Edwin Galicia & Juan Salvatierra - 2 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Seimic upsets Friday at 2023 LPRT at Arizona State Doubles Championships

Two seismic upsets at the 2023 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) at the Arizona State Doubles Championships in Tempe, Arizona as the top seeds in both singles and doubles lost their first matches. Maria Jose Vargas - seeded 16th but a former #2 player - defeated LPRT #1 Paola Longoria, 15-13, 4-15, 11-8, in the Round of 16, and 8th seeds Angelica Barrios and Brenda Laime upset the #1 doubles team of Alexandra Herrera and Montserrat Mejia, 15-11, 15-11. It may be the first time the top seeds in singles and doubles lost their first matches at a tournament.

Vargas will play 9th seed Kelani Lawrence in the quarterfinals on Friday, as Lawrence beat 9th seed Laime, 15-9, 15-10, Thursday. Most unusual for the 9th and 16th seeds to be facing off in the quarters.

Barrios caused the other upset in the 16s, as the 10th seed beat 7th seed Carla Muñoz, 15-10, 15-10. Barrios will play Alexandra Herrera in the quarters, as Herrera defeated Gabriela Martinez, 15-12, 15-13.

There was almost a third upset, but 5th seed Natalia Mendez came back from a game down to defeat 12th seed Valeria Centellas and her doubles partner, 11-15, 15-12, 11-5. Mendez faces a former doubles partner - Erika Manilla, who won doubles with Mendez at last year’s US Open - in the quarters, as Manilla beat veteran Cristina Amaya, 15-7, 15-4.

There weren’t any other upsets in doubles, but the other three matches were all decided in tie-breakers. In each case, the higher seeded team won the first game, lost the second, and then won the breaker. None of the breakers were especially close.

Longoria and Rhonda Rajsich’s breaker with Manilla and Michelle Key was the closest, as Longoria and Rajsich won 15-7, 10-15, 11-7. They’ll play 2nd seeds Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez, who were winners over Ximena Gonzalez and Jessica Parrilla, 15-13, 14-15, 11-4.

Finally, Centellas and Mendez defeated Lawrence and Hollie Scott, 15-3, 9-15, 11-2, and will face Barrios and Laime in the quarters Thursday morning.

You can watch the action live from Arizona via the LPRT YouTube channel. Play continues Friday morning with singles quarterfinals at 10 and 11 AM followed by semi-finals at 4 and 5 PM. The doubles semi-finals will be 6 and 7 PM. The singles final will be Saturday at 1 PM with the doubles final to follow at 2 PM. All times MST.

2023 LPRT at Arizona State Doubles Championships
February 15-19, 2023 - Tempe, Arizona

Round of 16 - Thursday

16) Maria Jose Vargas d. 1) Paola Longoria, 15-13, 4-15, 11-8
9) Kelani Lawrence d. 8) Brenda Laime, 15-9, 15-10

5) Natalia Mendez d. 12) Valeria Centellas, 11-15, 15-12, 11-5
4) Erika Manilla d. 13) Cristina Amaya, 15-7, 15-4

3) Montserrat Mejia d. 14) Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-4, 15-0
6) Jessica Parrilla d. 11) Hollie Scott, 15-13, 15-13

10) Angelica Barrios d. 7) Carla Muñoz, 15-10, 15-10
2) Alexandra Herrera d. 15) Gabriela Martinez, 15-12, 15-13

Quarterfinals - Friday

9) Kelani Lawrence v. 16) Maria Jose Vargas - 11 AM
4) Erika Manilla v. 5) Natalia Mendez - 11 AM

3) Montserrat Mejia v. 6) Jessica Parrilla - 10 AM
2) Alexandra Herrera v. 10) Angelica Barrios - 10 AM

Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

8) Angelica Barrios & Brenda Laime d. 1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia, 15-11, 15-11
4) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez d. 5) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott, 15-3, 9-15, 11-2

3) Paola Longoria & Rhonda Rajsich d. 6) Michelle Key & Erika Manilla, 15-7, 10-15, 11-7
2) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 7) Ximena Gonzalez & Jessica Parrilla, 15-13, 14-15, 11-4

Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday

4) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez v. 8) Angelica Barrios & Brenda Laime - 7 PM
2) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez v. 3) Paola Longoria & Rhonda Rajsich - 6 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Vargas defeats Rajsich in the 32s at 2023 LPRT at Arizona State Doubles

Maria Jose Vargas eked out a win over Rhonda Rajsich, 15-14, 9-15, 11-3, in the Round of 32 at the 2023 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) at the Arizona State Doubles Championships in Tempe, Arizona. Vargas will play LPRT #1 Paola Longoria in the Round of 16 later today.

There was one other tie-breaker in the 32s, as 12th seed Valeria Centellas hung on to defeat 21st seed Lexi York, 15-11, 13-15, 11-8. Centellas will play 5th seed Natalia Mendez, who is also her doubles partner.

Overall in the first rounds of both singles and doubles, the higher seeds all won. The closest match in doubles was 6th Michelle Key and Erika Manilla beating 11th seeds Leonela Osorio and York, 15-14, 15-4. Key and Manilla will play 3rd seeds Longoria and Rajsich in the quarterfinals tonight. Longoria and Rajsich got a win over 14th seeds Carlee Jansz and Katie Neils by forfeit.

