Van Hees and Huczek win at the Canadian Open Racquetball Classic

Christie Van Hees of Calgary and American Jack Huczek won the men's and women's singles divisions at the Canadian Open Racquetball Classic at the Cedar Springs Health and Racquet Club in Burlington, Ontario.

Van Hees defeated Jennifer Saunders of Winnipeg in the women's final, 15-12, 15-6. It was a rematch of last May's Canadian Championship that Van Hees also won. With the victory, Van Hees becomes the number 1 ranked women's player in Canada.

Van Hees took awhile to get going in the match, as Saunders jumped out to leads of 4-0, 7-1 and 11-5. Afterwards Van Hees said "it took a bit longer to get into that game as sometimes happens."

She began to use her powerful drive serve to Saunders's forehand, and progressively worked her way back into game 1, drawing level at 11 and then going on to win 15-12.

Van Hees's victory is good preparation for the US Open, racquetball's premier event that happens next month in Memphis, Tennessee. As the last year's champion, she'll be trying to defend her title and become the only woman to win three US Open titles. Van Hees's first victory in Memphis was in 2000.

Although she lost today, Saunders believes playing Van Hees will help her for the rest of the season. "Playing Van Hees helps me believe I can play with the pros and win," said Saunders.

Saunders showed her sportsmanship at 6-6 in game two when she said they should replay a Van Hees serve that the referee called short. That service fault would have given Saunders the serve. "If I think the referee's wrong, then I'll overturn the call regardless of the opponent," said Saunders.

On the men's side, Huczek of Rochester Hills, Mich. defeated Jason Mannino (San Diego), 11-3, 11-5, 11-5. With the victory, Huczek is three for three on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) - the men's professional racquetball tour. His earlier wins came in Kansas City and Kentucky.

Afterwards he said "it was a special day. I felt like I was playing well. I cherish these days, because they don't happen very often." Huczek used mostly lob serves rather than drive serves against Mannino, as he was having success with them.

Mannino said afterwards he "was frustrated," because he felt good, but didn't win for which he gave Huczek full credit. "Jack played well," said Mannino. He felt his serves were effective enough, but Mannino felt he just "couldn't execute" the chances that he had.

In doubles action, Saskatchewan teams split the winnings, winning the women's but losing the men's. Saskatoon's Brandi Jacobson Prentice and Alison Schlichemeyer defeated Carolyn Peddle of Edmonton and American Kwi Spinks, 15-4, 15-10 to seal the women's title Sunday.

The men's doubles title went to the Ontario team of Eric Desrochers (Ancaster, Ont.) and Mike Green (Burlington, Ont.), who beat the brother team of James and Tim Landeryou from Saskatoon, 15-6, 15-7.

All play concluded on Sunday at the Cedar Springs Health and Racquet Club in Burlington.

RESULTS SUMMARY : SOMMAIRE DES RÉSULTATS

Final - Sunday : finale IRT Hommes dimanche

Jack Huczek (Rochester Hills, Mich.) d. Jason Mannino (San Diego), 11-3, 11-5, 11-5.

Women's final - Sunday : finale Femmes dimanche

Christie Van Hees (Calgary) d. Jennifer Saunders (Winnipeg), 15-12, 15-6.