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….
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