They are through the first day of competition at the USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, and it’s mostly gone according to the seeding. However, in Women’s Doubles 5th seeds Michelle De La Rosa and Danielle Maddux upset 4th seeds Erika Manilla and Hollie Scott, 15-9, 15-10, and will play top seeds Kelani Bailey Lawrence and Sharon Jackson in the semi-finals on Friday.
In men’s play, top seeds Rocky Carson and Charlie Pratt are though to the semis after beating Justus Benson and Erik Garcia, 15-7, 15-7, in the quarterfinals. They’ll play 4th seeds Adam Manilla and Nicholas Riffel, who needed a tie-breaker to defeat 5th seeds Thomas Carter and Fernando Rivera, 15-9, 10-15, 11-0.
Second seeds David Horn and Mauro Rojas defeated Sam Bredenbeck and Robert Collins, 15-3, 15-13, in the quarters. They’ll play 3rd seeds Jake Bredenbeck and Jose Diaz, who were winners over Tim Herman and Michael Myers, 15-7, 15-4.
Singles Play
In Men’s Singles play, Thomas Carter had the only upset in the Round of 16, as Carter - seeded 10th - beat 7th Mauro Rojas, 15-9, 15-8. Carter will play 2nd seed Charlie Pratt in the quarterfinals Friday. Top seed Rocky Carson will play 8th seed Erik Garcia, who squeaked by 9th seed Robert Collins in a tie-breaker, 15-4, 6-15, 11-9.
The only other Round of 16 match to go breaker was a brother face off with Jake Bredenbeck coming out on top of his younger brother Sam, 15-13, 14-15, 11-0.
There was only one match in Women’s Singles Thursday. Eighth seed Erika Manilla defeated 9th seed Erin Boadway, 15-4, 15-5, and will play top seed Rhonda Rajsich in the semi-finals Friday.
You can watch some of the action live from Tempe via the USA Racquetball website. The Men’s and Women’s Doubles finals will be Saturday afternoon with the Singles finals on Sunday. Note the match times below are Mountain time.
2019 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships
Tempe, Arizona
US National Team Divisions
Men's Doubles
Round of 16 - Thursday
1) Rocky Carson & Charlie Pratt - BYE
9) Justus Benson & Erik Garcia d. 8) Luis Avila & Sebastian Fernandez, 15-12, 15-6
5) Thomas Carter & Fernando Rivera - BYE
4) Adam Manilla & Nicholas Riffel - BYE
3) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz - BYE
6) Tim Herman & Michael Myers - BYE
7) Sam Bredenbeck & Robert Collins - BYE
2) David Horn & Mauro Rojas - BYE
Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Rocky Carson & Charlie Pratt d. 9) Justus Benson & Erik Garcia, 15-7, 15-7
4) Adam Manilla & Nicholas Riffel d. 5) Thomas Carter & Fernando Rivera, 15-9, 10-15, 11-0
3) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz d. 6) Tim Herman & Michael Myers, 15-7, 15-4
2) David Horn & Mauro Rojas d. 7) Sam Bredenbeck & Robert Collins, 15-3, 15-13
Semi-finals - Friday
1) Rocky Carson & Charlie Pratt v. 4) Adam Manilla & Nicholas Riffel - 7:40 PM
2) David Horn & Mauro Rojas v. 3) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz - 5:20 PM
Women's Doubles
Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sharon Jackson - BYE
5) Michelle De La Rosa & Danielle Maddux d. 4) Erika Manilla & Hollie Scott, 15-9, 15-10
3) Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger-Ledkins - BYE
2) Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts - BYE
Semi-finals - Friday
1) Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sharon Jackson v. 5) Michelle De La Rosa & Danielle Maddux - 6:30 PM
2) Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts v. 3) Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger-Ledkins - 4:10 PM
Men’s Singles
Round of 16 - Thursday
1) Rocky Carson - BYE
8) Erik Garcia d. 9) Robert Collins, 15-4, 6-15, 11-9
5) Jose Diaz d. 12) Nicholas Riffel, 15-2, 15-8
4) Adam Manilla d. 13) Justus Benson, 15-9, 15-5
3) David Horn d. 14) Ryan Patterson, 15-1, 15-2
6) Jake Bredenbeck d. 11) Sam Bredenbeck, 15-13, 14-15, 11-0
10) Thomas Carter d. 7) Mauro Rojas, 15-9, 15-8
2) Charlie Pratt - BYE
Quarterfinals - Friday
1) Rocky Carson v. 8) Erik Garcia - 3:00 PM
4) Adam Manilla v. 5) Jose Diaz - 10:20 AM
3) David Horn v. 6) Jake Bredenbeck - 11:30 AM
2) Charlie Pratt v. 10) Thomas Carter - 12:40 PM
Women's Singles
Round of 16 - Thursday
1) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
8) Erika Manilla d. 9) Erin Boadway, 15-4, 15-5
5) Hollie Scott - BYE
4) Sheryl Lotts - BYE
3) Kelani Bailey Lawrence - BYE
6) Adrienne Haynes - BYE
7) Janel Tisinger-Ledkins - BYE
2) Sharon Jackson - BYE
Quarterfinals - Friday
1) Rhonda Rajsich v. 8) Erika Manilla - 11:30 AM
4) Sheryl Lotts v. 5) Hollie Scott - 10:20 AM
3) Kelani Bailey Lawrence v. 6) Adrienne Haynes - 12:40 PM
2) Sharon Jackson v. 7) Janel Tisinger-Ledkins - 1:50 PM
Follow the bouncing ball....
