Three upsets Friday at 2021 LPRT Christmas Classic

There were three upsets in the Round of 16 on Friday at the 29th Annual Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Christmas Classic Pro-Am in Millersville, Maryland. The biggest was 12th seed Erika Manilla defeating 5th seed Mexican Montserrat Mejia, 15-14, 15-9. It’s the second straight time Manilla has beaten Mejia, as she did so at the US Open in October.

Also, 10th seed Kelani Lawrence came back from a game down to upset 7th seed Rhonda Rajsich, 5-15, 15-14, 11-9. That was Lawrence’s second win over Rajsich in a week, as they also played in the semi-finals of the 2021 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Guatemala on Sunday.

Finally, 9th seed Carla Muñoz defeated 8th seed Valeria Centellas, 15-7, 15-8, and set up a match with Paola Longoria, the LPRT’s #1 player, in the quarterfinals on Saturday. Longoria beat Montserrat Perez in the 16s, 15-2, 15-5.

In the doubles draw, top seeds Alexandra Herrera and Montserrat Mejia won their first match, beating Shane Diaz and Naomi Ros, 15-2, 15-7. They’ll play 5th seed Jessica Parrilla and Montserrat Perez in the semi-finals Saturday, as Parrilla and Perez upset 4th seeds Kelani Lawrence and Hollie Scott, 14-15, 15-9, 11-6, on Friday.

Also, 2nd seeds Valeria Centellas and Natalia Mendez got a measure of revenge against 7th seeds Erika Manilla and Rhonda Rajsich by defeating them Friday, 15-10, 6-15, 11-1, after losing to them in the semi-finals at the IRF World Championships on Sunday.

Centellas and Mendez will play the new team of Longoria and Maria Jose Vargas in the semis on Saturday, as Longoria and Vargas beat 6th seeds Muñoz and Masiel Rivera, 15-8, 15-3, in the quarters.

The singles quarterfinals will be Saturday at 11 AM and noon with the semi-finals Saturday afternoon at 4 and 5 PM and the final Sunday at noon. The doubles semi-finals will be at 6 and 7 PM Saturday night with the final on Sunday at 1 PM. Look for the action via the LPRT YouTube channel, as well as the LPRT Facebook page.

29th Annual LPRT Christmas Classic Pro-Am
December 10-12, 2021 - Millersville, Maryland

LPRT Singles - First Round - Friday

16) Montserrat Perez d. 17) Jessica Chen, 15-6, 15-12
Hollie Scott d. Naomi Ros, 15-1, 15-8
Masiel Rivera d. 18) Shane Diaz, 15-6, 15-5

LPRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Paola Longoria d. 16) Montserrat Perez, 15-2, 15-5
9) Carla Muñoz d. 8) Valeria Centellas, 15-7, 15-8

12) Erika Manilla d. 5) Montserrat Mejia, 15-14, 15-9
4) Natalia Mendez d. 13) Sheryl Lotts, 15-11, 15-6

3) Alexandra Herrera d. 14) Hollie Scott, 15-2, 15-7
6) Jessica Parrilla d. 11) Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-10, 12-15, 11-3

10) Kelani Lawrence d. 7) Rhonda Rajsich, 5-15, 15-14, 11-9
2) Maria Jose Vargas d. 15) Masiel Rivera, 15-1, 15-3

LPRT Singles - Round of 16 - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria v. 9) Carla Muñoz - Noon
4) Natalia Mendez v.

12) Erika Manilla - Noon

3) Alexandra Herrera v. 6) Jessica Parrilla - 11 AM
2) Maria Jose Vargas v.

10) Kelani Lawrence - 11 AM

LPRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. 8) Shane Diaz & Naomi Ros, 15-2, 15-7
5) Jessica Parrilla & Montserrat Perez d. 4) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott, 14-15, 15-9, 11-6

3) Paola Longoria & Maria Jose Vargas d. 6) Carla Muñoz & Masiel Rivera, 15-8, 15-3
2) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez d. 7) Erika Manilla & Rhonda Rajsich, 15-10, 6-15, 11-1

LPRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia v. 5) Jessica Parrilla & Montserrat Perez - 7 PM
2) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez v. 3) Paola Longoria & Maria Jose Vargas - 6 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….