One v two in final of the 32nd Annual LPRT Christmas Classic

It’ll be 1 versus 2 in the singles final of the 2024 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Christmas Classic in Millersville, Maryland Sunday, when LPRT #1 Maria José Vargas takes on #2 Paola Longoria. Vargas had the more difficult semi-final match, as she came back from a game down against 4th seed Gabriela Martinez to eke out a win by the narrowest of margins: 9-15, 15-12, 11-10. By contrast Longoria beat LPRT #3 Montserrat Mejia in two straight games, 15-13, 15-5.

The doubles final will feature top seeds Brenda Laime and Mejia against 7th seeds Michelle Key and Erika Manilla. In the semi-finals, Laime and Mejia defeated 5th seeds Valeria Centellas and Carla Muñoz, 15-5, 15-11, while Key and Manilla beat 3rd seeds Kelani Lawrence and Samantha Salas, 15-10, 15-13.

Laime is undefeated in doubles this season, and will be trying to win a third consecutive LPRT doubles title. She won the first tournament of the season with Mejia, and the second tournament with Key.

After splitting their first two games, Vargas took a big lead in the breaker against Martinez, going up 7-1. She maintained that lead up to 10-8, but Martinez fought off that first match point with a forehand cross court kill shot.

Martinez followed that up with a forehand pinch winner, and then an amazing behind the back ceiling ball that fell right into the back left corner for a winner to tie the game at 10-10.

On her first match point, Martinez drove serve to the right side, and Vargas drove it back cross court for a winner, denying her opponent's chance at victory. Vargas then made good on her second match point drive serving to the right, and then hitting another forehand cross court winner after Martinez’s return came into the middle of the court.

The finals will be Sunday at 11 AM for singles and noon for doubles. All times eastern. You can watch the action live from Maryland via the LPRT YouTube channel.

32nd Annual Christmas Classic
Millersville, Maryland - December 6-8, 2024

Singles Quarterfinals - Saturday

1) Maria José Vargas d. 9) Carla Muñoz, 15-1, 15-11
4) Gabriela Martinez d. 5) Brenda Laime, 15-10, 15-12

3) Montserrat Mejia d. 11) Jessica Parrilla, 15-4, 15-5
2) Paola Longoria d. 7) Natalia Mendez, 15-6, 15-8

Singles Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Maria José Vargas d. 4) Gabriela Martinez, 9-15, 15-12, 11-10
2) Paola Longoria d. 3) Montserrat Mejia, 15-13, 15-5

Singles Final - Sunday

1) Maria José Vargas v. 2) Paola Longoria - 11 AM

Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Brenda Laime & Montserrat Mejia d. 4) Valeria Centellas & Carla Muñoz, 15-5, 15-11
7) Michelle Key & Erika Manilla d. 3) Kelani Lawrence & Samantha Salas, 15-10, 15-13

Doubles - Final - Sunday

1) Brenda Laime & Montserrat Mejia v. 7) Michelle Key & Erika Manilla - Noon

Follow the bouncing ball….