Friday, February 8, 2019
Thursday, February 7, 2019
2019 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships - Preview
The USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships begin today at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. Rocky Carson and Sudsy Monchik are the defending Men’s Doubles Champions, but Monchik isn’t competing this year, so Carson has teamed up with Charlie Pratt, and they are the top seeds. The 2nd seeds are last year’s surprise finalists David Horn and Mauro Rojas.
Both Carson and Monchik and Horn and Rojas advanced to the finals last year by winning their respective semi-finals in tie-breakers, coincidentally both finished 11-8, and the teams they beat are both back this year. Jake Bredenbeck and Jose Diaz are seeded 3rd, and Adam Manilla and Nicholas Riffel are the 4th seeds. So, it should be another exciting championship.
The women's draw should also produce exciting matches, because all the teams are strong, although there are only five of them. Kelani Bailey Lawrence and Sharon Jackson are the defending Women’s Doubles Champions, so are the #1 seeds with Sheryl Lotts and Rhonda Rajsich seeded #2. Multiple US Doubles Champions Aimee Ruiz and Janel Tisinger-Ledkins are the 3rd seeds. They’ve won four times together, and Ruiz has won seven more times with other partners.
The young team of Erika Manilla and Hollie Scott are the 4th seeds, but the dark horse team of the event could be 5th seeds Michelle De La Rosa and Danielle Maddux. De La Rosa and Maddux were runners up - to Ruiz and Tisinger-Ledkins - in this competition back in 2013, when the sisters were still playing under their maiden name of Key.
The big prize for all these teams to play for - in addition to being the US National Champions - is a berth on the US Team that will play at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru this August. The Pan Am Games is biggest multi-sport event racquetball is a part of, so it’s a special event.
When the Pan Am Games were in Toronto in 2015, the US Men’s Doubles team was Jansen Allen and Jose Rojas and the Women’s Team was Rajsich and Kim Russell-Waselenchuk. Of those competing this week in Tempe, only Rajsich (in 2011 & 2015) and Ruiz (2011) have played doubles at the Pan Am Games (De La Rosa did play singles at the 2015 Pan Am Games). None of the men have, although Jake Bredenback (2015) and Carson (2003, 2011, 2015) have played singles at the Pan Am Games.
Singles Play
The top players are also playing singles in Tempe, as part of qualifying for the team that will represent the USA at the Pan Am Games in August. Carson and Pratt are the #1 and #2 men’s seeds, respectively. Horn is 3rd seed and Manilla is 4th.
Rajsich is #1 seed on the women’s side with Jackson as #2 seed. The 3rd seed is Bailey-Lawrence and Lotts is the 4th seed.
You can watch some of the action live from Tempe via the USA Racquetball website. The Men’s and Women’s Doubles finals will be Saturday afternoon with the Singles finals on Sunday. Note the match times below are Mountain time.
