Longoria comes back to win 2025 LPRT Boston Open

Paola Longoria won the 2025 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Boston Open in Marlborough, Massachusetts on the weekend, defeating Montserrat Mejia, 12-15, 15-8, 11-10, in the final. Longoria has been in all five LPRT finals this season, but this is just her second win. The win solidifies Longoria as the LPRT’s #1 player.

In the semi-finals, Longoria beat 4th seed Alexandra Herrera, 15-9, 15-0, and Mejia upset 2nd seed Maria José Vargas, 15-8, 15-9.

Longoria had to come from a game down to win the final, and she trailed for most of game three, as Mejia had leads of 5-2, 7-3 and 10-5. At that point you could be excused for thinking that Mejia was going to defeat Longoria, as she had in the Arizona Open in January.

However, Longoria had other ideas. She fought off the first match point with a great backhand pinch return off a Mejia drive serve to the left. Longoria then ran off three points to make it 10-8, so Mejia called a timeout.

On the ensuing rally, Mejia stepped up to take a shot on the volley that she hammered to the left side for a winner and her second match point opportunity. But on that rally Mejia tried to hit a forehand pinch shot from deep in the court, and skipped it.

That was the first of a few questionable shot choices that contributed to Mejia’s loss. She skipped Longoria’s next serve - another Z serve to the left - which seemed like an unforced error, making it 10-9.

Mejia again tried a pinch shot from deep - a forehand reverse pinch as she ran around her backhand, which was left up, allowing Longoria to hit a winner to make it 10-10, setting up her first match point.

That was not a great rally. Longoria hit a Z serve to the left, and Mejia returned it with a loose down the line shot. Longoria’s shot was also a loose down the line shot, which gave Mejia an opportunity at the dashed line with Longoria right behind her.

She could have hit a backhand cross court or pinch shot, putting the ball away from Longoria, but instead Mejia went back down the line, which again wasn’t a great shot, and allowed Longoria to hit it cross court.

That ball came off the back wall, so Mejia was able to get to it, hitting a cross court in return. However, her ball went wide, coming off the left wall to a waiting Longoria, who bunted it down the left side for the match winner.

Longoria’s shot was also loose, but Mejia had to go around her to get to it, and couldn’t do so in time. It seemed like it could have been a hinder, but that wasn’t called, and Mejia - perhaps surprisingly - didn’t appeal for one.

Thus, a great match with a great tie-breaker comeback didn’t have a great ending.

Notably, four of the five LPRT singles finals have gone to tie-breaker this season.

Mejia and Alexandra Herrera won the doubles final, as they beat 3rd seeds Valeria Centellas and Maria Jose Vargas, 15-12, 15-5.

The semi-finals were both close matches, as Herrera and Mejia defeated 4th seeds Angelica Barrios and Brenda Laime, 15-13, 15-14, in two close games, and Centellas and Vargas eked out a win over 2nd seeds Natalia Mendez and Carla Muñoz, 15-7, 14-15, 11-10.

The LPRT has an outdoor event - the Eve Promotions Beach Bash - scheduled for March 20-23 in Hollywood Beach, Florida, but no further indoor events, so we’re unsure if the Boston Open is the last event of the 2024-25 season, or whether there will be any further events. Nonetheless, if you missed any of the action from Massachusetts, check out the LPRT YouTube channel.

2025 LPRT Boston Open
Marlborough, Massachusetts - March 7-9, 2025

Singles Final

1) Paola Longoria d. 3) Montserrat Mejia, 12-15, 15-8, 11-10

Singles Semi-finals

1) Paola Longoria d. 4) Alexandra Herrera, 15-9, 15-0
3) Montserrat Mejia d. 2) Maria José Vargas, 15-8, 15-9

Singles Quarterfinals

1) Paola Longoria d. 8) Natalia Mendez, 15-1, 15-10
4) Alexandra Herrera d. 5) Gabriela Martinez, 15-13, 8-15, 11-6

3) Montserrat Mejia d. 6) Kelani Lawrence, 15-7, 15-5
2) Maria José Vargas d. 7) Brenda Laime, 15-14, 15-13

Singles Round of 16

1) Paola Longoria d. 16) Angelica Barrios, 15-13, 15-11
8) Natalia Mendez d. 24) Camila Rivero, 15-4, 15-7

5) Gabriela Martinez d. 21) Hollie Scott, 15-12, 15-2
4) Alexandra Herrera d. 20) Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-12, 15-2

3) Montserrat Mejia d. 14) Maria Paz Riquelme, 15-0, 15-0
6) Kelani Lawrence d. 22) Annie Sanchez, 15-14, 15-12

7) Brenda Laime d. 10) Cristina Amaya, 15-8, 15-6
2) Maria José Vargas d. 15) Sheryl Lotts, 15-10, 13-15, 11-9