You can watch the action live from Arizona via the LPRT YouTube channel. Play continues Thursday afternoon with singles and doubles Thursday evening. The singles final will be Saturday at 1 PM with the doubles final to follow at 2 PM. All times MST.

2023 LPRT at Arizona State Doubles Championships, February 15-19, 2023
Tempe, Arizona

Round of 32 - Thursday

1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Maria Jose Vargas d. 17) Rhonda Rajisch, 15-14, 9-15, 11-3

9) Kelani Lawrence d. 24) Lucia Gonzalez, 15-11, 15-3
8) Brenda Laime d. 25) Ximena Gonzalez, 15-6, 15-2

5) Natalia Mendez - BYE
12) Valeria Centellas d. 21) Lexi York, 15-11, 13-15, 11-8

13) Cristina Amaya d. 20) Stephanie Synhorst, 15-4, 15-3
4) Erika Manilla - BYE

3) Montserrat Mejia - BYE
14) Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 19) Sunshine Arterburn, 15-0, 15-1

11) Hollie Scott d. 22) Carlee Jansz, 15-4, 15-0
6) Jessica Parrilla - BYE

7) Carla Muñoz d. 26) Leonela Osoria, 15-6, 15-2
10) Angelica Barrios d. 23) Khyathi Velpuri, 15-0, 15-1

15) Gabriela Martinez d. 18) Maria Paz Riquelme, 15-1, 15-0
2) Alexandra Herrera - BYE

Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Paola Longoria v. 16) Maria Jose Vargas - 5 PM
8) Brenda Laime v. 9) Kelani Lawrence - 5 PM

5) Natalia Mendez v. 12) Valeria Centellas - 3 PM
4) Erika Manilla v. 13) Cristina Amaya - 3 PM

3) Montserrat Mejia v. 14) Maria Renee Rodriguez - 3 PM
6) Jessica Parrilla v. 11) Hollie Scott - 4 PM

7) Carla Muñoz v. 10) Angelica Barrios - 4 PM
2) Alexandra Herrera v. 15) Gabriela Martinez - 4 PM

Doubles - Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia - BYE
8) Angelica Barrios & Brenda Laime d. 9) Carla Muñoz & Maria Jose Vargas, 15-12, 15-1

5) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott d. 12) Stephanie Synhorst & Khyathi Velpuri, 15-5, 15-0
4) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez d. 13) Lucia Gonzalez & Erin Slutzky, 15-2, 15-0

3) Paola Longoria & Rhonda Rajsich d. 14) Carlee Jansz & Katie Neils, forfeit
6) Michelle Key & Erika Manilla d. 11) Leonela Osorio & Lexi York, 15-14, 15-4

7) Ximena Gonzalez & Jessica Parrilla d. 10) Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme, 15-5, 15-3
2) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez - BYE

Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia v. 8) Angelica Barrios & Brenda Laime - 7 PM
4) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez v. 5) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott - 7 PM

3) Paola Longoria & Rhonda Rajsich v. 6) Michelle Key & Erika Manilla - 6 PM
2) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez v. 7) Ximena Gonzalez & Jessica Parrilla - 6 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

2023 LPRT at Arizona State Doubles Championships - Preview

They used to be the top three players on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT), but on Thursday two of them will face off in the Round of 32 with the winner facing the third of them in the Round of 16 at the 2023 LPRT at the Arizona State Doubles Championships in Tempe, Arizona. The players in question are Paola Longoria, Rhonda Rajisch and Maria Jose Vargas, who were #1, #2 and #3 at the end of the 2015-16 LPRT season. Now, Longoria is still #1, but In Tempe, Vargas is seeded 16th and Rajsich 17th, so they will play off in the 32s with Longoria playing the winner.

Times have changed.

Vargas is now the mother of two, and she and veteran Rajsich have yet to play this season, although Rajsich did play in the 2023 USA Racquetball Doubles Championship earlier this month. Thus, Thursday will be the first event on tour for both of them, as well as the first LPRT event in 2023.

Second seed Alexandra Herrera could face Gabriela Martinez in the 16s, which will be another interesting match. There’s also potential for a showdown of US Doubles Champions, as Erika Manilla could face Natalia Mendez in the quarterfinals; Manilla and Mendez won the LPRT Doubles title at last year’s US Open.

Doubles in Tempe will be interesting, as there are a couple new teams. Vargas is playing with Carla Muñoz for the first time. They will play Angelica Barrios and Brenda Laime in the Round of 16 with the winner facing top seed Herrera and Montserrat Mejia in the quarterfinals.

Also, Manilla will play with Michelle Key for the first time on tour, although they won Women’s Doubles at the US Doubles Championships two weeks ago. Thus, their 6th seeding is perhaps lower than it should be.

Manilla and Key will likely face Paola Longoria and Rajsich in the quarters. Longoria and Rajsich isn’t a completely new team, but they’ve only played together once before: at the 2016 Boston Open, which they won, defeating Frédérique Lambert and Jessica Parrilla in the final. Longoria usually plays with Samantha Salas and Rajsich with Sheryl Lotts, but neither Salas or Lotts are in Arizona, so Longoria and Rajsich have teamed up.