2019 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships
Tempe, Arizona
US National Team Divisions
Men's Doubles
Round of 16 - Thursday
1) Rocky Carson & Charlie Pratt - BYE
8) Luis Avila & Sebastian Fernandez v. 9) Justus Benson & Erik Garcia
5) Thomas Carter & Fernando Rivera - BYE
4) Adam Manilla & Nicholas Riffel - BYE
3) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz - BYE
6) Tim Herman & Michael Myers - BYE
7) Sam Bredenbeck & Robert Collins - BYE
2) David Horn & Mauro Rojas - BYE
Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Rocky Carson & Charlie Pratt v. 8) Luis Avila & Sebastian Fernandez or 9) Justus Benson & Erik Garcia - 5:45 PM
4) Adam Manilla & Nicholas Riffel v. 5) Thomas Carter & Fernando Rivera
3) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz v. 6) Tim Herman & Michael Myers - 12:20 PM
2) David Horn & Mauro Rojas v. 7) Sam Bredenbeck & Robert Collins - 1:25 PM
Women's Doubles
Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sharon Jackson - BYE
4) Erika Manilla & Hollie Scott v. 5) Michelle De La Rosa & Danielle Maddux - 4:40 PM
3) Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger-Ledkins - BYE
2) Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts - BYE
Men’s Singles
Round of 16 - Thursday
1) Rocky Carson - BYE
8) Erik Garcia v. 9) Robert Collins - 3:35 PM
5) Jose Diaz v. 12) Nicholas Riffel - 6:50 PM
4) Adam Manilla v. 13) Justus Benson - 2:30 PM
3) David Horn v. 14) Ryan Patterson - 11:15 AM
6) Jake Bredenbeck v. 11) Sam Bredenbeck - 4:40 PM
7) Mauro Rojas v. 10) Thomas Carter - 6:50 PM
2) Charlie Pratt - BYE
Women's Singles
Round of 16 - Thursday
1) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
8) Erika Manilla v. 9) Erin Boadway - 7:55 PM
5) Hollie Scott - BYE
4) Sheryl Lotts - BYE
3) Kelani Bailey Lawrence - BYE
6) Adrienne Haynes - BYE
7) Janel Tisinger-Ledkins - BYE
2) Sharon Jackson - BYE
Follow the bouncing ball....
Both Carson and Monchik and Horn and Rojas advanced to the finals last year by winning their respective semi-finals in tie-breakers, coincidentally both finished 11-8, and the teams they beat are both back this year. Jake Bredenbeck and Jose Diaz are seeded 3rd, and Adam Manilla and Nicholas Riffel are the 4th seeds. So, it should be another exciting championship.
The women's draw should also produce exciting matches, because all the teams are strong, although there are only five of them. Kelani Bailey Lawrence and Sharon Jackson are the defending Women’s Doubles Champions, so are the #1 seeds with Sheryl Lotts and Rhonda Rajsich seeded #2. Multiple US Doubles Champions Aimee Ruiz and Janel Tisinger-Ledkins are the 3rd seeds. They’ve won four times together, and Ruiz has won seven more times with other partners.
The young team of Erika Manilla and Hollie Scott are the 4th seeds, but the dark horse team of the event could be 5th seeds Michelle De La Rosa and Danielle Maddux. De La Rosa and Maddux were runners up - to Ruiz and Tisinger-Ledkins - in this competition back in 2013, when the sisters were still playing under their maiden name of Key.
The big prize for all these teams to play for - in addition to being the US National Champions - is a berth on the US Team that will play at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru this August. The Pan Am Games is biggest multi-sport event racquetball is a part of, so it’s a special event.
When the Pan Am Games were in Toronto in 2015, the US Men’s Doubles team was Jansen Allen and Jose Rojas and the Women’s Team was Rajsich and Kim Russell-Waselenchuk. Of those competing this week in Tempe, only Rajsich (in 2011 & 2015) and Ruiz (2011) have played doubles at the Pan Am Games (De La Rosa did play singles at the 2015 Pan Am Games). None of the men have, although Jake Bredenback (2015) and Carson (2003, 2011, 2015) have played singles at the Pan Am Games.
Singles Play
The top players are also playing singles in Tempe, as part of qualifying for the team that will represent the USA at the Pan Am Games in August. Carson and Pratt are the #1 and #2 men’s seeds, respectively. Horn is 3rd seed and Manilla is 4th.
Rajsich is #1 seed on the women’s side with Jackson as #2 seed. The 3rd seed is Bailey-Lawrence and Lotts is the 4th seed.
You can watch some of the action live from Tempe via the USA Racquetball website. The Men’s and Women’s Doubles finals will be Saturday afternoon with the Singles finals on Sunday. Note the match times below are Mountain time.
