Weekend Update: Wins for Mendez, Waselenchuk and Natera & Trujillo

Natalia Mendez and Kane Waselenchuk won Women’s and Men’s Open at the 2024 Battle at the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, on the weekend.

Mendez beat Carla Muñoz in the final, 15-5, 15-3, after needing a tie-breaker to get by Naomi Ros in the semi-finals, 14-15, 15-11, 11-3. Carla Muñoz beat Ana Laura Flores, 15-1, 15-2, in the other semi.

Waselenchuk beat Alan Natera in the Men’s Open final, 15-5, 15-9. In the semi-finals, he defeated Elias Nieto, 15-5, 15-4, and Natera needed a tie-breaker to beat Erick Trujillo, 12-15, 15-9, 11-3.

However, Natera and Trujillo teamed up to win the Men’s Open Doubles division. They defeated DJ Mendoza and Cole Sendrey in the final, 15-9, 15-6. In the semi-finals, Natera and Trujillo beat Matthew Barron and Waselenchuk, 15-9, 15-9, and Mendoza and Sendrey defeated Daniel De La Rosa and David Mendoza, 15-9, 15-7.

May events

In May, there will be men’s and women’s pro tournaments. The International Racquetball Tour will be in California for the SoCal Open May 23-26 in Canoga Park. The Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour will be in action at the Sweet Caroline Open in Greenville, South Carolina, May 17-19.

Also, the Canadian National and Junior National Championships will happen in Calgary, Alberta, May 20-25.

2024 Battle at the Alamo
San Antonio, Texas - April 25-28, 2024

Women’s Open Final

1) Natalia Mendez d. 2) Carla Muñoz, 15-5, 15-3

Semi-finals

1) Natalia Mendez d. 5) Naomi Ros, 14-15, 15-11, 11-3
2) Carla Muñoz d. 3) Ana Laura Flores, 15-1, 15-2

Quarterfinals

1) Natalia Mendez d. 8) Estefania Perez Picon, 15-0, 15-2
5) Naomi Ros d. 4) Annie Roberts, 15-10, 15-5

3) Ana Laura Flores d. 6) Stephanie Synhorst, 15-5, 6-15, 11-4
2) Carla Muñoz d. 7) Chanis Leon, 15-2, 15-8

Men’s Open Final

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 2) Alan Natera, 15-5, 15-9

Semi-finals

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 5) Elias Nieto, 15-5, 15-4
2) Alan Natera d. 3) Erick Trujillo, 12-15, 15-9, 11-3

Quarterfinals

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 8) DJ Mendoza, 15-0, 15-3
5) Elias Nieto d. 13) Jimmy Fernandez, 15-7, 15-5

3) Erick Trujillo d. 6) Cole Sendrey, 15-12, 15-0
2) Alan Natera d. 7) Brennen Jennings, 15-3, 15-5

Men’s Doubles Final

1) Alan Natera & Erick Trujillo d. 3) DJ Mendoza & Cole Sendry, 15-9, 15-6

Semi-finals

1) Alan Natera & Erick Trujillo d. 4) Matthew Barron & Kane Waselenchuk, 15-9, 15-9
3) DJ Mendoza & Cole Sendry d. 2) Daniel De La Rosa and David Mendoza, 15-9, 15-7

Quarterfinals

1) Alan Natera & Erick Trujillo d. 9) Elias Nieto & Christian Longoria, 14-15, 15-5, 11-4
4) Matthew Barron & Kane Waselenchuk d. 5) Sam Hojat & Brennen Jennings, 15-9, 15-9

3) DJ Mendoza & Cole Sendry d. 6) Allan Kristensen & Joey Limonciello, 15-1, 15-8
2) Daniel De La Rosa and David Mendoza d. 10) Alejandro Bear & Ruben Martinez, 15-5, 15-11

Follow the bouncing ball….