You can watch the action live from Arizona via the LPRT YouTube channel. Play begins 9 AM Thursday morning, and concludes early Saturday afternoon: 1 PM final in singles & 2 PM doubles final. All times MST.

2023 LPRT at Arizona State Doubles Championships, February 15-19, 2023
Tempe, Arizona

Round of 32 - Thursday

1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Maria Jose Vargas v. 17) Rhonda Rajisch - 10 AM

9) Kelani Lawrence v. 24) Lucia Gonzalez - 11 AM
8) Brenda Laime v. 25) Ximena Gonzalez - 11 AM

5) Natalia Mendez - BYE
12) Valeria Centellas v. 21) Lexi York - 9 AM

13) Cristina Amaya v. 20) Stephanie Synhorst - 9 AM
4) Erika Manilla - BYE

3) Montserrat Mejia - BYE
14) Maria Renee Rodriguez v. 19) Sunshine Arterburn - 9 AM

11) Hollie Scott v. 22) Carlee Jansz - 9 AM
6) Jessica Parrilla - BYE

7) Carla Muñoz v. 26) Leonela Osoria - 10 AM
10) Angelica Barrios v. 23) Khyathi Velpuri - 11 AM

15) Gabriela Martinez v. 18) Maria Paz Riquelme - 10 AM
2) Alexandra Herrera - BYE

Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Paola Longoria v. 16) Maria Jose Vargas or 17) Rhonda Rajisch - 5 PM
8) Brenda Laime or 25) Ximena Gonzalez v. 9) Kelani Lawrence or 24) Lucia Gonzalez - 5 PM

5) Natalia Mendez v. 12) Valeria Centellas or 21) Lexi York - 3 PM
4) Erika Manilla v. 13) Cristina Amaya or 20) Stephanie Synhorst - 3 PM

3) Montserrat Mejia v. 14) Maria Renee Rodriguez or 19) Sunshine Arterburn - 3 PM
6) Jessica Parrilla v. 11) Hollie Scott or 22) Carlee Jansz - 4 PM

7) Carla Muñoz or 26) Leonela Osoria v. 10) Angelica Barrios or 23) Khyathi Velpuri - 4 PM
2) Alexandra Herrera v. 15) Gabriela Martinez or 18) Maria Paz Riquelme - 4 PM

Doubles - Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia - BYE
8) Angelica Barrios & Brenda Laime v. 9) Carla Muñoz & Maria Jose Vargas - 1 PM

5) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott v. 12) Stephanie Synhorst & Khyathi Velpuri - 1 PM
4) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez v. 13) Lucia Gonzalez & Erin Slutzky - Noon

3) Paola Longoria & Rhonda Rajsich v. 14) Carlee Jansz & Katie Neils - 1 PM
6) Michelle Key & Erika Manilla v. 11) Leonela Osorio & Lexi York - Noon

7) Ximena Gonzalez & Jessica Parrilla v. 10) Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme - Noon
2) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….

Longoria & Montoya win at Campeonato Nacional 2023

Rodrigo Montoya and Paola Longoria were the top seeds in Men’s and Women’s Singles on the weekend at the 2023 Campeonato Nacional Selectivo - the Mexican national team selection event - in Juarez, Mexico. In the Men’s final, Montoya defeated Eduardo Portillo, 9-11, 16-14, 11-6, 12-10, while in the Women’s final Longoria beat Montserrat Mejia, 11-2, 11-3, 11-8.

Montoya was a double winner as he also won Men’s Doubles with Javier Mar. They came back from down 2-1 to defeat Andree Parrilla and Eduardo Portillo, 13-11, 7-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9, in the final. Alexandra Herrera and Mejia won Women’s Doubles by coming back from two games down in the final to defeat Longoria and Samantha Salas, 9-11, 6-11, 11-2, 12-10, 11-6.

Mexico used a double knockout format for the singles divisions in this event, so players who lost a match were put on the “B” side of the draw, regardless of when the loss occurred, and they played down for a chance to claim the second singles spot on the team.

Eduardo Portillo claimed the second men’s spot by defeating Andree Parrilla, 11-7, 11-5, 11-6, and Jessica Parrilla defeated Montserrat Mejia, 6-11, 11-9, 11-7, 8-11, 11-9, for the second women’s spot. Both results are a bit surprising, as Portillo is ahead of Andree Parrilla in the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) rankings, and Montserrat Mejia is ahead of Jessica Parrilla in the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) rankings.

The player who is surprisingly shut out of Team Mexico is veteran Samantha Salas. Salas and Longoria are the current International Racquetball Federation (IRF) Women’s Doubles World Champions, and are the three time defending gold medalists at the Pan American Games, but it seems they will not have a chance to defend those titles this year, as Herrera and Mejia have earned the right to represent Mexico in Women’s Doubles at the 2023 Pan Am Games in Chile in October.

Andree Parrilla must also be disappointed to not make the team. He’s a fine player, and a multiple winner on the IRT. But Parrilla has seldom played for Mexico, and it looks like he’ll have to wait another year for a chance to do so.

