Only one main upset so far at the 22nd Annual Christmas Classic, this weekend's Ladies Pro Racquetball Tour (LPRT) event, as 10th seed T. J. Baumbaugh came back from 2-1 down to defeat 7th seed Da'monique Davis, 9-11, 11-3, 3-11, 11-9, 11-5. She'll play LPRT #2 Rhonda Rajsich in the quarter finals on Saturday, as Rajsich beat Kimberly Ferina, 11-9, 11-5, 11-7.
Paola Longoria, the LPRT's #1 player, won her match on Friday night against Maria Renee Rodriguez, 11-2, 11-1, 11-1, and will face Jennifer Saunders in the quarters, as Saunders beat Hailey Miller, 11-4, 11-8, 11-9, in the 16s.
Cheryl Gudinas's return to the LPRT was successful, although not easy as she went tie-breaker with Sheryl Lotts, winning 11-1, 7-11, 11-13, 11-9, 11-7.
The quarter finals will be live on the LPRT Network beginning at 11 AM Saturday.
22nd Annual Christmas Classic
Arlington, Virginia - December 6-8, 2013
LPRT Round of 16 (with seeding)
1 Paola Longoria d. 16 Maria Renee Rodriguez, 11-2, 11-1, 11-1
8 Jennifer Saunders d. 9 Hailey Miller, 11-4, 11-8, 11-9
5 Maria Jose Vargas d. 12 Mariana Tobon Gordon, 11-4, 11-3, 8-11, 11-4
4 Samantha Salas d. 13 Sharon Jackson, 11-1, 11-1, 11-3
3 Cristina Amaya d. 14 Carolina Luque, 11-5, 11-2, 11-6
6 Cheryl Gudinas d. 11 Sheryl Lotts, 11-1, 7-11, 11-13, 11-9, 11-7
10 T. J. Baumbaugh d. 7 Da'monique Davis, 9-11, 11-3, 3-11, 11-9, 11-5
2 Rhonda Rajsich d. 18 Kimberly Ferina, 11-9, 11-5, 11-7
Quarter finals
1 Paola Longoria v. 8 Jennifer Saunders - Noon EST
4 Samantha Salas v. 5 Maria Jose Vargas - Noon EST
3 Cristina Amaya v. 6 Cheryl Gudinas - 11 AM EST
2 Rhonda Rajsich v. 10 T. J. Baumbaugh - 11 AM EST
LPRT Round of 32 (with seeding)
1 Paola Longoria BYE
16 Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 17 Claudia Andrade, 11-0, 11-9, 11-8
9 Hailey Miller BYE
8 Jennifer Saunders BYE
5 Maria Jose Vargas BYE
12 Mariana Tobon Gordon BYE
13 Sharon Jackson BYE
4 Samantha Salas BYE
3 Cristina Amaya BYE
14 Carolina Luque BYE
11 Sheryl Lotts BYE
6 Cheryl Gudinas BYE
7 Da'monique Davis BYE
10 T. J. Baumbaugh VYE
18 Kimberly Ferina d. 15 Ana Paola Nunez, 11-5, 11-1, 11-5
2 Rhonda Rajsich BYE
Follow the bouncing ball….
Saturday, December 7, 2013
Thursday, December 5, 2013
LPRT Christmas Classic Preview
You may have forgotten about them, as it's been two months since the last Ladies Pro Racquetball Tour (LPRT) event, but they are back in action this weekend with the 22nd Annual Christmas Classic in Arlington, Virginia, which is the first of back to back events, as the LPRT will down in Monterrey, Mexico for the Paola Longoria Invitational tournament.
Anyone who's unaware of Longoria's impact in Mexico hasn't been following Twitter, where Longoria has over 56,000 followers (a few more than Racquetball Blog has). The LPRT's #1 player, Longoria is hosting an event that's come about in the last couple of months, as it wasn't on the schedule when it was first released. And it will be an event with Grand Slam prize money. Very impressive and great for the LPRT.
In contrast, this weekend's event in Arlington is a little light on players, as there are only 18 in the draw. But it does include Longoria and her main rival Rhonda Rajsich, the LPRT's #2, as well as #4 Samantha Salas. Also, Cheryl Gudinas returns from her foot injury that's caused her to miss the first three LPRT events of this season.