Vargas wins singles, Herrera & Mejia doubles at 2024 LPRT Battle at the Alamo

Maria José Vargas confirmed her position as the #1 player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) by winning the 2024 LPRT Battle at the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, on Saturday. She defeated LPRT #3 Montserrat Mejia in the final, 15-12, 8-15, 11-7, for her fourth win of the season.

But Mejia did win doubles, as she and Alexandra Herrera beat 7th seed surprise finalists Michelle Key and Carla Muñoz, 15-7, 15-10.

In the singles final, Vargas took a 9-1 lead in game one, yet Mejia almost came all the way back, getting within two at 9-7, 13-11, and 14-12, before Vargas finished it off with a three shot rally that she ended with a backhand pinch shot.

They were close early in game two, but after being tied at 8-8, Mejia scored seven unanswered points to win it, 15-8. Vargas only served twice in that stretch.

Mejia carried that momentum over into the tie-breaker, going up 4-0 and and 7-3. But that would all the points Mejia would score, as Vargas came back and tied the game at 7-7 with an ace drive serve that she jammed off the left wall, so it travelled through the encroachment zone making it difficult to return. That was one of four such aces Vargas hit in the breaker.

Mejia tried to halt Vargas’s momentum by calling a timeout when she was still up 7-5, and another when she was down 9-7. But after that second timeout, Vargas hit another of those ace serves to bring up match point.

On that point, Vargas drove the ball to the left side, so Mejia hit a backhand return that came off the left wall a bit. That allowed Vargas to hit a backhand cross court shot to the right side. Mejia stepped over and hit a good forehand down the line shot, but Vargas was able to reach it, and from a crouch hit an even better forehand down the line that won the rally, the game and the match.

The doubles final was close early in game one, as they were tied at 3-3, 5-5, and 6-6. However, after that Herrera and Mejia outscored Key and Muñoz 9-1 from there to win game one, 15-7.

That momentum carried over into game two, as Herrera and Mejia went out to a 12-0 lead. Curiously, Key and Muñoz didn’t call any timeouts during that stretch. Nonetheless, they did come back to get to 13-7 at which point Herrera and Mejia called a timeout.

Two rallies later and they had the serve back. Herrera put them on match point with a forehand down the line, but Muñoz fended that off with a forehand down the line shot of her own.

Muñoz hit two more winners, as she and Key got three points to make the score 14-10. But Herrera then hit a pinch winner off a Key lob to the left that put her and Mejia back in the service box.

Herrera hit the winning shot, as she hit a drive Z to the left side, and Key let it go thinking that the score hadn’t been called, so it would be a fault. However, the referee had called the score, so Herrera’s serve was an ace, ending the game at 15-10, and the match in two straight games.

Key and Muñoz reached the final with a semi-final win earlier on Saturday over Vargas and Natalia Mendez, 15-12, 14-15, 11-4. Vargas and Mendez led for much of the first game, only to see Key and Muñoz come back and take the game away from them.

It looked like they would win in two straight games, as Key and Muñoz were up 11-3 on Mendez and Vargas in game two. However, Mendez and Vargas were able to turn the tables in part by switching their formation from having Mendez on the left to the right and vice versa for Vargas.

That led them to a game point at 14-11. However, Key hit a backhand pinch winner off a Z serve to left to get her side back in the service box. Once there, they scored three points to tie it at 14-14. At that point, Vargas hit a forehand to the left side that was called good, although look like it may have skipped. Key and Muñoz appealed the good shot call, but the line judges upheld the referee’s call. On the next rally, Key skipped a backhand shot, so a tie-breaker was needed.

In the breaker, they were close early, and tied at 4-4. However from there it was all Key and Muñoz, who scored seven unanswered points and only gave up the serve once. Two Muñoz winners got them the serve right back. They forced their opponents into skips on three straight rallies at the end.

The other doubles semi-final was straight forward, as Herrera and Mejia only trailed Kelani Lawrence and Hollie Scott at the start of game one, 2-0. After tying it at 2-2, they never trailed again, going on to win 15-9, 15-5.