2019 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships
Tempe, Arizona
US National Team Divisions
Men's Doubles
Round of 16 - Thursday
1) Rocky Carson & Charlie Pratt - BYE
8) Luis Avila & Sebastian Fernandez v. 9) Justus Benson & Erik Garcia
5) Thomas Carter & Fernando Rivera - BYE
4) Adam Manilla & Nicholas Riffel - BYE
3) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz - BYE
6) Tim Herman & Michael Myers - BYE
7) Sam Bredenbeck & Robert Collins - BYE
2) David Horn & Mauro Rojas - BYE
Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Rocky Carson & Charlie Pratt v. 8) Luis Avila & Sebastian Fernandez or 9) Justus Benson & Erik Garcia - 5:45 PM
4) Adam Manilla & Nicholas Riffel v. 5) Thomas Carter & Fernando Rivera
3) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz v. 6) Tim Herman & Michael Myers - 12:20 PM
2) David Horn & Mauro Rojas v. 7) Sam Bredenbeck & Robert Collins - 1:25 PM
Women's Doubles
Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sharon Jackson - BYE
4) Erika Manilla & Hollie Scott v. 5) Michelle De La Rosa & Danielle Maddux - 4:40 PM
3) Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger-Ledkins - BYE
2) Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts - BYE
Men’s Singles
Round of 16 - Thursday
1) Rocky Carson - BYE
8) Erik Garcia v. 9) Robert Collins - 3:35 PM
5) Jose Diaz v. 12) Nicholas Riffel - 6:50 PM
4) Adam Manilla v. 13) Justus Benson - 2:30 PM
3) David Horn v. 14) Ryan Patterson - 11:15 AM
6) Jake Bredenbeck v. 11) Sam Bredenbeck - 4:40 PM
7) Mauro Rojas v. 10) Thomas Carter - 6:50 PM
2) Charlie Pratt - BYE
Women's Singles
Round of 16 - Thursday
1) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
8) Erika Manilla v. 9) Erin Boadway - 7:55 PM
5) Hollie Scott - BYE
4) Sheryl Lotts - BYE
3) Kelani Bailey Lawrence - BYE
6) Adrienne Haynes - BYE
7) Janel Tisinger-Ledkins - BYE
2) Sharon Jackson - BYE
Follow the bouncing ball....
Tuesday, February 5, 2019
Murray & Saunders win at Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event
Samuel Murray and Jen Saunders won the Men's and Women's divisions, respectively, at the second Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event of the season on the weekend in Grande Prairie, Alberta. In their respective finals, Murray defeated Coby Iwaasa, 15-10, 15-10, and Saunders beat Christine Richardson in a tie-breaker, 15-3, 12-15, 11-8. Their victories will help Murray and Saunders qualify for the 2019 Pan American Games racquetball team that will compete in Lima, Peru in August, as well as the 2019 Pan American Championships in April.
Murray, the #1 ranked men’s player, was in control throughout the final with 2nd seed Iwaasa. After an early tie at 2-2, Murray never trailed, going out to a 9-2 lead. Iwaasa did make it close at 11-8, but never got closer, as Murray won 15-10.
In game two, they were close throughout. Iwaasa actually led 6-3, and 10-8. But Murray tied it at 10-10, and got the final five points to take the game, 15-10, and the match in two straight games. Although it was close in game two, it never really felt like the match was going to go to a tie-breaker.
In the women’s final, Saunders took a big lead on Richardson in game one, going up 13-0 before winning 15-3. Richardson dug in and managed to win game two, 15-12, to force a third game tie-breaker. Richardson was up in the breaker, 7-5, but Saunders, the current Canadian champion, responded by coming back to win it, 11-8.
In the women’s 3rd place match, 4th seed Michèle Morissette was an upset winner over 3rd seed Danielle Drury, 17-15, 15-10.
But the big upset of the event happened in the men’s quarterfinals, when 6th seed Trevor Webb beat 3rd seed Tim Landeryou, 15-11, 15-8. Webb had a 14-5 lead in game one, but Landeryou fought off 10 game points before Webb finally won it on the 11th try.
In the men’s semi-finals, Webb was two points away from another upset, as he went tie-breaker with Iwaasa, and was up 9-7 in the breaker before Iwaasa was able to pull it out, winning 15-3, 14-16, 11-9. Iwaasa had two chances to end the match in two games, but Webb fought off those match points by forcing Iwaasa into skipping shots. Murray’s semi against Pedro Castro was more straight forward, as he won in two games, 15-6, 15-9. Castro defeated Webb in the 3rd place match, 15-6, 15-11.
These results will be used to select Team Canada for the 2019 Pan American Championships in Barranquilla, Colombia, April 12-20, as well as the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru in August. The final qualification event for the Pan Am Games will be the 2019 Canadian National Championships in Langley, British Columbia, May 19-25 2019.
