Longoria wins her third Women's Professional Racquetball Organization event of the season

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

by: Evan Pritchard 

December 11, 2011

Arlington, Virginia - Paola Longoria of Mexico solidified her position on top of the  Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) rankings Sunday with a victory over WPRO #2 Rhonda Rajsich (Phoenix, Ariz.) in the final of the 20th Christmas Classic in Arlington, Virginia. Longoria didn't make it easy on herself as she lost the first two games before staging a comeback to win in five games, 7-11, 3-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-7.

The turning point of the match was game three, as Longoria was up 7-2, but Rajsich came back to make the match close. But while doing so, Rajsich was hit by Longoria during a rally. The contact was unintentional, but Rajsich needed some injury time prior to continuing.

Despite the injury, Rajich did narrow the gap to 9-8. But Rajsich that was as close as Rajsich got, as Longoria won it 11-8.

Longoria won the fourth game comfortably, taking a 5-0 lead and winning 11-4. In game five, Longoria again took a the early lead at 4-1 and 8-4. But Rajsich, the WPRO #1 at the beginning of the season, again fought back and got within two points at 9-7.

But on her second match point opportunity, Longoria won it, 11-7. The victory is the 18th of Longoria's career.

Longoria and Rajsich have met in the last two WPRO event finals, with Longoria winning both times.

Longoria also defeated Rajsich in the for the gold medal game of the 2011 Pan American Championships in Guadalajara, Mexico in October.

Longoria advanced to the final with a semi-final victory over Adrienne Fisher (Centerville, Ohio), 11-3, 11-4, 11-7, while Rajsich defeated surprise semi-finalist Krystal Csuk (Chicago), 11-9, 11-3, 11-5.

Csuk, the 6th seed, was an upset winner over 3rd seed Kerri Wachtel (Cincinnati) in the quarter finals, 8-11, 12-10, 11-3, 3-11, 11-6.

For more information see the WPRO website at wwww.wprotour.com or contact Gigi Rock, WPRO Commissioner at (928)-284-8657.

20th Christmas Classic, Arlington, Virginia

December 9-11, 2011

Final (seeding)

(1) Paola Longoria d. (2) Rhonda Rajsich, 7-11, 3-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-7