Cristina Amaya is the 3rd seed and she's had a good year with two runner up finishes to Longoria. One was on the LPRT in September and the other was at the World Games. But she'll face Gudinas in the quarter finals, if they both win their first matches.
Rajsich, who's had some disappointing finishes, but did reach the final of the US Open, which is the last LPRT event, would likely face the winner of Amaya and Gudinas in the semi-finals.
On the top of the draw, Longoria's path to the final will likely go through Jennifer Saunders in the quarters and then either Salas or 5th seed Maria Jose Vargas, who's also played well recently. But Salas will have to defeat Sharon Jackson in the Round of 16, and Jackson could be the best young American player right now, having represented USA at the Pan American Championships earlier this year earning a bronze medal in singles and winning gold with Rajsich.
So, a small draw in Arlington, but there should be several good matches. You can follow the action live on the LPRT Network beginning at 4 PM on Friday with the Round of 16.
22nd Annual Christmas Classic
Arlington, Virginia - December 6-8, 2013
LPRT Round of 32 (with seeding)
1 Paola Longoria BYE
16 Maria Renee Rodriguez v. 17 Claudia Andrade
9 Hailey Miller BYE
8 Jennifer Saunders BYE
5 Maria Jose Vargas BYE
12 Mariana Tobon Gordon BYE
13 Sharon Jackson BYE
4 Samantha Salas BYE
3 Cristina Amaya BYE
14 Carolina Luque BYE
11 Sheryl Lotts BYE
6 Cheryl Gudinas BYE
7 Da'monique Davis BYE
10 T. J. Baumbaugh VYE
15 Ana Paola Nunez v. 18 Kimberly Ferina
2 Rhonda Rajsich BYE
Follow the bouncing ball….
Anyone who's unaware of Longoria's impact in Mexico hasn't been following Twitter, where Longoria has over 56,000 followers (a few more than Racquetball Blog has). The LPRT's #1 player, Longoria is hosting an event that's come about in the last couple of months, as it wasn't on the schedule when it was first released. And it will be an event with Grand Slam prize money. Very impressive and great for the LPRT.
In contrast, this weekend's event in Arlington is a little light on players, as there are only 18 in the draw. But it does include Longoria and her main rival Rhonda Rajsich, the LPRT's #2, as well as #4 Samantha Salas. Also, Cheryl Gudinas returns from her foot injury that's caused her to miss the first three LPRT events of this season.
Cristina Amaya is the 3rd seed and she's had a good year with two runner up finishes to Longoria. One was on the LPRT in September and the other was at the World Games. But she'll face Gudinas in the quarter finals, if they both win their first matches.
Rajsich, who's had some disappointing finishes, but did reach the final of the US Open, which is the last LPRT event, would likely face the winner of Amaya and Gudinas in the semi-finals.
On the top of the draw, Longoria's path to the final will likely go through Jennifer Saunders in the quarters and then either Salas or 5th seed Maria Jose Vargas, who's also played well recently. But Salas will have to defeat Sharon Jackson in the Round of 16, and Jackson could be the best young American player right now, having represented USA at the Pan American Championships earlier this year earning a bronze medal in singles and winning gold with Rajsich.
So, a small draw in Arlington, but there should be several good matches. You can follow the action live on the LPRT Network beginning at 4 PM on Friday with the Round of 16.
22nd Annual Christmas Classic
Arlington, Virginia - December 6-8, 2013
LPRT Round of 32 (with seeding)
1 Paola Longoria BYE
16 Maria Renee Rodriguez v. 17 Claudia Andrade
9 Hailey Miller BYE
8 Jennifer Saunders BYE
5 Maria Jose Vargas BYE
12 Mariana Tobon Gordon BYE
13 Sharon Jackson BYE
4 Samantha Salas BYE
3 Cristina Amaya BYE
14 Carolina Luque BYE
11 Sheryl Lotts BYE
6 Cheryl Gudinas BYE
7 Da'monique Davis BYE
10 T. J. Baumbaugh VYE
15 Ana Paola Nunez v. 18 Kimberly Ferina
2 Rhonda Rajsich BYE
Follow the bouncing ball….