Singles Round of 32

1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Angelica Barrios d. 17) Naomi Ros, 15-6, 15-4

24) Camila Rivero d. 9) Carla Muñoz, 10-15, 15-9, 11-8
8) Natalia Mendez d. 25) Jolene Sullivan, 15-4, 15-0

5) Gabriela Martinez - BYE
21) Hollie Scott d. 12) Lexi York, 15-7, 15-11

20) Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 13) Stephanie Synhorst, 15-6, 15-6
4) Alexandra Herrera - BYE

3) Montserrat Mejia - BYE
14) Maria Paz Riquelme d. 19) Khyathi Velpuri, 15-5, 15-5

22) Annie Sanchez d. 11) Jessica Parrilla, 7-15, 15-10, 11-9
6) Kelani Lawrence d. 27) Ofelia Wilscam, 15-1, 15-1

7) Brenda Laime d. 26) Chloe Jauvin, 15-1, 15-1
10) Cristina Amaya d. 23) Juliette Parent, 15-6, 6-15, 11-6

15) Sheryl Lotts d. 18) Valeria Centellas, 15-11, 15-11
2) Maria José Vargas - BYE

Doubles - Final

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. 3) Valeria Centellas & Maria Jose Vargas, 15-12, 15-5

Doubles - Semi-finals

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. 4) Angelica Barrios & Brenda Laime, 15-13, 15-14
3) Valeria Centellas & Maria Jose Vargas d. 2) Natalia Mendez & Carla Muñoz, 15-7, 14-15, 11-10

Doubles - Quarterfinals

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. 8) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-14, 15-13
4) Angelica Barrios & Brenda Laime d. 5) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott, 15-11, 15-7

3) Valeria Centellas & Maria Jose Vargas d. 6) Cristina Amaya & Jessica Parrilla, forfeit
2) Natalia Mendez & Carla Muñoz d. 7) Sheryl Lotts & Lexi York, 15-4, 15-9

Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia - BYE
8) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 9) Juliette Parent & Maria Paz Riquelme, 15-0, 15-4

5) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott d. 12) Camila Rivero & Annie Sanchez, 15-3, 15-3
4) Angelica Barrios & Brenda Laime d. 13) Chloe Jauvin & Ofelia Wilscam, 15-3, 15-0

3) Valeria Centellas & Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
6) Cristina Amaya & Jessica Parrilla d. 11) Jolene Sullivan & Khyathi Velpuri, 15-10, 15-2

7) Sheryl Lotts & Lexi York d. 10) Naomi Ros & Stephanie Synhorst, 15-1, 15-12
2) Natalia Mendez & Carla Muñoz - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….

Waselenchuk wins 45th Lewis Drug IRT Pro-Am

Kane Waselenchuk won the first International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event of the 2025 season last weekend, as he defeated Eduardo Portillo in the final of the 45th Lewis Drug Pro-Am in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 15-5, 15-8. The win further confirms Waselenchuk as the #1 IRT player despite - or perhaps in spite of - being 43 years old.

In the semi-finals, Waselenchuk defeated Conrrado Moscoso, 15-11, 10-15, 11-6, and Eduardo Portillo beat Andrés Acuña, 15-11, 15-14.

Waselenchuk was up 8-0 on Moscoso in game one of that semi, and then was outscored 26-17 from that point to the end of game two, when it looked like Moscoso could pull out the win.

It continued to look that way, as Moscoso took a 3-1 lead in the tie-breaker. However, Waselenchuk tied it at 3-3. That was when Moscoso needed to put more focus into the match, but instead he made a few errors and some loose shots, which led to Waselenchuk taking an 8-3 lead.

That lead effectively put the game - and by extension the match - out of reach. Moscoso did come back to within two at 8-6, so there was no quit in his game, but to let Waselenchuk get seven straight points was enough to tip the balance to him, as Waselenchuk went on to win the breaker 11-6 and take the match in three games.

Moscoso did win the doubles final, as he and Kadim Carrasco eked out a win over top seeds Javier Mar and Rodrigo Montoya, 15-8, 13-15, 11-9. In the semi-finals, Moscoso and Carrasco defeated Andree Parrilla and Portillo, 10-15, 15-13, 11-7, while Mar and Montoya beat Andrés Acuña and Alan Natera, 15-13, 15-13.

The Minnesota Hall of Fame tournament, in Minneapolis, March 6-9, is the next big IRT event with the 40th Annual Papa Nicholas Shamrock Shootout to follow a week later in Lombard, Illinois, March 13-16. If you missed any of the action from Sioux Falls check out the IRT YouTube channel.