The LPRT will next be in action at the Sweet Caroline Open in Greenville, South Carolina, May 17-19. That will be the penultimate event of the season, and the last event will be the LPRT Battle at the Beach in Chesapeake, Virginia, June 6-9.

If you missed any of the action from San Antonio - and there were several tie-breaker matches, including the singles final, check out the LPRT YouTube channel.

2024 LPRT Battle at the Alamo
San Antonio, Texas - April 25-28, 2024

Singles Final - Saturday

1) Maria José Vargas d. 3) Montserrat Mejia, 15-12, 8-15, 11-7

Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. 4) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott, 15-9, 15-5
7) Michelle Key & Carla Muñoz d. 3) Natalia Mendez & Maria José Vargas, 15-12, 14-15, 11-4

Doubles - Final - Saturday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. 7) Michelle Key & Carla Muñoz, 15-7, 15-10

Follow the bouncing ball….

Mejia & Vargas to face off at 2024 LPRT Battle at the Alamo

Maria José Vargas, the #1 player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT), will have a chance to win her fourth tournament of the season Saturday, as she defeated 5th seed Alexandra Herrera, 3-15, 15-10, 11-10, in the semi-finals of the 2024 Battle at the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, Friday. Vargas will play LPRT #3 Montserrat Mejia in the final, as Mejia defeated LPRT #2 Paola Longoria in the other semi-final, 12-15, 15-5, 11-6.

Vargas unseated Mejia as the #1 player after last month’s Boston Open, so Mejia will want a win in hopes of getting back to #1 this season.

Vargas almost didn’t make the final, as Herrera was on fire early in their semi-final. Even after winning game two to force a tie-breaker, Vargas was up against it, as they were close down the stretch of the breaker with ties at 6-6, 7-7, 9-9 and 10-10.

Herrera took a timeout after Vargas tied the game at 9-9, and there were nine rallies to score the last three points. The winner came as Vargas hit a half lob serve down the right side to the left-handed Herrera’s backhand, and she hit a cross court shot that came off the back wall allowing Vargas to hit a backhand up the right side.

Vargas’s shot was behind where Herrera was looking, so she was only able to make a weak shot that went off the left wall and back into the middle allowing Vargas to step up and slam the ball down the right side for the match winner.

The big surprise of Friday night came in doubles, as the 7th seeds Michelle Key and Carla Muñoz beat 2nd seeds Longoria and Samantha Salas, 3-15, 15-10, 11-2. It was a win that didn’t look to be coming after the first game, which Longoria and Salas dominated.

But after it was 6-6 in game two, Key and Muñoz outscored Longoria and Salas 20-6. They did it with Muñoz hitting a lob serve tight to the left side wall to Salas, and Key hitting a serve mix, including ones that came off the left side wall into the middle between her opponents.

Then during rallies they hit winners. Key especially put several balls away. She finished game two with a forehand shot to the front right corner that hit low on the front wall and cracked off the right side wall.

Then in game three, Muñoz hit four winners, and Key hit nine (9!), including an ace serve that cracked off the left wall to put her side on match point, and then a backhand down the line winner that finished it off.

It was a most impressive performance.

It was really a case of Key and Muñoz winning it, rather than Longoria and Salas losing it with errors.

The other doubles quarterfinals were all won in two straight games by the higher seeded team. Key and Muñoz will play 3rd seeds Natalia Mendez and Maria Jose Vargas - the current Pan American Women’s Doubles Champions - as Mendez and Vargas beat 6th seeds Cristina Amaya and Maria Paz Riquelme, 15-10, 15-3, in the quarters.

The doubles semi-finals will be Saturday morning at 10:45 and 11:50 AM with the finals to follow at 5:15 PM (singles) and 6:20 (doubles). You can watch the action live from San Antonio via the LPRT YouTube channel. All times Central.

