Early rounds at 2022 LPRT Vero Beach Open

The Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) began their first event of 2022 on Thursday in Vero Beach, Florida with a field of 24 players, and there have been some good matches already. Two upsets have created an all-American quarterfinal. In the Round of 16, Kelani Lawrence, the 13th seed, defeated 4th seed Natalia Mendez of Argentina, 15-6, 15-14, and will play 12th seed Erika Manilla, who was also a straight game winner over Bolivia’s Angelica Barrios, 15-12, 15-9. They’ll play at 5 PM Friday.

Mexican Paola Longoria, the LPRT’s #1 player, defeated 16th seed American Hollie Scott in the Round of 16, 14-5, 15-14, as Scott won the 16/17 match versus 17th seed Cristina Amaya of Colombia, 13-15, 15-11, 11-9, on Thursday. LPRT #2 Alexandra Herrera of Mexico got the better of 18th seed Micaela Meneses of Bolivia in the 16s, 15-8, 15-2, as Meneses was an upset winner over Sheryl Lotts, 15-6, 15-7, in the Round of 32.

Maria Jose Vargas of Argentina, the LPRT’s #3 player, defeated Guatemalan Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-8, 15-2, in the 16s, and will play Mexican Montserrat Mejia, the 6th seed, in the quarterfinals, as Mejia beat Ecuador's Veronica Sotomayor, 15-4, 15-9.

As per usual, they are also playing doubles, and for the first time Longoria and Rodriguez have teamed up, as neither of their regular partners are in Florida. Longoria usually plays with Samantha Salas and Rogriguez with Gabriela Martinez. They are seeded 2nd, and narrowly won their first match against 7th seeds Carla Muñoz and Sotomayor, 15-14, 15-13. Next up for them is a semi-final match with 3rd seeds Natalia Mendez and Maria Jose Vargas, who were winners over 11th seeds Barrios and Jenny Daza, 15-7, 15-14.

The other doubles semi will be top seeds Alexandra Herrera and Montserrat Mejia against 5th seeds Lawrence and Scott. In the quarters, Herrera and Mejia beat 9th seeds Sheryl Lotts and Rhonda Rajsich, 15-5, 15-5, while Lawrence and Scott got past 4th seeds Jessica Parrilla and Montserrat Perez when the latter forfeited their match, apparently due to Parrilla feeling unwell.

The Round of 16 and quarterfinals are set for Friday with the semi-finals and final on Saturday. Look for the action via the LPRT YouTube channel, as well as the LPRT Facebook page.

LPRT Vero Beach Open
February 17-19, 2022 - Vero Beach, Florida

LPRT Singles - Round of 32 - Thursday

1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Hollie Scott d. 17) Cristina Amaya, 13-15, 15-11, 11-9

9) Brenda Laime d. 24) Maricruz Ortiz, 15-7, 15-5
8) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE

5) Angelica Barrios - BYE
12) Erika Manilla d. 21) Susana Acosta, 15-10, 15-7

12) Kelani Lawrence d. 20) Daniela Rico, 15-6, 15-9
4) Natalia Mendez - BYE

3) Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
14) Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 19) Montserrat Perez, 15-7, 15-6

22) Veronica Sotomayor d. 11) Nancy Enriquez, 8-15, 15-12, 11-9
6) Montserrat Mejia - BYE

7) Jessica Parrilla - BYE
23) Jenny Daza d. 10) Carla Muñoz, 13-15, 15-10, 11-6

18) Micaela Meneses d. 15) Sheryl Lotts, 15-6, 15-7
2) Alexandra Herrera - BYE

LPRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Paola Longoria d. 16) Hollie Scott, 15-4, 15-14
9) Brenda Laime d. 8) Rhonda Rajsich, 15-3, 15-12

12) Erika Manilla d. 5) Angelica Barrios, 15-12, 15-9
13) Kelani Lawrence d. 4) Natalia Mendez, 15-6, 15-14

3) Maria Jose Vargas d. 14) Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-8, 15-2
6) Montserrat Mejia d. 22) Veronica Sotomayor, 15-4, 15-9

23) Jenny Daza d. 7) Jessica Parrilla, forfeit
2) Alexandra Herrera d. 18) Micaela Meneses, 15-8, 15-2

LPRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Paola Longoria v. 9) Brenda Laime - 5 PM
12) Erika Manilla v. 13) Kelani Lawrence - 5 PM

3) Maria Jose Vargas v. 6) Montserrat Mejia - 4 PM
2) Alexandra Herrera v. 23) Jenny Daza - 4 PM

LPRT Doubles - Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia - BYE
9) Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich d. 8) Nancy Enriquez & Daniela Rico, 15-7, 15-4

5) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott - BYE
4) Jessica Parrilla & Montserrat Perez - BYE

3) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
11) Angelica Barrios & Jenny Daza d. 6) Brenda Laime & Erika Manilla, 15-12, 6-15, 11-10

7) Carla Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor d. d. 10) Susana Acosta & Cristina Amaya, 15-13, 15-8
2) Paola Longoria & Maria Renee Rodriguez - BYE

LPRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. 9) Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich, 15-5, 15-5
5) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott d. 4) Jessica Parrilla & Montserrat Perez, injury forfeit

3) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas d. 11) Angelica Barrios & Jenny Daza, 15-7, 15-14
2) Paola Longoria & Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 7) Carla Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor, 15-14, 15-13

LPRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia v. 5) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott - 7 PM
2) Paola Longoria & Maria Renee Rodriguez v. 3) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas - 6 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….