The next international event is the Pan American Championships in Guatemala in April.

CAMPEONATO NACIONAL FMR 2023
Juarez, Mexico - February 1-5, 2023

Women's Open Singles

Final

1) Paola Longoria d. 6) Montserrat Mejia, 11-2, 11-3, 11-8

2nd Place

5) Jessica Parrilla d. 6) Montserrat Mejia, 6-11, 11-9, 11-7, 8-11, 11-9

Semi-finals

1) Paola Longoria d. 5) Jessica Parrilla, 11-4, 11-2, 11-6
6) Montserrat Mejia d. 2) Alexandra Herrera, 9-11, 7-11, 11-2, 11-7, 11-8

Men's Open Singles

Final

1) Rodrigo Montoya d. 11) Eduardo Portillo, 9-11, 16-14, 11-6, 12-10

2nd Place

11) Eduardo Portillo d. 2) Andree Parrilla, 11-7, 11-5, 11-6

Semi-finals

1) Rodrigo Montoya d. 4) Javier Mar, 12-10, 11-13, 11-8, 13-11
11) Eduardo Portillo d. 2) Andree Parrilla, 14-12, 13-11, 12-10

Women's Open Doubles

Final

2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. 1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis, 9-11, 6-11, 11-2, 12-10, 11-6

3rd Place

3) Jessica Parrilla & Ximena Gonzalez d. 4) Nancy Enriquez & Daniela Rico

Semi-finals

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis d. 4) Nancy Enriquez & Daniela Rico, 11-3, 11-4, 4-11, 6-11, 11-13, 11-3
2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. 3) Jessica Parrilla & Ximena Gonzalez, 11-9, 12-10, 14-16, 11-5

Men's Open Doubles

Final

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 6) Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo, 13-11, 7-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9

3rd Place

4) Emir Martinez & Jose Carlos Ramos d. 2) Sebastian Hernandez & Erick Trujillo - forfeit

Semi-finals

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 4) Emir Martinez & Jose Carlos Ramos, 11-6, 11-6, 11-7
6) Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo d. 2) Sebastian Hernandez & Erick Trujillo, 13-11, 11-8, 11-7

Follow the bouncing ball….

Morissette & Murray win at 2023 Canadian National Team Selection Event

Samuel Murray and Michèle Morissette won Men’s and Women’s Open, respectively, at the 2nd Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event of the season in Grande Prairie, Alberta on the weekend. The Men’s final was a barn burner of a match that went the distance with three of the five games being decided by the minimum two points. Both Murray and Coby Iwaasa were throwing themselves all over the court with Murray narrowly winning, 10-12, 11-4, 12-14, 11-7, 11-9.

In the Women’s final, Morissette and Danielle Ramsay split the first two games, but Morissette won the next two to take the match in four games, 11-6, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7.

Murray led for all of game one of the Men’s Final, although Iwaasa tied it at 7-7. Then when Murray was up 9-7, Iwaasa called a timeout. A Murray forehand made it 10-7, when play resumed, but three game points for Murray went by as Iwaasa again tied it, 10-10. He got to game point with a backhand pinch shot, and then won it, when Murray skipped a forehand shot that made it 12-10.

The match became a best of three after Murray won game two by a comfortable margin, 11-4.

They were back and forth early in game three with Murray leading 3-1 and then Iwaasa up 6-3. In a parallel to game one, they tied at 7-7, and when Murray pulled ahead to 9-7, Iwaasa called a timeout. Yet Murray scored the next point, making it 10-7. Déjà vu all over again.

Iwaasa fought off the first game point with a backhand pinch shot. Before his second game point, Murray called a timeout. Yet that didn’t stop Iwaasa from winning the next three points to get to game point himself at 11-10.

A Murray forehand denied Iwaasa that opportunity, and his got game point #3 as Iwaasa tried to hit a forehand pinch shot from shoulder high. Not a great choice. Murray didn’t convert that opportunity despite having a chance to hit a forehand pinch shot from the left wall, but he skipped that shot, tying the game at 12-12.

Iwaasa closed out game three with forehand winners on the next two rallies - one cross court, one down the line - to go up 2-1 on Murray.

Murray again responded to the loss with a strong game, winning the fourth game 11-7 to force a tie-breaker.

Iwaasa led early in the breaker at 4-1, 5-2 and 7-5. But an ace drive serve to the right side by Murray made it 7-7. They tied again at 8-8, but two winners by Murray put him on match point at 10-8. Iwaasa called a timeout.

On the ensuing rally, Iwaasa held up prior to a backhand shot in the middle of the court, and the referee called an avoidable hinder. It didn’t seem like an avoidable, and Murray appealed the call, but the line judges upheld the referee’s decision, which make the score 10-9 with Iwaasa serving to extend the match.

He drove serve to the left side, and Murray smashed the ball back up the line and it rolled out from the front wall. Game over. Match over. Murray wins.

The Alberta Racquetball Association streamed the final on its Facebook page, so you can view it there.

The results for this event will be combined with the results from last year’s Canadian National Championships, as well as the first National Team Selection Event last November, to select the players for the 2023 Pan American Championships in Guatemala in April. That’s an important event, because it will be the qualifying event for the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile in October. How many players countries can send will depend on the results in Guatemala.