2024 LPRT Battle at the Alamo
San Antonio, Texas - April 25-28, 2024

Singles Semi-finals - Friday

1) Maria José Vargas d. 5) Alexandra Herrera, 3-15, 15-10, 11-10
3) Montserrat Mejia d. 2) Paola Longoria, 12-15, 15-5, 11-6

Singles Final - Saturday

1) Maria José Vargas v. 3) Montserrat Mejia - 5:15

Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. 9) Frédérique Lambert & Gabriela Martinez, 15-8, 15-6
4) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott d. 5) Angelica Barrios & Brenda Laime, 15-10, 15-12

3) Natalia Mendez & Maria José Vargas d. 6) Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme, 15-10, 15-3
7) Michelle Key & Carla Muñoz d. 2) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas, 3-15, 15-10, 11-2

Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia v. 4) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott - 11:50 AM
3) Natalia Mendez & Maria José Vargas v. 7) Michelle Key & Carla Muñoz - 10:45 AM

Follow the bouncing ball….

2024 LPRT Battle at the Alamo - Quarterfinals

No upsets in the quarterfinals at the 2024 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Battle at the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, Friday. Top seed Maria José Vargas defeated 8th seed Kelani Lawrence in two straight games, 15-5, 15-4, and in the semi-finals will play 5th seed Alexandra Herrera, who beat 13th seed Jessica Parrilla, 15-2, 15-2.

The matches on the other side of draw were closer. Second seed Paola Longoria defeated her doubles parter Samantha Salas, the 7th seed, in two close games, 15-14, 15-11, and 3rd seed Montserrat Mejia needed a tie-breaker to fend off the challenge from 6th seed Gabriela Martinez, 15-6, 9-15, 11-4. Thus, Longoria and Mejia will face off in the other semi-final, as they did in the final at the Boston Open - the last LPRT event - which Longoria won.

Mejia came into this season as the #1 player, ending Longoria’s 11 year run at #1, but has yet to beat Longoria in two meetings after beating her twice last season.

No surprises in doubles, although there was one change of team. Naomi Ros picked up a knock in play on Thursday, so she wasn’t able to compete in doubles with Lexi York today. Shane Diaz filled in for Ros with York against veterans Frédérique Lambert and Gabriela Martinez, and the vets won comfortably, 15-5, 15-0. Lambert and Martinez will face top seeds Herrera and Mejia in the quarterfinals later on Friday.

In other matches, 6th seeds Cristina Amaya and Maria Paz Riquelme came back from a game down to defeat 11th seeds Yurisleidis Allue and Chanis Leon, 14-15, 15-11, 11-6, and will play 3rd seeds Natalia Mendez and Maria Jose Vargas in the quarters.

Also, 7th seeds Michelle Key and Carla Muñoz beat 10th seeds Ana Laura Flores and Jessica Parrilla, 15-5, 15-13, and will play Longoria and Salas in the quarterfinals.

The singles semi-finals will be Friday afternoon from 3:05 PM followed by the doubles quarterfinals at 5:15 and 6:20 PM Friday. The finals will be Saturday at 5:15 PM (singles) and 6:20 (doubles). You can watch the action live from San Antonio via the LPRT YouTube channel. All times Central.

2024 LPRT Battle at the Alamo
San Antonio, Texas - April 25-28, 2024

Singles Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Maria José Vargas d. 8) Kelani Lawrence, 15-5, 15-4
5) Alexandra Herrera d. 13) Jessica Parrilla, 15-2, 15-2

3) Montserrat Mejia d. 6) Gabriela Martinez, 15-6, 9-15, 11-4
2) Paola Longoria d. 7) Samantha Salas, 15-14, 15-11

Singles Semi-finals - Friday

1) Maria José Vargas v. 5) Alexandra Herrera - 4:10 PM
2) Paola Longoria v. 3) Montserrat Mejia - 3:05 PM

Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia - BYE

9) Frédérique Lambert & Gabriela Martinez d. 8) Shane Diaz & Lexi York, 15-5, 15-0

