The Christmas Classic has been a traditional event on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) for several seasons, and this year’s 32nd Annual Christmas Classic, which kicked off in Millersville, Maryland today, is no exception. There are 24 players in the field, which has 16 of the top 18 LPRT players, including LPRT #1 Maria Jose Vargas, #2 Paola Longoria and #3 Montserrat Mejia, as well as the return of Erika Manilla, who has been out with an injury for several months.
There were some interesting matches in the early rounds. Frédérique Lambert, seeded 20th but formerly the #2 LPRT player, got the better of 13th seed Michelle Key, 15-6, 15-1, in the Round of 32, but her joy was short lived, as 4th seed Gabriela Martinez beat Lambert in the Round 16 by that same scoreline, 15-6, 15-1.
Three other upsets in the early rounds, as 11th seed Jessica Parrilla beat 6th seed Kelani Lawrence, 15-10, 15-11. Also, 9th seed Carla Muñoz defeated 8th seed Cristina Amaya in the 8/9 match, 10-15, 15-7, 11-6, and 19th seed Valeria Centellas beat 14th seed Stephanie Synhorst, 15-2, 15-4.
Parrilla will play 3rd seed Mejia in the quarterfinals Saturday, as Mejia defeated Centellas in the 16s, 15-10, 15-14. Also in the quarters, Muñoz will play top seed Vargas, who beat Manilla, 15-4, 15-8, in the 16s.
In doubles, top seeds Brenda Laime and Montserrat Mejia are through to the semi-finals after beating 8th seeds Frédérique Lambert and Jessica Parrilla, 15-4, 15-4. Laime is looking to win a third consecutive doubles title, the first of which she won with Mejia.
But to do it, she might have to beat Michelle Key, who she won her second title with, as Key and Manilla, the 7th seeds, knocked off 2nd seeds Natalia Mendez and Vargas, 15-7, 15-10. That win puts Key and Manilla in the semis against 3rd seeds Lawrence and Samantha Salas who came back from a game down to defeat 6th seeds Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez, 10-15, 15-11, 11-5. This is a rare time that Samantha Salas and Paola Longoria are at an LPRT event, and not playing doubles together.
In the other semi, Laime and Mejia will face 5th seeds Centellas and Muñoz who upset 4th seeds Amaya and Maria Paz Riquelme, 15-4, 15-7, in the quarters.
Play began Friday with the Rounds of 32 and 16, and continues through Saturday with the finals on Sunday morning. The singles quarterfinals are Saturday morning, with the semi-finals to go in the evening. The finals will be Sunday at 11 AM for singles and noon for doubles. All times central. You can watch the action live from Maryland via the LPRT YouTube channel.
32nd Annual LPRT Christmas Classic Benefiting Frontline Family Foundation
Millersville, Maryland - December 6-8, 2024
Singles Round of 32 - Friday
1) Maria José Vargas - BYE
16) Erika Manilla d. 17) Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-11, 15-7
9) Carla Muñoz d. 24) Erica Williams, 15-1, 15-1
8) Cristina Amaya - BYE
5) Brenda Laime - BYE
12) Lexi York d. 21) Juliette Parent, 15-10, 15-7
20) Frédérique Lambert d. 13) Michelle Key, 15-6, 15-1
4) Gabriela Martinez - BYE
3) Montserrat Mejia - BYE
19) Valeria Centellas d. 14) Stephanie Synhorst, 15-2, 15-4
11) Jessica Parrilla d. 22) Laura Brandt, 15-4, 15-0
6) Kelani Lawrence - BYE
7) Natalia Mendez - BYE
10) Samantha Salas v. 23) Daniela Rico, 15-4, 15-8
15) Maria Paz Riquelme v. 18) Khyathi Velpuri, 15-11, 15-6
2) Paola Longoria - BYE
Singles Round of 16 - Friday
1) Maria José Vargas d. 16) Erika Manilla, 15-4, 15-8
9) Carla Muñoz d. 8) Cristina Amaya, 10-15, 15-7, 11-6
5) Brenda Laime d. 12) Lexi York, 15-7, 15-5
4) Gabriela Martinez d. 20) Frédérique Lambert, 15-6, 15-1
3) Montserrat Mejia d. 19) Valeria Centellas, 15-10, 15-14
11) Jessica Parrilla d. 6) Kelani Lawrence, 15-10, 15-11
7) Natalia Mendez d. 10) Samantha Salas, 14-15, 15-8, 11-0
2) Paola Longoria d. 15) Maria Paz Riquelme, 15-3, 15-3
Singles Quarterfinals - Saturday
1) Maria José Vargas v. 9) Carla Muñoz - 11 AM
4) Gabriela Martinez v. 5) Brenda Laime - 11 AM
3) Montserrat Mejia v. 11) Jessica Parrilla - 10 AM
2) Paola Longoria v. 7) Natalia Mendez - 10 AM
Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday
1) Brenda Laime & Montserrat Mejia - BYE
8) Frédérique Lambert & Jessica Parrilla d. 9) Juliette Parent & Lexi York, 15-8, 15-11
5) Valeria Centellas & Carla Muñoz - BYE
4) Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme - BYE
3) Kelani Lawrence & Samantha Salas - BYE
6) Maria Renee Rodriguez - BYE
7) Michelle Key & Erika Manilla d. 10) Khyathi Velpuri & Erica Williams, 15-1, 15-0
2) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday
1) Brenda Laime & Montserrat Mejia d. 8) Frédérique Lambert & Jessica Parrilla, 15-4, 15-4
5) Valeria Centellas & Carla Muñoz d. 4) Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme, 15-4, 15-7
3) Kelani Lawrence & Samantha Salas d. 6) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez, 10-15, 15-11, 11-5
7) Michelle Key & Erika Manilla d. 2) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas, 15-7, 15-10
Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
1) Brenda Laime & Montserrat Mejia v. 4) Valeria Centellas & Carla Muñoz - 6 PM
3) Kelani Lawrence & Samantha Salas v. 7) Michelle Key & Erika Manilla - 6 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
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