The results of this season’s two selection events, as well as the 2023 Canadian National Championships in May, will determine who will compete for Team Canada at the Pan Am Games in Chile.

2023 Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event February 3-4, 2023 - Grande Prairie, Alberta

Men's Open

Final

1) Samuel Murray d. 2) Coby Iwaasa, 10-12, 11-4, 12-14, 11-7, 11-9

3rd Place

3) Trevor Webb d. 4) Lee Connell, 11-6, 11-4, 11-7

Semi-finals

1) Samuel Murray d. 4) Lee Connell, 11-4, 8-11, 11-9, 11-1
2) Coby Iwaasa d. 3) Trevor Webb, 11-3, 8—11, 11-7, 11-4

Quarterfinals

1) Samuel Murray d. 9) Nathan Jauvin, 11-6, 11-7, 11-1
4) Lee Connell d. 5) Tanner Prentice, 6-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-4

3) Trevor Webb d. 6) Kurtis Cullen, 6-11, 11-13, 11-6, 11-4, 11-7
2) Coby Iwaasa d. 7) Mitch Brayley, 11-7, 11-4, 12-10

Women's Open

Final

2) Michèle Morissette d. 4) Danielle Ramsay, 11-6, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7

3rd place

3) Juliette Parent d. 1) Christine Kaey, 8-11, 11-5, 11-3, 11-2

Semi-finals

4) Danielle Ramsay d. 1) Christine Kaey, 11-9, 6-11, 11-7, 11-6
2) Michèle Morissette d. 3) Juliette Parent, 11-3, 3-11, 11-2, 11-8

Quarterfinals

1) Christine Kaey - BYE
4) Danielle Ramsay d. 5) Marjolaine Parent, 11-8, 11-8, 11-6

3) Juliette Parent d. 6) Cassie Prentice, 11-9, 11-3, 11-7
2) Michèle Morissette d. 7) Ofelia Wilscam, 11-4, 11-5, 11-7

Follow the bouncing ball….

Two wins for Erika Manilla at 2023 USA Racquetball National Doubles & Singles Championships

Erika Manilla was the big winner at the USA Racquetball National Doubles and Singles Championships at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, as she won both Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles. Manilla and Michelle De La Rosa won Women’s Doubles by defeating the defending champions Kelani Lawrence and Hollie Scott, 7-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-7. That title added to the Mixed Doubles title she won with her brother Adam Manilla by defeating Daniel De La Rosa and Scott, 11-6, 11-8, 10-12, 11-9.

It was the fourth consecutive year Manilla was in the Women’s Doubles final, and she’s won three of them, doing so previously with Aimee Roehler (then Ruiz) in 2020 and Rhonda Rajsich in 2021. Manilla and Roehler were runners up last year to Lawrence and Scott. She and Adam were also in the Mixed Doubles final last year, when Michelle De La Rosa and Alejandro Landa won. Thus, Manilla, who is just in her mid-20s, and is the current USA Racquetball Women's Singles champion, already has an impressive USA Racquetball championship record.

Daniel De La Rosa and Landa won Men’s Doubles, as they beat surprise finalists Wayne Antone and Adam Manilla, 15-13, 11-5, 11-8. The win is their first USA Racquetball doubles title together, De La Rosa’s first overall, and Landa’s second overall, as he won with Sudsy Monchik in 2020.

This was just the second time in the last seven championships that Rocky Carson didn’t win the title. The other being Landa and Monchik’s 2020 win. Carson and Charlie Pratt won three of the last four titles, and were two time defending champions. But they were upset in the semi-finals by Antone and Manilla, who ousted them after a five game marathon, 13-11, 6-11, 9-11, 13-11, 11-8.

USA Racquetball is having a National Team Qualifying event for Men’s and Women’s Singles May 25-28 in Lombard, Illinois, which will give players another opportunity to make Team USA for the 2023 Pan American Championships in Guatemala in April, and 2023 Pan American Games in Chile in October. The Pan Am Championships are an annual event, but the Pan Am Games are a quadrennial event - like the Olympics. The Pan Am Games are the second largest multi-sport games after only the Summer Olympics. Many racquetball players consider the Pan Am Games their Olympics.

If you missed any of the action from Tempe, check out the USA Racquetball YouTube channel.

2023 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships
February 1-5, 2023 - Tempe, Arizona
US National Team Divisions

Men's Doubles

Semi-finals

4) Wayne Antone & Adam Manilla d. 1) Rocky Carson & Charlie Pratt, 13-11, 6-11, 9-11, 13-11, 11-8
3) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa d. 2) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck, 12-10, 6-11, 11-7, 10-12, 11-2

Final

3) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa d. 4) Wayne Antone & Adam Manilla, 15-13, 11-5, 11-8

3rd Place

1) Rocky Carson & Charlie Pratt v. 2) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck, double forfeit

Women's Doubles

Semi-finals

1) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott d. 4) Aimee Roehler & Janel Tisinger-Ledkins, 11-7, 11-3, 11-7
3) Erika Manilla & Michelle De La Rosa d. 2) Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts, 11-8, 11-5, 11-6

Final

3) Erika Manilla & Michelle De La Rosa d. 1) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott, 7-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-7

3rd Place

2) Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts d. 4) Aimee Roehler & Janel Tisinger-Ledkins, 11-6, 10-12, 11-8, 8-11, 11-3

Mixed Doubles

Final

2) Adam Manilla & Erika Manilla d. 4) Daniel De La Rosa & Hollie Scott, 11-6, 11-8, 10-12, 11-9

3rd Place

1) Michelle De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa d. 6) Sheryl Lotts & Charlie Pratt, 11-9, 11-7, 11-6

Follow the bouncing ball....

