Finals set at Canadian Open Racquetball Classic

There will be a rematch of the Canadian Nationals women's final at the second Canadian Open Racquetball Classic at the Cedar Springs Health and Racquet Club in Burlington, Ontario, where reigning Canadian champion, Christie Van Hees of Calgary will face-off against top seed Jennifer Saunders from Winnipeg.

Both players won their semi-final matches in two straight games. Saunders defeated Linda Ellerington of Shields, Sask., 15-6, 15-11. She was down in the second game, 9-5, but stuck with her game plan and knew "life would be easier if I won game two."

Van Hees defeated Josée Grand'Maître (Longueuil, Que.) in the other semi-final, 15-6, 15-3. Game one was close early, but after Van Hees took a 10-5 lead there was no looking back. In game two, she jumped out to a 6-0 lead, and Grand'Maître could only claw a few back before the end.

In the Nationals final last May in Edmonton, Van Hees defeated Saunders in two games, but Saunders remains the number 1 ranked player. That ranking will be on the line on Sunday.

The Canadian Open Racquetball Classic is also a Tier 1 event on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) - the men's professional racquetball tour. In Saturday's semi-finals, Jack Huczek (Rochester Hills, Mich.), the number 1 IRT player, defeated Rocky Carson (Laguna Niguel, Calif.), 11-1, 11-3, 11-5.

Jason Mannino (San Diego) won the other semi-final, defeating Shane Vanderson (Dublin, Ohio), 11-8, 11-3, 11-3.

Huczek is the defending Canadian Open Racquetball Classic champion, and has won the first two IRT tournaments this season. He'll be trying to make it three in a row on Sunday.

Play concludes on Sunday at the Cedar Springs Health and Racquet Club in Burlington.

RESULTS SUMMARY : SOMMAIRE DES RÉSULTATS

Semi-finals - Saturday : Demi finale IRT Hommes samedi

Jack Huczek (Rochester Hills, Mich.) d. Rocky Carson (Laguna Niguel, CA), 11-1, 11-7, 11-3.
Jason Mannio (San Diego) d. Shane Vanderson (Cleveland), 11-8, 11-3, 11-3.

Final - Sunday : finale IRT Hommes dimanche

Jack Huczek (Rochester Hills, Mich.) vs. Jason Mannino (San Diego)

Women's Semi-finals - Saturday : Demi finale Femmes samedi

Jennifer Saunders (Winnipeg) d. Linda Ellerington (Shields, Sask.), 15-6, 15-11.
Christie Van Hees (Calgary) d. Josée Grand'Maître (Longueuil, Que.), 15-6, 15-3.

Women's final - Sunday : finale Femmes dimanche

Jennifer Saunders (Winnipeg) vs. Christie Van Hees (Calgary)