Vargas needs 3 games to defeat Key in Denver

A couple of small upsets in the Round of 16 Friday at the 2024 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Frontline Family Foundation Mile High Open in Denver, Colorado, but perhaps the biggest surprise is the upset that didn’t happen, as 16th seed Michelle Key took LPRT #1 Maria Jose Vargas to a tie-breaker, before the top seed prevailed, 12-15, 15-10, 11-2.

In the other tie-breaker of the 16s, 10th seed Samantha Salas came back to upset 7th seed Cristina Amaya, 6-15, 15-5, 11-3, in a battle of two LPRT veterans. The other upset was in the 8/9 match, as 9th seed Gabriela Martinez beat 8th seed Carla Muñoz, 15-4, 15-7. Martinez will play Vargas in the quarters, while Salas will take on her doubles partner, Paola Longoria, as the 2nd seed defeated 15th seed Angelica Barrios, 15-9, 15-12.

Also on Friday, 3rd seed Montserrat Mejia beat 14th seed Stephanie Synhorst, 15-2, 15-0, and in the quarters will play 6th seed Natalia Mendez, who defeated 11th seed Jessica Parrilla, 15-6, 15-14, in the Round of 16.

Finally, 4th seed Brenda Laime saw off 20th seed Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-2, 15-3, and will play 5th seed Kelani Lawrence, who won the closest two game match of the 16s, when she defeated 12th seed Lexi York, 15-13, 15-11.

The singles quarterfinals will be Friday morning at 10 and 11 AM with the doubles competition to begin at noon. The singles semi-finals will be Friday afternoon at 4 and 5 PM followed by the doubles quarters Friday evening at 6 and 7 PM. The finals will be on Saturday at 3 PM for singles and 5 PM for doubles. All times mountain. You can watch the action live from Denver via the LPRT YouTube channel.

2024 LPRT Frontline Family Foundation Mile High Open
Denver, Colorado - August 1-3, 2024

Singles Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Maria José Vargas d. 16) Michelle Key, 12-15, 15-10, 11-2
9) Gabriela Martinez d. 8) Carla Muñoz, 15-4, 15-7

5) Kelani Lawrence d. 12) Lexi York, 15-13, 15-11
4) Brenda Laime d. 20) Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-2, 15-3

3) Montserrat Mejia d. 14) Stephanie Synhorst, 15-2, 15-0
6) Natalia Mendez d. 11) Jessica Parrilla, 15-6, 15-14

10) Samantha Salas d. 7) Cristina Amaya, 6-15, 15-5, 11-3
2) Paola Longoria d. 15) Angelica Barrios, 15-9, 15-12

Singles Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Maria José Vargas v. 9) Gabriela Martinez - 11 AM
4) Brenda Laime v. 5) Kelani Lawrence - 11 AM

3) Montserrat Mejia v. 6) Natalia Mendez - 10 AM
2) Paola Longoria v. 10) Samantha Salas - 10 AM

Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Brenda Laime & Montserrat Mejia - BYE
8) Angelica Barrios & Valeria Centellas v. 9) Andrea Gabriela Reyes Perez & Lexi York - Noon

5) Kelani Lawrence & Jessica Parrilla - BYE
4) Michelle Key & Carla Muñoz - BYE

3) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
6) Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme - BYE

7) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez - BYE
2) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas - BYE

Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Brenda Laime & Montserrat Mejia v. 8) Angelica Barrios & Valeria Centellas or 9) Andrea Gabriela Reyes Perez & Lexi York - 7 PM
4) Michelle Key & Carla Muñoz v. 5) Kelani Lawrence & Jessica Parrilla - 7 PM

3) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas v. 6) Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme - 6 PM
2) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 7) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez - 6 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….