Herrera wins her 1st title at the 2022 LPRT Vero Beach Open

Alexandra Herrera won her 1st Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) event by defeating Paola Longoria, 15-14, 15-13, in the final of the 2022 LPRT Vero Beach Open in Vero Beach, Florida. It’s also the first time Herrera, the LPRT’s #2 player, has beaten Longoria, the LPRT’s #1 player. She also won doubles with Montserrat Mejia, as they defeated Longoria and Maria Renee Rodriguez in the doubles final, 15-7, 15-6.

Herrera led 11-4 in game one, and looked like she was going to win it comfortably. But no match against Longoria is comfortable, and she scored seven straight points to tie the game at 11-11. Longoria then edged ahead, and got to game point first at 14-12. Herrera called a timeout.

When play resumed, Herrera got the serve back, and they went back and forth with Herrera fighting off two game points, and scoring two of her own to make it 14-14. They then exchanged sideouts twice, and on her third game point, Herrera won it with a backhand down the line shot.

Game two was similar, as Herrera took an early lead at 7-1, only to see Longoria tie it at 7-7. They remained close, and then tied at 12-12, when Herrera called a timeout. After an exchange of timeouts, Longoria made it 13-12 with a backhand pinch shot.

However, Herrera got the serve back on the next rally. Longoria appealed that Herrera’s serve return was an encroachment, but the line judges upheld the referee’s call of no encroachment. Herrera hit a winning backhand cross court shot to make it 13-13. A forehand pinch shot made it 14-13, and on the next rally the ball came into the service box area, and the lefthanded Herrera hit a forehand reverse pinch to the right corner for the match winning point.

The LPRT will be back in action next in two weeks at the Boston Open, March 4-6, 2022. If you missed any of the action from Vero Beach check out the LPRT YouTube channel, as well as the LPRT Facebook page.

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

LPRT Singles - Final - Saturday

2) Alexandra Herrera d. 1) Paola Longoria, 15-14, 15-13

LPRT Doubles - Final - Saturday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia v. 2) Paola Longoria & Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-7, 15-6

Follow the bouncing ball….