5) Angelica Barrios & Brenda Laime - BYE
4) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott - BYE

3) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
6) Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme d. 11) Yurisleidis Allue & Chanis Leon, 14-15, 15-11, 11-6

7) Michelle Key & Carla Muñoz d. 10) Ana Laura Flores & Jessica Parrilla, 15-5, 15-13
2) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas - BYE

Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia v. 9) Frédérique Lambert & Gabriela Martinez - 6:20 PM
4) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott v. 5) Angelica Barrios & Brenda Laime - 6:20 PM

3) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas v. 6) Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme - 5:15 PM
2) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 7) Michelle Key & Carla Muñoz - 5:15 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

2024 LPRT Battle at the Alamo - Round of 16

Jessica Parrilla had the big upset of the Round of 16 Thursday at the 2024 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Battle at the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, as the 13th seed upset 4th seed Brenda Laime, 15-11, 14-15, 11-7. Parrilla has her sights on getting back in the top 10, and this win will help that goal.

She’ll play 5th seed Alexandra Herrera in the quarterfinals Friday, as Herrera defeated 12th seed Angelica Barrios in the 16s, coming back to win in three games, 5-15, 15-1, 11-8.

The top seeds won in two straight games. LPRT #1 Maria José Vargas defeated 17th seed Naomi Ros, 15-3, 15-8, and #2 Paola Longoria beat Stephanie Synhorst, 15-0, 15-3. In the quarterfinals, Vargas will play 8th seed Kelani Lawrence, who had a narrow victory over 9th seed Carla Muñoz, 12-15, 15-13, 11-7, while Longoria will face her long time doubles partner, Samantha Salas, as the 7th seed came back from a game down to defeat 10th seed Cristina Amaya, 2-15, 15-3, 11-3.

The singles quarterfinals will be Friday morning from 9:40 AM followed by the doubles Round of 16 at 11:50 AM Friday with the quarterfinals at 5:15 and 6:20 PM Friday. The finals will be Saturday at 5:15 PM (singles) and 6:20 (doubles). You can watch the action live from San Antonio via the LPRT YouTube channel. All times Central.

2024 LPRT Battle at the Alamo
San Antonio, Texas - April 25-28, 2024

Singles Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Maria José Vargas d. 17) Naomi Ros, 15-3, 15-8
8) Kelani Lawrence d. 9) Carla Muñoz, 12-15, 15-13, 11-7

5) Alexandra Herrera d. 12) Angelica Barrios, 5-15, 15-1, 11-8
13) Jessica Parrilla d. 4) Brenda Laime, 15-11, 14-15, 11-7

3) Montserrat Mejia d. 14) Hollie Scott, 15-8, 15-9
6) Gabriela Martinez d. 22) Michelle Key, 15-5, 15-5

7) Samantha Salas d. 10) Cristina Amaya, 2-15, 15-3, 11-3
2) Paola Longoria d. 18) Stephanie Synhorst, 15-0, 15-3

Singles Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Maria José Vargas v. 8) Kelani Lawrence - 10:45 AM
5) Alexandra Herrera v. 13) Jessica Parrilla - 10:45 AM

3) Montserrat Mejia d. 6) Gabriela Martinez - 9:40 AM
2) Paola Longoria v. 7) Samantha Salas - 9:40 AM

Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia - BYE

8) Naomi Ros & Lexi York v. 9) Frédérique Lambert & Gabriela Martinez - 11:50 AM

5) Angelica Barrios & Brenda Laime - BYE
4) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott - BYE

3) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
6) Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme v. 11) Yurisleidis Allue & Chanis Leon - 11:50 AM

7) Michelle Key & Carla Muñoz v. 10) Ana Laura Flores & Jessica Parrilla - 11:50 AM
2) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….

