FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : POUR DIFFUSION IMMÉDIATE

BURNABY, B.C. : April 26, 2007 : 26 avril 2007

Top seeds advance at the Junior National Racquetball Championships

The girls' semi finals took centre stage Thursday at the 2007 Canadian Junior National Racquetball Championships at REVS Health Club and Fitness Centre in Burnaby, B.C., and all the top seeds came through.

In Girls 18 and under, number 1 seed and defending champion, Denise Haynes of Clare, N.S., will be able to defend her title, as she defeated Lysa-Ann Landreville of Sherbrooke, Que. in the semi-finals, 15-7, 15-5.

Haynes's opponent will be the same as in last year's final, as Christine Richardson of Regina defeated Claudia Courcy of Sherbrooke, Que., 15-12, 15-5, in the semi-finals.

Richardson is also in the Girls 16 and under final against Frédérique T. Lambert of Montreal, which will be a battle of the top seeds. Second seeded Richardson defeated Marika Landreville of Sherbrooke, Que., 15-4, 15-7, in one semi-final, while top seeded Lambert beat Brigitte Richard of St. Basile le Grand, 15-13, 15-9.

Richard will have have chance to avenge that defeat, however, as she and Lambert are the finalists in Girls 14 and under. Richard defeated Fany Morrissette Coty of Baie Comeau, Que., 15-3, 15-3 in one semi final, while Lambert beat Brittany Nelson of Windsor, 15-2, 15-6, in the other. Lambert is the defending champion in Girls 14 and under.

The top seeds in Boys 16 and under also reached the semi-finals Thursday, but two of the four needed tie-breakers to do so. Barret Husulak of Saskatoon showed why he's the top seed, as he easily defeated Michael Rojas of Brampton, Ont., 15-2, 15-3.

Husulak will face fourth seed Conrad Cole of Belle River, Ont., who also had a relatively easy match, beating Taylor Duda of Regina, 15-7, 15-4.

But it was anything but easy for the second and third seeds. Anthony Barraco of Leamington, Ont., the second seed, fought off match ball twice in the tie-breaker against Pedro Castro of Brossard, Que. before winning 15-8, 7-15, 12-10.

Third seed Sebastien Boissonneault's dream of winning a national title at his home club almost ended Thursday, as Devyn Leibel of Saskatoon pushed him to a tie-breaker also. But Boissonneault prevailed, taking the match 15-13, 8-15, 11-6.

The 167 players will be competing in 22 divisions of both singles and doubles. The competition runs through Saturday at REVS Health Club and Fitness Centre in Burnaby, B.C.

RESULTS SUMMARY : SOMMAIRE DE RÉSULTATS

Girls 18 & Under - Semi finals : Filles moins 18 - demi finale

Denise Haynes (Clare, N.S.) DEF. Lysa-ann Landreville (Sherbrooke, Que.), 15-7, 15-5.
Christine Richardson (Regina) DEF. Claudia Courcy (Sherbrooke, Que.), 15-12, 15-5.

Girls 16 & Under - Semi finals : Filles moins 16 - demi finale

Frédérique T. Lambert (Montreal) DEF. Brigitte Richard (Sherbrooke, Que.), 15-3, 15-9.
Christine Richardson (Regina) DEF. Marika Landreville (Sherbrooke, Que.), 15-4, 15-7.

Girls 14 & Under - Semi finals : Filles moins 14 - demi finale

Frédérique T. Lambert (Montreal) DEF. Brittany Nelson (Windsor), 15-2, 15-6.
Brigitte Richard (Sherbrooke, Que.) DEF. Fanny Morissette Côté (Baie Comeau, Que.), 15-3, 15-3.

Girls 12 & Under - Semi finals : Filles moins 12 - demi finale

Melody Kwong (Vancouver) DEF. Zoe Hanson (Regina), 6-15, 15-11, 11-3.
Michèle Morissette (Baie Comeau, Que.) DEF. Mckenzie Brayley (Calgary), 15-4, 15-3.

Girls 10 & Under - Semi finals : Filles moins 10 - demi finale

Courtney Johnston (Saskatoon) DEF. Mckenzie Brayley (Calgary)
Michèle Morissette (Baie Comeau, Que.) DEF. Callie Drury (Saskatoon)

Boys 16 & Under - Quarter finals : Fils moins 16 - quart de finale

Barret Husulak (Saskatoon) DEF. Michael Rojas (Brampton, Ont.), 15-2, 15-3
Anthony Barraco (Leamington, Ont.) DEF. Pedro Castro (Brossard, Que.), 15-8, 7-15, 12-10.
Sebastien Boissonneault (Burnaby, B.C.) DEF. Devyn Leibel (Saskatoon), 15-13, 8-15, 11-6.
Conrad Cole (Belle River, Ont.) DEF. Taylor Duda (Regina), 15-7, 15-4.

Boys 10 & Under - Semi finals : Fils moins 10 - demi finale

Nicholas Leung (Vancouver) DEF. Jacob Banin (Regina), 14-16, 15-5, 11-3.
Coby Iwaasa (Lethbridge, Alta.) DEF. Nicolas Bousquet (Anjou, Que.), 15-10, 16-14.