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Green & Lambert win Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event in Winnipeg
Mike Green and Frédérique Lambert won the Men's and Women's finals, respectively, of the Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event in Winnipeg on Sunday. Green - the reigning Canadian National Men's Champion - defeated 2nd seed Vincent Gagnon in the Men's final, 15-10, 15-12, while Lambert upset #1 seed and current National Women's Champion Jennifer Saunders in the women's final, 13-15, 15-6, 11-8.
In the men's semi-finals, Green defeated Coby Iwaasa, 15-6, 15-9, and Gagnon needed a tie-breaker to defeat Samuel Murray, 7-15, 15-11, 11-5.
Saunders beat Michèle Morissette, 15-3, 15-4, in one of the women's semi-finals, while Lambert defeated veteran Josée Grand'Maître, 15-12, 15-9, in the other.
The big upsets of the event occurred in the quarter finals. On the men's side, Murray, the 6th seed, beat 3rd seed Tim Landeryou, 9-15, 15-12, 11-9, while on the women's side Morissette, the 5th seed, defeated 4th seed Christine Richardson, 15-13, 8-15, 11-9.
This was the first Selection Event of the season, and the results from this event will be combined with the second Selection Event to be held in Brossard, Que. in January and the National Championships in May to determine the players who will represent Canada at the 2014 World Championships, which will be held in Burlington, Ont. next June.
RACQUETBALL CANADA NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION EVENT
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Men's Open
Final
Mike Green d. Vincent Gagnon, 15-10, 15-12
3rd Place
Coby Iwaasa d. Samuel Murray, 15-10, 15-8
5th Place
Tim Landeryou d. Nathaniel Husulak, 15-9, 15-11
7th Place
Lee Connell d. Eric Desrochers, injury default
9th Place
Kurtis Cullen d. Joshua Keil, 15-1, 15-6
Women's Open
Final - Sunday
Frédérique Lambert d. Jennifer Saunders, 13-15, 15-6, 11-8
3rd Place
Josée Grand'Maître d. Michèle Morissette, 15-4, 15-1
5th Place
Christine Richardson d. Nadia Verilli, 15-4, 15-1
7th Place
Brigitte Richard d. Alexis Iwaasa, 15-7, 15-10
Follow the bouncing ball….
In the men's semi-finals, Green defeated Coby Iwaasa, 15-6, 15-9, and Gagnon needed a tie-breaker to defeat Samuel Murray, 7-15, 15-11, 11-5.
Saunders beat Michèle Morissette, 15-3, 15-4, in one of the women's semi-finals, while Lambert defeated veteran Josée Grand'Maître, 15-12, 15-9, in the other.
The big upsets of the event occurred in the quarter finals. On the men's side, Murray, the 6th seed, beat 3rd seed Tim Landeryou, 9-15, 15-12, 11-9, while on the women's side Morissette, the 5th seed, defeated 4th seed Christine Richardson, 15-13, 8-15, 11-9.
This was the first Selection Event of the season, and the results from this event will be combined with the second Selection Event to be held in Brossard, Que. in January and the National Championships in May to determine the players who will represent Canada at the 2014 World Championships, which will be held in Burlington, Ont. next June.
RACQUETBALL CANADA NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION EVENT
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Men's Open
Final
Mike Green d. Vincent Gagnon, 15-10, 15-12
3rd Place
Coby Iwaasa d. Samuel Murray, 15-10, 15-8
5th Place
Tim Landeryou d. Nathaniel Husulak, 15-9, 15-11
7th Place
Lee Connell d. Eric Desrochers, injury default
9th Place
Kurtis Cullen d. Joshua Keil, 15-1, 15-6
Women's Open
Final - Sunday
Frédérique Lambert d. Jennifer Saunders, 13-15, 15-6, 11-8
3rd Place
Josée Grand'Maître d. Michèle Morissette, 15-4, 15-1
5th Place
Christine Richardson d. Nadia Verilli, 15-4, 15-1
7th Place
Brigitte Richard d. Alexis Iwaasa, 15-7, 15-10
Follow the bouncing ball….
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