2024 LPRT Battle at the Alamo - Round of 32

One surprise so far in the Round of 32 at the 2024 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) LPRT Battle at the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas. Twenty-second seed Michelle Key came back from a game down to upset 11th seed Natalia Mendez, 14-15, 15-9, 11-2. Key will face 6th seed Gabriela Martinez in the Round of 16 Thursday afternoon, as Martinez beat 27th seed Fatima Sanchez Garcia, 15-3, 15-3, in the 32s.

Also in the 32s, 17th seed Naomi Ros won the 16/17 match, upsetting 16th Lexi York - and her doubles parter - in two close games, 15-14, 15-10, and 10th seed Cristina Amaya needed a tie-breaker to fend off 23rd seed Frédérique Lambert, 15-13, 4-15, 11-7.

Play continues Thursday with the Round of 16. The quarterfinals will be Friday morning from 9:40 AM followed by the doubles Round of 16 at 11:50 AM Friday with the quarterfinals at 5:15 and 6:20 PM Friday. The finals will be Saturday at 5:15 PM (singles) and 6:20 (doubles). You can watch the action live from San Antonio via the LPRT YouTube channel. All times Central.

2024 LPRT Battle at the Alamo
San Antonio, Texas - April 25-28, 2024

Singles Round of 32 - Thursday

1) Maria José Vargas - BYE
17) Naomi Ros d. 16) Lexi York, 15-14, 15-10

9) Carla Muñoz d. 24) Yanna Salazar, 15-4, 15-6
8) Kelani Lawrence d. 25) Annie Roberts, 15-7, 15-5

5) Alexandra Herrera - BYE
12) Angelica Barrios d. 21) Khyathi Velpuri, 15-9, 15-6

13) Jessica Parrilla d. 20) Chanis Leon, 15-8, 15-12
4) Brenda Laime - BYE

3) Montserrat Mejia - BYE
14) Hollie Scott d. 19) Sunshine Arterburn, forfeit

22) Michelle Key d. 11) Natalia Mendez, 14-15, 15-9, 11-2
6) Gabriela Martinez d. 27) Fatima Sanchez Garcia, 15-3, 15-3

7) Samantha Salas d. 26) Kelly Mortensen, 15-1, 15-1
10) Cristina Amaya d. 23) Frédérique Lambert, 15-13, 4-15, 11-7

18) Stephanie Synhorst d. 15) Maria Paz Riquelme, 15-6, 15-10
2) Paola Longoria - BYE

Singles Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Maria José Vargas v. 17) Naomi Ros - 6 PM
8) Kelani Lawrence v. 9) Carla Muñoz - 6 PM

5) Alexandra Herrera v. 12) Angelica Barrios - 3 PM
4) Brenda Laime v. 13) Jessica Parrilla - 3 PM

3) Montserrat Mejia v. 14) Hollie Scott - 4 PM
6) Gabriela Martinez v. 22) Michelle Key - 4 PM

7) Samantha Salas v. 10) Cristina Amaya - 5 PM
2) Paola Longoria v. 18) Stephanie Synhorst - 5 PM

Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia - BYE

8) Naomi Ros & Lexi York v. 9) Frédérique Lambert & Gabriela Martinez - 11:50 AM

5) Angelica Barrios & Brenda Laime - BYE
4) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott - BYE

3) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
6) Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme v. 11) Yurisleidis Allue & Chanis Leon - 11:50 AM

7) Michelle Key & Carla Muñoz v. 10) Ana Laura Flores & Jessica Parrilla - 11:50 AM
2) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….

2024 LPRT Battle at the Alamo - Preview

The third last event of the 2023-24 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) season begins Thursday, in San Antonio, Texas, with the LPRT Battle at the Alamo. Twenty seven players are in the field including 19 of the top 21 players, led by LPRT’s new #1 Maria Jose Vargas. Vargas became #1 after last month’s Boston Open, when Paola Longoria defeated former #1 Montserrat Mejia in the final.

Vargas lost to Longoria in the semi-finals in Boston, but has won three of the five events this season with Longoria winning the other two. Thus, the new order is Vargas at #1, Longoria #2, and Mejia at #3, although you can throw a blanket over them, as there is fewer than 50 ranking points between #1 and #3.

