Jen Saunders defends her title at the Canadian National Racquetball Championships

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Posted by The Racquetball Blog

Jennifer Saunders successfully defended her singles titles on Saturday at the 2012 Canadian National Racquetball Championships in Brossard, Quebec. Saunders won for the 4th consecutive time and 6th overall.

Saunders had a tough go of it against Frédérique Lambert, as Lambert won game one before Saunders came back and won the match in a tie-breaker, 11-15, 15-1, 11-7. Lambert played well in game one and Saunders was a little off, but then she found her groove in game two and pushed on to win game three.

Saunders's desire for the title was clear in her effort on court as she dove several times to keep the ball in play.

By reaching the finals, Jen Saunders has solidified her place on Team Canada for the 2012 World Championships that will be held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in August.

2012 Canadian National Racquetball Championships Brossard, Quebec

Women's Open Final

Jennifer Saunders d. Frédérique Lambert, 11-15, 15-1, 11-7

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Posted by The Racquetball Blog

Longoria wins, Rajsich loses and wins in Fullerton

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Posted by The Racquetball Blog 

Paola Longoria defeated Rhonda Rajsich one last time in the 2011-12 Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) season as she won the Ektelon National Championships in Fullerton, California. Longoria was undefeated this season and the runaway WPRO #1 player.

In Sunday's final, Longoria defeated WPRO #2 Rajsich, 12-10, 11-0, 11-6. In the semi-finals on Saturday, Longoria beat Cristina Amaya, 11-4, 11-5, 11-7, and Rajsich defeated Kristen Bellows, 12-10, 11-9, 11-3.

Rajsich did win the US Team Qualifying division by defeating Cheryl Gudinas in the final, 15-5, 15-5. As in the WPRO division, Rajsich got to the final by defeating Bellows in the semi-finals, in this case by scores of 15-11 and 15-4.

In the other semi-final, Gudinas beat Adrienne Fisher, 15-9, 15-6. Then in the 3rd place match, Bellows defeated Fisher, 15-13, 15-14.

WPRO Ektelon Nationals - Fullerton, California

Longoria wins 2012 SCS Title & Escrow WPRO Tournament

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Posted by The Racquetball Blog

Paola Longoria continued her unbeaten streak in the 2011-12 Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) season with a win over Rhonda Rajsich in the final of the SCS Title and Escrow Pro-Am in Herndon, Virginia, winning 7-11, 3-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8.

Neither player drove serve very much, choosing instead to use half Z serves. Longoria hit them to Rajsich's forehand while Rajsich hit them backhanded to Longoria's backhand. Although they did use other serves, but those were what they relied on.

After winning the first two games, Rajsich looked good to complete the upset in game three, as she was up 5-1. However, Longoria came back to lead 8-7. But Rajsich took the next two points to get the lead back at 9-8.

However, Longoria pushed it to 10-8 with the 10th point coming on a skipped overhead return by Rajsich on that half Z to her forehand, and then Longoria closed it out to force game four, winning 11-8.

Longoria led all the way in game four, although Rajsich made it close late when she drew within one trailing 8-7. The game point was another skipped serve return by Rajsich, as Longoria won 11-7.

In game five, Longoria looked like she was going to close it out easily, as she quickly grabbed a 6-0 lead. But Rajsich is a fighter - she dove more than 20 times during the match - and she fought back again to tie the game at 8-8. Rajsich's 7th and 8th points were the result of skips by Longoria, who may have been feeling the pressure.

However, in the end it was the #1 player who once again came out on top, defeating the #2 player 11-8 in the fifth game.

This is the last WPRO Tier 1 event of the season, but they will play a Tier 3 event later this month in Fullerton at the USA Racquetball Ektelon Nationals May 23-27.

WPRO 2012 SCS Title and Escrow Pro-Am - Herndon, Virginia


Final

Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 7-11, 3-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8

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Posted by The Racquetball Blog at 1:14 PM 0 comments

Labels: WPRO

2012 SCS Title & Escrow Pro-Am - WPRO Round of 16

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Posted by The Racquetball Blog2

The Round of 16 at the SCS Title and Escrow Pro-Am in Herndon, Virginia - this weekend's Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) event - produced one upset by the rankings, but it was former #1 Cheryl Gudinas defeating Jennifer Saunders in five games, 5-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-5, 11-6, to advance to the quarter finals and likely continue Gudinas's streak of top 10 season ending finishes on the women's pro tour that dates back to 1994.

Krystal Csuk, the fourth seed for the first time in her career, was almost upset by Keely Franks, but managed to fend off the Texan in five games, 3-11, 11-4, 2-11, 11-6, 11-8.

Top seed Paola Longoria won easily, defeating Sarah Warhaftig, 11-0, 11-1, 11-3. Second seed Rhonda Rajsich might have been upset by Grace Hughes if they'd played a best of seven, as Hughes got three more points each game of their match. But of course, they played a best of five and Rajsich won in three games, 11-3, 11-6, 11-9.

WPRO 2012 SCS Title and Escrow Pro-Am - Herndon, Virginia
 Round of 16

Paola Longoria d. Sarah Warhaftig, 11-0, 11-1, 11-3

Cristina Amaya v. Kristen Bellows

Adrienne Fisher d. T. J. Baumbaugh, 11-5, 11-4, 11-7
Krystal Csuk d. Keely Franks, 3-11, 11-4, 2-11, 11-6, 11-8

Kerri Wachtel d. Laura Brandt, 11-6, 11-4, 11-1
Cheryl Gudinas d. Jennifer Saunders, 5-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-5, 11-6

Susana Acosta d. Da'monique Davis, 11-8, 11-3, 11-13, 12-10
Rhonda Rajsich d. Grace Hughes, 11-3, 11-6, 11-9

Quarter finals

Paola Longoria v. Cristina Amaya or Kristen Bellows
Krystal Csuk v. Adrienne Fisher

Kerri Wachtel v. Cheryl Gudinas
Rhonda Rajsich v. Susana Acosta

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Posted by The Racquetball Blog at 8:57 PM 0 comments

Labels: WPRO