January 25, 2004 - For Immediate Release

SASKATOON - Champions collide in finals

National champions met in both the men's and women's finals of the National Racquetball Team Selection Doubles event in Saskatoon.

In men's play Sunday, Mike Green (Hannon, ON) and his partner Tom O'Brien (Penetanguishene, ON) defeated the number 1 seeds François Viens (Montreal) and Corey Osborne (Penetanguishene, ON), 10-15, 15-10, 11-0. Because Green is the current national singles champion, and won silver at last year's Pan Am Games in singles play, Viens and Osborne, the current national doubles champions, tried to play most of the shots to O'Brien, but he was up to the task.

The women's final also featured a battle between national champions. The current national doubles champions and number 1 seeds Josée Grand'Maître (Longueuil, PQ) and Jennifer Saunders (Winnipeg) beat Lori Jane Powell (Calgary), who is the current national singles champion, and her partner, Julie Neubauer (Calgary), 15-8, 16-14. Powell and Neubauer were seeded second.

In the second game, it looked like Powell and Neubauer were going to force a tie-breaker, as they took a 7-0 lead.  But Grand'Maître and Saunders fought back, and made the game close, and then fought off game point to win the game and the match.

The results of this tournament, combined with results from the National Championships in May, will be used to select the National Team. Thus, Green and O'Brien as well as Grand'Maître and Saunders have made the first claim for spots on the National Team for this year's World Championships in South Korea from July 31-August 8.

Play concluded Sunday at the RiverRacquet Athletic Club in Saskatoon. The National Team Selection event for singles will be February 13-15 in Victoria, British Columbia.

MEN'S FINALS

Mike Green (Hannon, ON) and Tom O'Brien (Penetanguishene, ON) d. François Viens (Montreal) and Corey Osborne (Penetanguishene, ON), 10-15, 15-10, 11-0.

MEN'S 3rd PLACE MATCH

Brian Istace (Calgary) and Kris Odegard (Saskatoon) d. Bill Shepley (Calgary) and Mike McPhee (Calgary), 15-6, 15-12.

MEN'S 5th PLACE MATCH

Sherman Greenfeld (Winnipeg) and Mike Ceresia (Burlington, ON) d. Greg Starodub (Vancouver) and Ryan Powell (Saskatoon), 15-9, 15-6.

MEN'S 7th PLACE MATCH

Francis Guillemette (Montreal) and Vincent Gagnon (Montreal) d. Tim Landeryou (Saskatoon) and Eric Desrochers (Ancaster, ON), 15-7, 15-9.

MEN'S 9th PLACE MATCH

James Landeryou (Saskatoon) and Nathaniel Husulak (Saskatoon) d. Paul Albert (Calgary) and Jason Ully (Lethbridge, AB), 15-4, 15-12.

MEN'S 11th PLACE MATCH

Lee Connell (Saskatoon) and Chris Exner (Saskatoon) d. Michael Burgess (Brandon, MB) and Scott Campbell (Brandon, MB), 15-12, 16-14.

WOMEN'S FIRST PLACE MATCH

Jennifer Saunders (Winnipeg) and Josée Grand'Maître (Longueuil, PQ) d. Lori Jane Powell (Calgary) and Julie Neubauer (Calgary), 15-8, 16-14.

WOMEN'S THIRD PLACE MATCH

Amanda Dunn (Prince Albert, SK) and Karina Odegard (Saskatoon) d. Christie Van Hees (Kelowna, BC) and Chantal Turgeon (Rock Forest, PQ), 15-6, 15-9.

WOMEN'S FIFTH PLACE MATCH

Linda Ellerington (Regina) and Shannon Mayer (Calgary) d. Veronique Guillemette (Deauville, PQ) and Genevieve Brodeur (Rock Forest, PQ), 15-0, 15-4.