Three of the first round matches of most interest are 11th seed Natalia Mendez versus 22nd seed Michelle Key, which is a battle between two players who were at the Pan American Championships in Guatemala last month, 10th seed Cristina Amaya faces former #2 Frédérique Lambert, and the 16/17 match is usually good, and this time features two US players that are doubles partners in Lexi York and Naomi Ros.

The good turnout for this week’s event could be partly due to the fact that San Anontio will host the International Racquetball Federation (IRF)World Championships in August. Players have a chance to play on the courts that will be used for Worlds.

In doubles, Lambert is playing with Gabriela Martinez, and they are seeded 9th, so will play Ros and York first, and if they win, then top seeds Alexandra Herrera and Mejia. It will be interesting to see how Lambert and Martinez - who haven’t played together and generally both play the left side - fare against Herrera and Mejia, if they get past Ros and York, who took home the silver medal in Women’s Doubles from the Pan Am Championships last month.

Play begins Thursday morning at 9 AM with the singles Round of 32 followed by the Round of 16 Thursday afternoon, as they are going to play the final on Saturday. The doubles Round of 16 begins at 11:50 AM Friday with the quarterfinals at 5:15 and 6:20 PM Friday. The finals will be Saturday at 5:15 PM (singles) and 6:20 (doubles). You can watch the action live from San Antonio via the LPRT YouTube channel. All times Central.

2024 LPRT Battle at the Alamo
San Antonio, Texas - April 25-28, 2024

Singles Round of 32 - Thursday

1) Maria José Vargas - BYE
16) Lexi York v. 17) Naomi Ros - Noon

9) Carla Muñoz v. 24) Yanna Salazar - Noon
8) Kelani Lawrence v. 25) Annie Roberts - Noon

5) Alexandra Herrera - BYE
12) Angelica Barrios v. v. 21) Khyathi Velpuri - 9 AM

13) Jessica Parrilla v. 20) Chanis Leon - 9 AM
4) Brenda Laime - BYE

3) Montserrat Mejia - BYE
14) Hollie Scott v. 19) Sunshine Arterburn - 10 AM

11) Natalia Mendez v. 22) Michelle Key - 10 AM
6) Gabriela Martinez v. 27) Fatima Sanchez Garcia - 11 AM

7) Samantha Salas v. 26) Kelly Mortensen - 10 AM
10) Cristina Amaya v. 23) Frédérique Lambert - 11 AM

15) Maria Paz Riquelme v. 18) Stephanie Synhorst - 11 AM
2) Paola Longoria - BYE

Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia - BYE

8) Naomi Ros & Lexi York v. 9) Frédérique Lambert & Gabriela Martinez - 11:50 AM

5) Angelica Barrios & Brenda Laime - BYE
4) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott - BYE

3) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
6) Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme v. 11) Yurisleidis Allue & Chanis Leon - 11:50 AM

7) Michelle Key & Carla Muñoz v. 10) Ana Laura Flores & Jessica Parrilla - 11:50 AM
2) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….

2024 Pan American Championships - Medal summary

The XXXV Pan American Championships wrapped up last Saturday in Guatemala City, so it’s high time we went through a summary of the results for you. Argentina and Mexico were the big winners, although they did it in different ways. Argentina won on the women’s side, while Mexico won on the men’s side. Argentina only had one man, and Mexico no women in Guatemala.

Argentina’s Maria José Vargas won three gold medals taking the singles, doubles and team titles. Her team-mate Natalia Mendez shared two of those gold medals, and also earned bronze in singles.

Mexican Rodrigo Montoya won two gold medals: one in singles and the other in the team event. Sebastian Hernández shared in the team medal, and they also got bronze in doubles.

Costa Ricans Andrés Acuña and Gabriel Garcia won gold in Men’s Doubles, and they were bronze medalists in the team event. Acuña also got bronze in singles.