A new Mixed Doubles champion at 2023 USA Racquetball Championships

A new USA Racquetball Mixed Doubles champion will be crowned Saturday at the 2023 USA Racquetball National Doubles and Singles Championships at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, as the defending champions Michelle De La Rosa and Alejandro Landa lost in the semi-finals to 4th seeds Daniel De La Rosa and Hollie Scott, 14-12, 11-3, 11-9, as husband defeated wife in the De La Rosa showdown.

De La Rosa and Scott will play the 2nd seeded brother-sister team of Adam Manilla and Erika Manilla in the final, as the Manillas beat 6th seeds Sheryl Lotts and Charlie Pratt, 12-10, 11-1, 11-7, in the other semi-final.

Of the eight quarterfinal matches in Men’s and Women’s Doubles, six were over in three straight games with the higher seed winning each time. Indeed, there were no upsets in the quarters at all.

The closest match was in Women’s Doubles, as 3rd seeds Erika Manilla and Michelle De La Rosa lost the first game to 6th seeds Naomi Ros and Lexi York, but then came back win the next three games to take the match 3-1, winning 6-11, 11-7, 15-13, 11-6. Manilla and De La Rosa will play 2nd seeds Rhonda Rajsich and Sheryl Lotts in the semi-finals Saturday, as Rajsich and Lotts got a win over 7th seeds Erin Boadway and Fran Transfiguracion by forfeit.

On the top of the women’s draw, defending champions Kelani Lawrence and Hollie Scott will play former champions Aimee Roehler and Janel Tisinger-Ledkins in the other semi-final. Lawrence and Scott defeated 8th seeds Carlee Jansz and Katie Neils, 11-6, 11-3, 11-3, in the quarters, while Roehler and Tisinger-Ledkins beat 5th seeds Annie Roberts and Erin Slutzky, 11-3, 11-2, 11-1.

The defending men’s champions, Rocky Carson and Charlie Pratt beat 8th seeds Robert Collins and Danny Lavely, 11-7, 11-7, 11-5, and will face 4th seeds Wayne Antone and Adam Manilla in the semis, as Antone and Manilla defeated 5th seeds Jason Samora and Jeff Stark, 11-7, 11-9, 11-5, in the other semi.

Finally, 2nd seeds Jake Bredenbeck and Sam Bredenbeck beat 7th seeds Iain Dunn and Paul Saraceno, 11-1, 11-1, 11-5, and will take on 3rd seeds Daniel De La Rosa and Alejandro Landa, who were winners over 6th seeds Thomas Gerhardt and Brent Walters, 11-7, 11-5, 11-5.

A reminder that the National Team Qualifying divisions are using the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) scoring system of five games to 11 points, win by two, with rally scoring, as that’s what the teams will be playing when they compete internationally this year at the 2023 Pan American Championships in April in Guatemala, and the 2023 Pan American Games in October in Santiago, Chile.

The Mixed Doubles final is Saturday night at 7 PM. The Men’s and Women’s Doubles semi-finals are Saturday with the finals on Sunday: Women at 10 AM and Men at noon. Check out the action live from Tempe via the USA Racquetball YouTube channel. Note the match times below are Mountain Standard time.

2023 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships
February 1-5, 2023 - Tempe, Arizona
US National Team Divisions

Men's Doubles

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Rocky Carson & Charlie Pratt d. 8) Robert Collins & Danny Lavely, 11-7, 11-7, 11-5
4) Wayne Antone & Adam Manilla d. 5) Jason Samora & Jeff Stark, 11-7, 11-9, 11-5

3) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa d. 6) Thomas Gerhardt & Brent Walters, 11-7, 11-5, 11-5
2) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck d. 7) Iain Dunn & Paul Saraceno, 11-1, 11-1, 11-5

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Rocky Carson & Charlie Pratt v. 4) Wayne Antone & Adam Manilla - 4:40 PM
2) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck v. 3) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa - 2:20 PM

Women's Doubles

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott d. 8) Carlee Jansz & Katie Neils, 11-6, 11-3, 11-3
4) Aimee Roehler & Janel Tisinger-Ledkins d. 5) Annie Roberts & Erin Slutzky, 11-3, 11-2, 11-1

3) Erika Manilla & Michelle De La Rosa d. 6) Naomi Ros & Lexi York, 6-11, 11-7, 15-13, 11-6
2) Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts d. 7) Erin Boadway & Fran Transfiguracion, forfeit

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott v. 4) Aimee Roehler & Janel Tisinger-Ledkins - 3:30 PM
2) Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts v. 3) Erika Manilla & Michelle De La Rosa - 1:10 PM

Mixed Doubles

Semi-finals - Friday

4) Daniel De La Rosa & Hollie Scott d. 1) Michelle De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa, 14-12, 11-3, 11-9
2) Adam Manilla & Erika Manilla d. 6) Sheryl Lotts & Charlie Pratt, 12-10, 11-1, 11-7

Final - Saturday

2) Adam Manilla & Erika Manilla v. 4) Daniel De La Rosa & Hollie Scott - 7 PM

3rd Place - Saturday

1) Michelle De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa v. 6) Sheryl Lotts & Charlie Pratt -

Follow the bouncing ball....