2019 Racquetball Canada Selection Event
February 1-2, Grande Prairie, Alberta
Men's Open
Final
1) Samuel Murray d. 2) Coby Iwaasa, 15-10, 15-10
3rd Place
4) Pedro Castro d. 6) Trevor Webb, 15-6, 15-11
Semi-finals
1) Samuel Murray d. 4) Pedro Castro, 15-6, 15-9
2) Coby Iwaasa d. 6) Trevor Webb, 15-4, 14-16, 11-9
Quarterfinals
1) Samuel Murray d. 8) Tanner Prentice, 15-7, 15-2
4) Pedro Castro d. 5) Nicolas Bousquet, 15-13, 15-2
6) Trevor Webb d. 3) Tim Landeryou, 15-11, 15-8
2) Coby Iwaasa d. 7) Lee Connell, 15-4, 15-0
Women's Open
Final
1) Jen Saunders d. 2) Christine Richardson, 15-3, 12-15, 11-8
3rd place
4) Michèle Morissette d. 3) Danielle Drury, 17-15, 15-10
5th place
5) Erin Geeraert d. 6) Cassie Prentice, 15-9, 8-15, 11-5
Follow the bouncing ball….
Murray, the #1 ranked men’s player, was in control throughout the final with 2nd seed Iwaasa. After an early tie at 2-2, Murray never trailed, going out to a 9-2 lead. Iwaasa did make it close at 11-8, but never got closer, as Murray won 15-10.
In game two, they were close throughout. Iwaasa actually led 6-3, and 10-8. But Murray tied it at 10-10, and got the final five points to take the game, 15-10, and the match in two straight games. Although it was close in game two, it never really felt like the match was going to go to a tie-breaker.
In the women’s final, Saunders took a big lead on Richardson in game one, going up 13-0 before winning 15-3. Richardson dug in and managed to win game two, 15-12, to force a third game tie-breaker. Richardson was up in the breaker, 7-5, but Saunders, the current Canadian champion, responded by coming back to win it, 11-8.
In the women’s 3rd place match, 4th seed Michèle Morissette was an upset winner over 3rd seed Danielle Drury, 17-15, 15-10.
But the big upset of the event happened in the men’s quarterfinals, when 6th seed Trevor Webb beat 3rd seed Tim Landeryou, 15-11, 15-8. Webb had a 14-5 lead in game one, but Landeryou fought off 10 game points before Webb finally won it on the 11th try.
In the men’s semi-finals, Webb was two points away from another upset, as he went tie-breaker with Iwaasa, and was up 9-7 in the breaker before Iwaasa was able to pull it out, winning 15-3, 14-16, 11-9. Iwaasa had two chances to end the match in two games, but Webb fought off those match points by forcing Iwaasa into skipping shots. Murray’s semi against Pedro Castro was more straight forward, as he won in two games, 15-6, 15-9. Castro defeated Webb in the 3rd place match, 15-6, 15-11.
These results will be used to select Team Canada for the 2019 Pan American Championships in Barranquilla, Colombia, April 12-20, as well as the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru in August. The final qualification event for the Pan Am Games will be the 2019 Canadian National Championships in Langley, British Columbia, May 19-25 2019.
2019 Racquetball Canada Selection Event
February 1-2, Grande Prairie, Alberta
Men's Open
Final
1) Samuel Murray d. 2) Coby Iwaasa, 15-10, 15-10
3rd Place
4) Pedro Castro d. 6) Trevor Webb, 15-6, 15-11
Semi-finals
1) Samuel Murray d. 4) Pedro Castro, 15-6, 15-9
2) Coby Iwaasa d. 6) Trevor Webb, 15-4, 14-16, 11-9
Quarterfinals
1) Samuel Murray d. 8) Tanner Prentice, 15-7, 15-2
4) Pedro Castro d. 5) Nicolas Bousquet, 15-13, 15-2
6) Trevor Webb d. 3) Tim Landeryou, 15-11, 15-8
2) Coby Iwaasa d. 7) Lee Connell, 15-4, 15-0
Women's Open
Final
1) Jen Saunders d. 2) Christine Richardson, 15-3, 12-15, 11-8
3rd place
4) Michèle Morissette d. 3) Danielle Drury, 17-15, 15-10
5th place
5) Erin Geeraert d. 6) Cassie Prentice, 15-9, 8-15, 11-5
Follow the bouncing ball….
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