Americans Sam Bredenbeck and Michelle Key won gold in Mixed Doubles, which was the first USA gold medal at Pan Am Championships since 2018, when Rhonda Rajsich won gold in Women’s Singles. The USA also took silver in the Men’s Team event - Jake and Sam Bredenbeck and Charlie Pratt - as well as in Women’s Doubles from Naomi Ros and Lexi York. Americans took three bronze medals too: men’s singles (Jake Bredenbeck), men’s doubles (Bredenbeck and Bredenbeck) and the women’s team event (Michelle Key, Ros and York).

Three other countries won silver medals: Canada with three, and Chile and the Dominican Republic with one each. A complete medal summary is below.

Upcoming events

The International Racquetball Federation (IRF) 2024 World Championships will be in San Antonio, Texas, August 23-31. That is also the qualifying event for the 2025 World Games that will take place in Chengdu, China, so players in singles will play down for all the qualifying spots.

Those qualifying spots will be to the country, rather than the specific individuals, as in years past. Thus, if an American qualifies 1st, that spot is to go to a player from the USA, but not necessarily the particular player who won that spot. Thus, if a player can’t go to the World Game for any reason, then another player from that country can go, rather than the country forfeiting the spot.

Additionally, racquetball at the 2025 World Games will include Mixed Doubles for the first time. Previously, racquetball competitions at the World Games have been singles only. The only exception to that was back in 1981 at the first World Games, when there were men’s and women’s doubles as well as singles.

The strong rumor is that the 2024 IRF World Junior Championships will be in Guatemala, which is a fine location for the event. It’s relatively easy to get to, and the distance between the club and hotel is not far. But Guatemala's selection hasn't been confirmed.

Finally, there were many good matches at this year’s Pan American Championships in Guatemala, and we encourage to watch some of them (or watch them again) via the IRF YouTube channel.

XXXV Pan American Racquetball Championships
Guatemala City, Guatemala - March 23-31, 2024

Women’s Singles

GOLD: María José Vargas (Argentina)
SILVER: Carla Muñoz (Chile)
BRONZE: Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) and Natalia Mendez (Argentina)

Men's Singles

GOLD: Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico)
SILVER: Samuel Murray (Canada)
BRONZE: Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) and Jake Bredenbeck (USA)

Women's Doubles

GOLD: Natalia Mendez & Maria José Vargas (Argentina)
SILVER: Naomi Ros & Lexi York (USA)
BRONZE: Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) and Paula Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile)

Men's Doubles

GOLD: Andrés Acuña & Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica)
SILVER: Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada)
BRONZE: Sebastian Hernández & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) and Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck (USA)

Mixed Doubles

GOLD: Sam Bredenbeck & Michelle Key (USA)
SILVER: Coby Iwaasa & Juliette Parent (Canada)
BRONZE: Jaime Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile) and Gerson Miranda & Natalia Mendez (Argentina)

Women's Team Event

GOLD: Argentina - Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas
SILVER: Dominican Republic - Maria Cespedes, Merynanyelly Delgado & Alejandra Jimenez
BRONZE: Chile - Paula Mansilla & Carla Muñoz
BRONZE: USA - Michelle Key, Naomi Ros & Lexi York

Men's Team Event

GOLD: Mexico - Sebastian Hernández & Rodrigo Montoya
SILVER: USA - Maria Cespedes, Merynanyelly Delgado & Alejandra Jimenez
BRONZE: Canada - Kurtis Cullen, Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray
BRONZE: Costa Rica - Andrés Acuña & Gabriel Garcia

Medal Summary

1) Argentina - 3 Gold, 0 Silver, 2 Bronze
2) Mexico - 2, 0, 1
3) USA - 1, 2, 3
4) Costa Rica - 1, 0, 2
5) Canada - 0, 3, 1
6) Chile - 0, 1, 3
7) Dominican Republic - 0, 1, 2

Follow the bouncing ball….