45th Lewis Drug IRT Pro-Am
Sioux Falls, South Dakota - January 30-February 2, 2025

IRT Singles - Final

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 15) Eduardo Portillo, 15-5, 15-8

Semi-finals

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 4) Conrrado Moscoso, 15-11, 10-15, 11-6
15) Eduardo Portillo d. 6) Andrés Acuña, 15-11, 15-14

Quarterfinals

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 9) Jake Bredenbeck, 15-3, 15-8
4) Conrrado Moscoso d. 12) Jordy Alonso, 15-7, 15-10

6) Andrés Acuña d. 14) Javier Mar, 10-15, 15-12, 11-8
15) Eduardo Portillo d. 10) Jaime Martell, 15-2, 15-10

Round of 16

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 17) Diego Gastelum, 15-1, 15-4
9) Jake Bredenbeck d. 8) Alan Natera, 15-7, 15-1

12) Jordy Alonso d. 5) Andree Parrilla, forfeit
4) Conrrado Moscoso d. 20) Sam Bredenbeck, 15-4, 15-6

14) Javier Mar d. 3) Adam Manilla, 8-15, 15-9, 11-4
6) Andrés Acuña d. 11) Thomas Carter, 15-10, 15-6

10) Jaime Martell d. 7) Erick Trujillo, 15-13, 11-15, 11-5
15) Eduardo Portillo d. 2) Rodrigo Montoya, 15-6, 15-4

Round of 32

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 33) Guillermo Jesus Ortega Jr., 15-1, 15-6
17) Diego Gastelum d. 16) Robert Collins, 15-6, 15-6

9) Jake Bredenbeck d. 24) Diego Garcia, 15-8, 15-9
8) Alan Natera d. 24) Lee Connell, 15-4, 15-11

5) Andree Parrilla d. 28) Gerson Miranda Martinez, 15-6, 15-4
12) Jordy Alonso d. 21) John Goth, 15-12, 15-2

20) Sam Bredenbeck d. 13) Carlos Ramirez, 15-3, 15-5
4) Conrrado Moscoso d. 29) Alejandro Bear, 15-1, 15-10

3) Adam Manilla d. 30) Sebastian Franco, 15-9, 15-11
14) Javier Mar d. 19) Cole Sendrey, 15-6, 15-1

11) Thomas Carter d. 22) Cody Elkins, 15-5, 15-11
6) Andrés Acuña d. 27) Blase Zera, 15-3, 15-3

7) Erick Trujillo d. 26) John Wolfe, 15-6, 15-7
10) Jaime Martell d. 23) Diego Gatica, 15-2, 15-2

15) Eduardo Portillo d. 18) Kadim Carrasco, 15-12, 15-5
2) Rodrigo Montoya d. 31) David Horn, 15-6, 15-4

Round of 64

33) Guillermo Jesus Ortega Jr. d. 32) Alejandro Herrera, 4-15, 15-14, 11-3
30) Sebastian Franco d. 35) Javier Gonzalez, 15-4, 15-4
31) David Horn d. 34) Benjamin Horner, 15-6, 15-4

IRT Doubles - Final

2) Conrrado Moscoso & Kadim Carrasco d. 1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya, 15-8, 13-15, 11-9

Semi-finals

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 4) Andrés Acuña & Alan Natera, 15-13, 15-13
2) Conrrado Moscoso & Kadim Carrasco d. 3) Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo, 10-15, 15-13, 11-7

Quarterfinals

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 8) Diego Gastelum & Cole Sendrey, 15-14, 15-1
4) Andrés Acuña & Alan Natera d. 12) Diego Garcia & Gerson Miranda Martinez, 15-9, 15-9

3) Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo d. 2) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck, 15-7, 9-15, 11-4
2) Conrrado Moscoso & Kadim Carrasco d. 7) Jordy Alonso & Erick Trujillo, 15-6, 10-15, 11-3

Round of 16

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
8) Diego Gastelum & Cole Sendrey d. 9) Robert Collins & Guillermo Jesus Ortega Jr., 13-15, 15-3, 11-5

12) Diego Garcia & Gerson Miranda Martinez d. 5) David Horn & Adam Manilla, 15-8, 4-15, 11-3
4) Andrés Acuña & Alan Natera d. 13) Cody Elkins & John Goth, 15-4, 15-8

3) Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo d. 14) Sebastian Franco & Alejandro Herrera, 15-10, 15-9
2) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck d. 11) Diego Gatica & Carlos Ramirez, 15-1, 15-2

7) Jordy Alonso & Erick Trujillo d. 10) Thomas Carter & Jaime Martell, 15-6, 9-15, 11-8
2) Conrrado Moscoso & Kadim Carrasco - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….

Mejia wins first LPRT event of 2025

Montserrat Mejia won the 2025 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Arizona Open on the weekend in Tempe, Arizona, where she defeated Paola Longoria in the final, 15-8, 15-14. The win was Mejia’s first of the season, and her first since June 2023, when she finished as the #1 LPRT player.

