Racquetball - Could it be another playoff between USA & Mexico at the Pan Am Games 2011

RACQUETBALL

The U.S. racquetball team, fresh off medal-winning performances in the individual competition, kicked off play in the team competition Sunday (Oct. 23) at the Revolucion Racquetball Complex.

In the team competition, each nation plays two singles competitors and one doubles team in a best-of-three series against its opponent. Once one nation scores two points, equaling two wins, the match is
over and the winning nation advances.

On the women’s side, Rhonda Rajsich (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Aimee Ruiz (Allentown, Pa.) got Team USA off to a flying start against Yira Portes and Claudine Garcia of the Domican Republic, winning 15-9, 15-6 to put the U.S. team up 1-0. Cheryl Gudinas (Naperville, Ill.) then guaranteed U.S. advancement to the semifinals by defeating Portes, 15-0, 15-1, in singles play to give Team USA a 2-0 win.

The U.S. women will play Bolivia in Monday’s (Oct. 24) semifinal with the winner advancing to play either Ecuador or Mexico in the Gold medal match.