De La Rosa v De La Rosa in Mixed Doubles at 2023 USA Racquetball Championships

The Mixed Doubles competition began Thursday at the 2023 USA Racquetball National Doubles and Singles Championships at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, and it’s produced an interesting situation. Top seeds and defending champions Michelle De La Rosa and Alejandro Landa defeated the 8th seeded lefty-righty team of Robert Collins and Annie Roberts, 11-6, 10-12, 11-3, 11-6, and the 4th seeds Daniel De La Rosa and Hollie Scott beat another lefty-right team in 5th seeds Thomas Carter and Kelani Lawrence, 7-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-8.

Thus, in semi-finals there will be a De La Rosa showdown, as wife Michelle plays husband Daniel. We know there’s a cliché you shouldn’t play mixed doubles with your spouse, but if you’re playing against your spouse, is that a win-win situation or lose-lose situation? Regardless, it’s going to happen Friday morning.

There could have been another family showdown on the other side of the draw, as the Bredenbeck brothers - Jake and Sam - could have met in the other semi-final. Sadly for them, neither won in the quarterfinals.

Sixth seeds Sheryl Lotts and Charlie Pratt got the only upset of the quarters by beating 3rd seeds Sam Bredenbeck and Lexi York, 11-1, 11-8, 11-9. Lotts and Pratt will play the 2nd seeded brother-sister team of Adam Manilla and Erika Manilla in the semis, as they came back to defeat 7th seeds Jake Bredenbeck and Janel Tisinger-Ledkins, 8-11, 11-8, 11-3, 7-11, 11-2.

A reminder that the National Team Qualifying divisions are using the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) scoring system of five games to 11 points, win by two, with rally scoring, as that’s what the teams will be playing when they compete internationally this year at the 2023 Pan American Championships in April in Guatemala, and the 2023 Pan American Games in October in Santiago, Chile.

Mixed Doubles play continues Friday with the semi-finals in the morning, and then the Mixed Doubles final will be Saturday night at 7 PM. The Men’s and Women’s Doubles will begin Friday afternoon. The Men’s and Women’s finals will be on Sunday. Check out the action live from Tempe via the USA Racquetball YouTube channel. Note the match times below are Mountain Standard time.

2023 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships
February 1-5, 2023 - Tempe, Arizona
US National Team Divisions

Men's Doubles

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Rocky Carson & Charlie Pratt v. 8) Robert Collins & Danny Lavely - 5:40 PM
4) Wayne Antone & Adam Manilla v. 5) Jason Samora & Jeff Stark - 3:30 PM

3) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa v. 6) Thomas Gerhardt & Brent Walters - 7:40 PM
2) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck v. 7) Iain Dunn & Paul Saraceno - 1:20 PM

Women's Doubles

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott v. 8) Carlee Jansz & Katie Neils - 6:40 PM
4) Aimee Roehler & Janel Tisinger-Ledkins v. 5) Annie Roberts &  Erin Slutzky - 12:20 PM

3) Erika Manilla & Michelle De La Rosa v. 6) Naomi Ros & Lexi York — 2:30 PM
2) Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts v. 7) Erin Boadway & Fran Transfiguracion - 4:40 PM

Mixed Doubles

Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Michelle De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa  - BYE
8) Robert Collins & Annie Roberts d. 9) Iain Dunn & Estefania Perez Picon, 11-7, 12-10, 11-8

5) Thomas Carter & Kelani Lawrence - BYE
4) Daniel De La Rosa & Hollie Scott - BYE

3) Sam Bredenbeck & Lexi York  - BYE
6) Sheryl Lotts & Charlie Pratt - BYE

7) Jake Bredenbeck & Janel Tisinger-Ledkins - BYE
2) Adam Manilla & Erika Manilla  - BYE

Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Michelle De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa d. 8) Robert Collins & Annie Roberts, 11-6, 10-12, 11-3, 11-6
4) Daniel De La Rosa & Hollie Scott d. 5) Thomas Carter & Kelani Lawrence, 7-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-8

6) Sheryl Lotts & Charlie Pratt d. 3) Sam Bredenbeck & Lexi York, 11-1, 11-8, 11-9
2) Adam Manilla & Erika Manilla d. 7) Jake Bredenbeck & Janel Tisinger-Ledkins, 8-11, 11-8, 11-3, 7-11, 11-2

Semi-finals - Friday

1) Michelle De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa v. 4) Daniel De La Rosa & Hollie Scott - 10:10 AM
2) Adam Manilla & Erika Manilla v. 6) Sheryl Lotts & Charlie Pratt - 11:20 AM

Follow the bouncing ball....

