Longoria wins, Rajsich loses and wins in Fullerton

Follow the bouncing ball…. 

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

WPRO Rankings - "Ch-ch-ch-changes...."

Paola Longoria has regained the #1 ranking in the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO). Her win in last weekend's Puget Sound tournament moved her past Rhonda Rajsich into the top spot. Longoria has won more tournaments - 16 - than any other player over the last four WPRO seasons.

Samantha Salas and Kerri Wachtel remain 3rd and 4th, respectively, but there's a wholesale shuffling of the rankings after that.

Adrienne Fisher is up to 5th, but Cristina Amaya at 6th and Krystal Csuk at 7th are both on career highs (according to The Racquetball Blog records). Susana Acosta is 8th and Jennifer Saunders 9th.

Veteran and former WPRO #1, Cheryl Gudinas has dropped to 10th, which must be her lowest ranking for almost 20 years. Gudinas has finished in the top 5 every season since 1993-94, when she made her first appearance in the top 10.

Gudinas missed the Puget Sound event due to knee surgery, and if she's not ready for the next WPRO event - the Christmas Classic in Arlington, Virginia - Gudinas will likely fall out of the top 10 for the first time in her long and tremendous career.

Finally, Kristen Bellows's semi-final result in Olympia has got the former top four player up to 14th.

The next WPRO event is the Christmas Classic in Arlington, Virginia, December 8-11, 2011.

WPRO Rankings (November 22, 2011)

Rank - Name - Nationality - Points

1 Paola Longoria (Mexico) 1451.00

2 Rhonda Rajsich (USA)  1403.40

3 Samantha Salas (Mexico) 608.30

4 Kerri Wachtel (USA) 459.45

5 Adrienne Fisher (USA) 383.70

6 Cristina Amaya (Colombia) 354.65

7 Krystal Csuk (USA) 354.60

8 Susy Acosta-Mendoza (Mexico) 352.50

9 Jennifer Saunders (Canada)  334.00

10 Cheryl Gudinas (USA) 320.00

11 Angela Grisar (Chile) 307.00

12 Da'monique Davis (USA)  222.75

13 T.J. Baumbaugh (USA) 190.50

14 Kristen Bellows (USA) 158.90

15 Christie Huczek (Canada)  150.25

16 Nancy Enriquez  (Mexico) 148.00

17 Linda Scales (USA) 126.00

18 Laura Brandt (USA) 106.50

19 Keely Franks  (USA) 90.00

20 Sharon Jackson (USA) 87.50

Follow the bouncing ball....

Posted by The Racquetball Blog

WPRO - Puget Sound Challenge Semi-finals

It'll be 1 v. 2 again in a Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) event final, as WPRO #1 Rhonda Rajsich will face #2 Paola Longoria Sunday in the Finals of the 2011 Puget Sound Challenge Pro/Am in Olympia, Washington. Longoria has won their last two meetings: last month in the US Open and in the Pan American Games.

Rajsich reached the final by defeating Kristen Bellows, 11-2, 11-6, 11-6, while Longoria beat fellow Mexican Susana Acosta, 11-3, 11-1, 11-6.

The final will be at noon Sunday.

2011 Puget Sound Challenge, Olympia, Washington

Semi-finals

Rhonda Rajsich d. Kristen Bellows, 11-2, 11-6, 11-6

Paola Longoria d. Susana Acosta, 11-3, 11-1, 11-6

Finals

Rhonda Rajsich vs. Paola Longoria

Follow the bouncing ball....

Posted by The Racquetball Blog 

WPRO - Puget Sound Challenge QFs

Top seeds Rhonda Rajsich and Paola Longoria are through to the semi-finals at the 2011 Puget Sound Challenge Pro/Am in Olympia, Washington, but in the semis they'll face two upset winners.

Kristen Bellows, a former top 4 player on the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) tour, won again Saturday as she defeated 4th seed Adrienne Fisher, 9-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-5. Bellows will play Rajsich in the semi-finals later Saturday, as Rajsich beat Krystal Csuk, 11-4, 11-4, 11-3.

Longoria defeated Cristina Amaya, 11-2, 11-6, 11-4, in the quarter finals, and she'll play fellow Mexican Susana Acosta, who defeated 3rd seed Kerri Wachtel in five games, 11-6, 5-11, 11-13, 11-6, 11-9.

The semi-finals will be played Saturday evening with the final slated for Sunday at noon.