However, last season Mejia didn’t win a tournament and fell back to #3. Midway through this season, Longoria is the #1 player. However, Mejia is the 4th player in 4 events to win this season along with Longoria and Maria Jose Vargas, who was #1 last season, and Gabriela Martinez.

Those were the four semi-finalists in Tempe, as Longoria defeated Martinez in one semi, 12-15, 15-8, 11-1, and Mejia beat Vargas, 15-7, 15-9, in the other.

Although Longoria didn’t win singles, she did win doubles, as she and long time partner Samantha Salas defeated Vargas and Valeria Centellas, 15-12, 15-10, in the final. In the semi-finals, Longoria and Salas beat Michelle Key and Natalia Mendez, 15-14, 15-8, while Centellas and Vargas upset top seeds Alexandra Herrera and Mejia, 15-11, 7-15, 11-10.

The next LPRT event is the Boston Open March 7-9, 2025 in Marlborough, Massachusetts. If you missed any of the action from Arizona, check out the LPRT YouTube channel.

LPRT Arizona Open
Tempe, Arizona - January 16-19, 2025

Singles Final

3) Montserrat Mejia d. 1) Paola Longoria, 15-8, 15-14

Singles Semi-finals

1) Paola Longoria d. 5) Gabriela Martinez, 12-15, 15-8, 11-1
3) Montserrat Mejia d. 2) Maria José Vargas, 15-7, 15-9

Singles Quarterfinals

1) Paola Longoria d. 9) Samantha Salas, 15-2, 15-4
5) Gabriela Martinez d. 4) Alexandra Herrera, 15-8, 15-4

3) Montserrat Mejia d. 6) Kelani Lawrence, 15-0, 15-4
2) Maria José Vargas d. 7) Natalia Mendez, 13-15, 15-7, 11-5

Singles Round of 16

1) Paola Longoria d. 17) Sheryl Lotts, 15-5, 15-7
9) Samantha Salas d. 8) Cristina Amaya, 15-10, 12-15, 11-10

5) Gabriela Martinez d. 21) Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-2, 15-8
4) Alexandra Herrera d. 20) Valeria Centellas, 10-15, 15-13, 11-6

3) Montserrat Mejia d. 14) Stephanie Synhorst, 15-3, 15-3
6) Kelani Lawrence d. 22) Annie Sanchez, 15-2, 15-10

7) Natalia Mendez d. 10) Jessica Parrilla, 15-11, 15-1
2) Maria José Vargas d. 15) Angelica Barrios, 15-10, 15-12

Singles Round of 32

1) Paola Longoria - BYE
17) Sheryl Lotts d. 16) Naomi Ros, 9-15, 15-6, 11-2

9) Samantha Salas d. 24) Daniela Rico, 15-7, 15-7
8) Cristina Amaya d. 25) Lucia Gonzalez, 15-8, 15-14

5) Gabriela Martinez - BYE
21) Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 12) Michelle Key, forfeit

20) Valeria Centellas d. 13) Michelle Paz Riquelme, 15-6, 15-3
4) Alexandra Herrera - BYE

3) Montserrat Mejia - BYE
14) Stephanie Synhorst d. 19) Khyathi Velpuri, 15-14, 15-2

22) Annie Sanchez d. 11) Lexi York, 15-13, 15-6
6) Kelani Lawrence - BYE

7) Natalia Mendez d. 26) Yanna Salazar, 15-6, 15-1
10) Jessica Parrilla d. 23) Nancy Enriquez, 15-4, 15-2

15) Angelica Barrios d. 18) Hollie Scott, 15-4, 15-9
2) Maria José Vargas - BYE

Doubles - Final

3) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 4) Valeria Centellas & Maria Jose Vargas, 15-12, 15-10

Doubles - Semi-finals

4) Valeria Centellas & Maria Jose Vargas d. 1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia, 15-11, 7-15, 11-10
3) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 2) Michelle Key & Natalia Mendez, 15-14, 15-8

Doubles - Quarterfinals

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. 8) Sheryl Lotts & Lexi York, 13-15, 15-3, 11-6
4) Valeria Centellas & Maria Jose Vargas d. 5) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott, 12-15, 15-6, 11-4

3) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 6) Cristina Amaya & Jessica Parrilla, 15-13, 15-7
2) Michelle Key & Natalia Mendez d. 7) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez, 6-15, 15-4, 11-3

Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia
8) Sheryl Lotts & Lexi York d. 9) Naomi Ros & Annie Sanchez, 15-3, 15-10

5) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott - BYE
4) Valeria Centellas & Maria Jose Vargas - BYE

3) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas - BYE
6) Cristina Amaya & Jessica Parrilla d. 11) Ella Boaz & Khyathi Velpuri, 15-5, 15-2

7) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 10) Nancy Enriquez & Daniela Rico, 15-9, 15-1
2) Michelle Key & Natalia Mendez - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….