Vargas wins 33rd Annual LPRT Christmas Classic

Maria José Vargas won the latest edition of one of the longest running Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) events this weekend: the 33rd Annual LPRT Christmas Classic in Millersville, Maryland. She defeated Paola Longoria in the final, 15-6, 15-12, and had a chance to win doubles as well, but Alexandra Herrera and Montserrat Mejia beat Vargas and Valeria Centellas in the doubles final, 15-9, 15-6.

Vargas’s win further confirms her as the LPRT’s #1 player, and she’s now won three of the four events this season, and has 15 titles in her career.

In the final, Vargas was dominant in game one, taking leads of 5-0, 7-1, and 11-2, as she took it 15-6.

In game two, Longoria led early at 4-0, and 7-3. But Vargas won nine of the next ten points to lead 12-8. Longoria did come back and tie it at 12-12, so Vargas called a timeout.

When play resumed, Longoria skipped a backhand pinch shot that put Vargas back in the service box. She hit a drive serve ace to go back ahead, 13-12. A Vargas backhand kill shot made it 14-12.

On the first game point, Vargas drove serve to the left side, and it came off the back wall, so Longoria hit a backhand shot over to the right side that she believed hit Vargas on the way to the front wall.

Thus, Longoria stopped playing, while Vargas hit the ball over to the left side. The referee didn’t see the ball hit Vargas, so Longoria appealed for referee’s call, but it was upheld by the line judges. Thus, Vargas won the rally, and got the match ending point to win game two, 15-12.

Although it was a weird end to the match, Vargas was fully deserving of the victory. She has improved her game from being primarily a power player to become a player that can shoot the ball very well also.

Vargas won the season ending #1 player in 2023-24, and she looks likely to regain that title this season, taking it from Longoria, who won it last season.

The LPRT will be back in action next month, when they begin 2026 with the Arizona Open in Tempe, Arizona, January 15-17. If you missed any of the action from Maryland, check out the LPRT YouTube channel to see how dominant Vargas played throughout the tournament.

33rd Annual LPRT Christmas Classic
Millersville, Maryland - December 4-7, 2025

Final

1) Maria José Vargas d. 3) Paola Longoria, 15-6, 15-12

Semi-finals

1) Maria José Vargas d. 5) Natalia Mendez, 2-15, 15-6, 11-7
3) Paola Longoria d. 2) Montserrat Mejia, 15-7, 15-9

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Maria José Vargas d. 8) Valeria Centellas, 15-11, 15-11
5) Natalia Mendez d. 4) Gabriela Martinez, 15-13, 15-11

3) Paola Longoria d. 6) Brenda Laime, 15-1, 15-6
2) Montserrat Mejia d. 7) Alexandra Herrera, 7-15, 15-9, 11-4

Round of 16

1) Maria José Vargas d. 17) Erika Manilla, 15-8, 15-9
8) Valeria Centellas d. 9) Sheryl Lotts, 15-4, 11-15, 11-0

5) Natalia Mendez d. 12) Lexi York, 15-2, 15-7
4) Gabriela Martinez d. 13) Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-4, 15-8

3) Paola Longoria d. 14) Annie Sanchez, 15-4, 15-9
6) Brenda Laime d. 11) Carla Muñoz, 15-2, 15-5

7) Alexandra Herrera d. 10) Jessica Parrilla, 15-9, 15-12
2) Montserrat Mejia d. 15) Stephanie Synhorst, forfeit

Singles Round of 32

1) Maria José Vargas - BYE
17) Erika Manilla d. 16) Juliette Parent, 15-6, 15-6

9) Sheryl Lotts - BYE
8) Valeria Centellas - BYE

5) Natalia Mendez - BYE
12) Lexi York - BYE

13) Maria Renee Rodriguez - BYE
4) Gabriela Martinez - BYE

3) Paola Longoria - BYE
14) Annie Sanchez d. 19) Bri Millet, 15-1, 15-2

11) Carla Muñoz - BYE
6) Brenda Laime - BYE

7) Alexandra Herrera - BYE
10) Jessica Parrilla - BYE

15) Stephanie Synhorst d. 18) Laura Brandt, 15-0, 15-2
2) Montserrat Mejia - BYE

Doubles - Final

2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. 1) Valeria Centellas & Maria Jose Vargas, 15-9, 15-6

Doubles - Semi-finals

1) Valeria Centellas & Maria Jose Vargas d. 5) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-8, 15-9
2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. 3) Brenda Laime & Natalia Mendez, 15-10, 15-6

Doubles - Quarterfinals

1) Valeria Centellas & Maria Jose Vargas d. 8) Annie Sanchez & Juliette Parent, 15-6, 15-9
5) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 4) Sheryl Lotts & Lexi York, 15-9, 15-2

3) Brenda Laime & Natalia Mendez d. 6) Carla Muñoz & Jessica Parrilla, 15-11, 11-15, 11-7
2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. 7) Paola Longoria & Erika Manilla, 9-15, 15-7, 11-5

Follow the bouncing ball….