2011 Puget Sound Challenge, Olympia, Washington

Quarter finals

Rhonda Rajsich d. Krystal Csuk, 11-4, 11-4, 11-3

Kristen Bellows d. Adrienne Fisher, 9-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-5

Susana Acosta d. Kerri Wachtel, 11-6, 5-11, 11-13, 11-6, 11-9

Paola Longoria d. Cristina Amaya, 11-2, 11-6, 11-4

Semi-finals

Rhonda Rajsich vs. Kristen Bellows

Paola Longoria vs. Susana Acosta

Follow the bouncing ball....

Posted by The Racquetball Blog at 7:00 PM 0 comments

Labels: WPRO

WPRO - Puget Sound Challenge QFs

Top seeds Rhonda Rajsich and Paola Longoria are through to the semi-finals at the 2011 Puget Sound Challenge Pro/Am in Olympia, Washington, but in the semis they'll face two upset winners.

Kristen Bellows, a former top 4 player on the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) tour, won again Saturday as she defeated 4th seed Adrienne Fisher, 9-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-5. Bellows will play Rajsich in the semi-finals later Saturday, as Rajsich beat Krystal Csuk, 11-4, 11-4, 11-3.

Longoria defeated Cristina Amaya, 11-2, 11-6, 11-4, in the quarter finals, and she'll play fellow Mexican Susana Acosta, who defeated 3rd seed Kerri Wachtel in five games, 11-6, 5-11, 11-13, 11-6, 11-9.

The semi-finals will be played Saturday evening with the final slated for Sunday at noon.

2011 Puget Sound Challenge, Olympia, Washington

Quarter finals

Rhonda Rajsich d. Krystal Csuk, 11-4, 11-4, 11-3

Kristen Bellows d. Adrienne Fisher, 9-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-5

Susana Acosta d. Kerri Wachtel, 11-6, 5-11, 11-13, 11-6, 11-9

Paola Longoria d. Cristina Amaya, 11-2, 11-6, 11-4

Semi-finals

Rhonda Rajsich vs. Kristen Bellows

Paola Longoria vs. Susana Acosta

Follow the bouncing ball....

Posted by The Racquetball Blog at 7:00 PM 0 comments

Labels: WPRO

WPRO - Puget Sound Challenge Round of 16

Kristen Bellows continues to make an impact in her return to the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) tour, as she reached the quarter finals at the 2011 Puget Sound Challenge Pro/Am in Olympia, Washington, with a win over 5th seed Jennifer Saunders, 10-12, 11-6, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8.

The win sets up a re-match with 4th seed Adrienne Fisher, who was a straight games winner over Keely Franks, 11-8, 11-2, 11-2. Bellows defeated Fisher in the US Open last month.

The other top seeds were also winners. Top seed Rhonda Rajsich beat Cheyenne Hayes, 11-5, 11-4, 11-2; second seed Paola Longoria defeated Grace Hughes, 11-3, 11-0, 11-6; and third seed Kerri Wachtel needed four games to get by Jocelyn Loredo, 11-5, 11-3, 9-11, 11-9.

The quarter finals and semi-finals will be played on Saturday with the final slated for Sunday.

2011 Puget Sound Challenge, Olympia, Washington

Round of 16

Rhonda Rajsich vs. Cheyenne Hayes, 11-5, 11-4, 11-2

Krystal Csuk d. Da'monique Davis, 12-10, 11-1, 11-7

Kristen Bellows d. Jennifer Saunders, 10-12, 11-6, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8

Adrienne Fisher d. Keely Franks, 11-8, 11-2, 11-2

Kerri Wachtel d. Jocelyn Loredo, 11-5, 11-3, 9-11, 11-9

Susana Acosta d. Linda Scales, 11-4, 11-4, 11-4

Cristina Amaya d. T. J. Baumbaugh, 6-11, 11-8, 11-2, 10-12, 11-8

Paola Longoria d. Grace Hughes, 11-3, 11-0, 11-6

Quarter finals

Rhonda Rajsich vs. Krystal Csuk

Adrienne Fisher vs. Kristen Bellows

Kerri Wachtel vs. Susana Acosta

Paola Longoria vs. Cristina Amaya

Round 1

Cheyenne Hayes d. Tammarrian Rogers, 11-9, 11-1, 1-6

Grace Hughes d. Kimberly Ferina, 11-8, 11-3, 11-5

Follow the bouncing ball....

Posted by The Racquetball Blog at 12:29 AM 0 comments

Labels: WPRO