2023 USA Racquetball National Championships - Team Qualifying Doubles Preview

USA Racquetball is running both its National Doubles and Singles Championships together this week at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. But for National Team Qualifying purposes they will only be competing in Men’s, Women’s and Mixed Doubles divisions. USA Racquetball will have National Team Qualifying for Men’s and Women’s Singles May 25-28 in Lombard, Illinois.

Last year’s champions are the top seeds this year - Rocky Carson and Charlie Pratt in Men’s Doubles, Kelani Lawrence and Hollie Scott in Women’s Doubles and Michelle De La Rosa and Alejandro Landa in Mixed Doubles - but perhaps the most interesting - and baffling - name in the draw is Daniel De La Rosa. Yes, THAT Daniel De La Rosa.

De La Rosa is baffling, because he represented Mexico just last year, so we don’t think he would be eligible to represent the USA this year. Players can switch national allegiance, and Alejandro Landa, who is De La Rosa’s partner in Men’s Doubles, did so a few years ago. But our understanding is there needs to be a gap in international competitions of at least a year.

Now, this year’s biggest international event is the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile in October. Last year’s International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in San Luis Potosi, Mexico - De La Rosa’s hometown - were in August, so there will be over 12 months between the 2022 World Championships and the 2023 Pan American Games. Perhaps that means De La Rosa would be eligible to represent the USA in Chile, although being in a major event for one nation in one calendar year and then for another country in the next calendar year seems to be stretching - if not actually breaking - the eligibility rule.

De La Rosa is also playing Mixed Doubles, although not with his wife Michelle, who as mentioned is the defending Mixed Doubles champion with Landa. Daniel De La Rosa is playing with Hollie Scott. They are the 4th seeds, so there could be a De La Rosa showdown in the Mixed Doubles semi-finals.

There are some notable names the Women’s Doubles draw. Former IRF World Champions Aimee Roehler and Janel Tisinger-Ledkins are the 4th seeds, and Rhonda Rajsich is back playing with Sheryl Lotts, and they are seeded 2nd. The semi-finals could be Roehler and Tisinger-Ledkins versus top seeds Lawrence and Scott, and Rajsich and Lotts versus 3rd seeds Erika Manilla and Michelle De La Rosa.

Mixed Doubles play begins Thursday, while Men’s and Women’s Doubles will begin Friday. The Mixed final will be Saturday night, while the Men’s and Women’s finals will be on Sunday. Check out the action live from Tempe via the USA Racquetball YouTube channel. Note the match times below are Mountain Standard time.

2023 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships
February 1-5, 2023 - Tempe, Arizona
US National Team Divisions

Men's Doubles

Round of 16

1) Rocky Carson & Charlie Pratt - BYE
8) Robert Collins & Danny Lavely d. 9) Jack Goldberg & Charles Rankin, forfeit

5) Jason Samora & Jeff Stark - BYE
4) Wayne Antone & Adam Manilla - BYE

3) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa - BYE
6) Thomas Gerhardt & Brent Walters - BYE

7) Iain Dunn & Paul Saraceno - BYE
2) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck - BYE

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Rocky Carson & Charlie Pratt v. 8) Robert Collins & Danny Lavely - 5:40 PM
4) Wayne Antone & Adam Manilla v. 5) Jason Samora & Jeff Stark - 3:30 PM

3) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa v. 6) Thomas Gerhardt & Brent Walters - 7:40 PM
2) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck v. 7) Iain Dunn & Paul Saraceno - 1:20 PM

Women's Doubles

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott v. 8) Carlee Jansz & Katie Neils - 6:40 PM
4) Aimee Roehler & Janel Tisinger-Ledkins v. 5) Annie Roberts & Erin Slutzky - 12:20 PM

3) Erika Manilla & Michelle De La Rosa v. 6) Naomi Ros & Lexi York — 2:30 PM
2) Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts v. 7) Erin Boadway & Fran Transfiguracion - 4:40 PM

Mixed Doubles

Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Michelle De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa - BYE
8) Robert Collins & Annie Roberts v. 9) Iain Dunn & Estefania Perez Picon - 11:15 AM

5) Thomas Carter & Kelani Lawrence - BYE
4) Daniel De La Rosa & Hollie Scott - BYE

3) Sam Bredenbeck & Lexi York - BYE
6) Sheryl Lotts & Charlie Pratt - BYE

7) Jake Bredenbeck & Janel Tisinger-Ledkins - BYE
2) Adam Manilla & Erika Manilla - BYE

Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Michelle De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa v. 8) Robert Collins & Annie Roberts or 9) Iain Dunn & Estefania Perez Picon - 7:25 PM
4) Daniel De La Rosa & Hollie Scott v. 5) Thomas Carter & Kelani Lawrence - 1:15 PM

3) Sam Bredenbeck & Lexi York v. 6) Sheryl Lotts & Charlie Pratt - 3:25 PM
2) Adam Manilla & Erika Manilla v. 7) Jake Bredenbeck & Janel Tisinger-Ledkins - 5:25 PM

Follow the bouncing ball....