Archive for the ‘Pro Handball’ Category

Carroll and Casey win WPH Aces R48Pro #10 Player’s Championship!

Casey sets up to hit a winner in her final against Tully. (Photo courtesy of the WPH)

SALT LAKE CITY — Killian Carroll and Catriona Casey each claimed the WPH Players Championship over the weekend. The two champions capped a sensational tournament with an impressive victory in their respective finals. 

Casey took the court first on Sunday morning, with fellow Irishwomen Fiona Tully awaiting her in the Women’s Pro finals. Tully and Casey were both dominant in their semifinals, making this a highly anticipated clash.  

Tully jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, but Casey went on a huge run from there, only allowing Tully another two points in the first game. Casey seemed to only be getting better as the match went on, and continued her strong play through the second game, eventually defeating Tully by the scores of 15-5, 15-5. Casey continues to be the most dominant player the tour has ever seen.

Next was the Men’s Pro Final, where Carroll was taking on Leo Canales. Canales was the breakout star of the tournament, earning impressive wins over Daniel Cordova and number one ranked pro Luis Cordova to clinch his spot in his first ever finals. 

Canales showed it was no fluke he was there, as he jumped out to a hot start and built an early lead against Carroll. Canales couldn’t keep the momentum rolling though, and Carroll came back to win game one 15-11. The second game saw Carroll jump out to a big lead, and this time it was Canales who came back, eventually tying the game at 8. Carroll refocused, and scored the final few points he needed to win the match, and win the Player’s Championship. 

With the WPH Pro rankings finalized, it’s official that Luis Cordova will finish the season as the tour’s number one ranked Men’s player for the first time in his career! Catriona Casey will again finish as the number one ranked Women’s player, as she has for multiple years. 

Congrats to the WPH on running another incredible Pro Tour this season. Congrats to the Salt Lake City Aces for putting on an incredible tournament. 

You can view the full results from the tournament HERE.

You can read a full recap from each day from the tournament courtesy of the WPH HERE.

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Catriona Casey delivers a smooth left-handed return.  Casey won The Player’s Championship Women’s Pro division in 2022.

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — The 2022-2023 WPH Pro Tour concludes this weekend at the Sports Mall with their most prestigious event: The Player’s Championship.

The Player’s Championship delivers an exciting conclusion to the 11th R48Pro season, where players compete to compile ranking points to earn end-of-season bonuses. Luis Cordova (Juarez, MEX) and Martin Mulkerrins (College Station, Texas) are currently the top two ranked players on the men’s side, and will aim to finish in the top spot this weekend. They will be joined by the likes of Paul Brady (Co. Cavan, IRE), Killian Carroll (Boston), and Sean Lenning (Tucson), among many more in the Men’s Pro bracket.

Defending Women’s champion, Catriona Casey (Co. Cork, IRE) makes her return to Salt Lake City with the hope to capture another WR48Pro crown. She is joined by fellow Irish players Fiona Tully (Co. Roscommon, IRE) and Elise McCrory (Co. Tyrone, IRE) in a very strong Women’s Pro bracket. 

Read a full preview from the WPH HERE.

The ESPN+ WPH Broadcast schedule is available HERE.

Check out the entries and follow along with the results HERE.

Read daily recaps of the tournament from the WPH HERE.

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WPH Pro Stop #6 – Texas State Doubles

Luis Cordova and Catriona Casey won their respective pro divisions in Houston. Casey defeated Fiona Tully in dominating fashion, while Cordova outlasted Killian Carroll in an amazing tiebreaker final. Read a full recap from the WPH HERE

Cordova sets up for a shot in his final against Carroll. (Photo from WPH)

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Last year’s Houston WPH R48Pro champions Killian Carroll and Catriona Casey are back in 2023 to defend their titles.

HOUSTON — The Houston Handball Club hosts the WPH’s 6th pro stop of the season this weekend at the Tellepsen Family Downtown YMCA. The tournament is both a Men’s and Women’s Pro event. Play begins Friday afternoon, and the WPH will be streaming matches on Watch ESPN beginning Saturday morning.

Check out a full tournament preview from the WPH HERE and follow along with the results HERE.

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WPH Aces Player’s Championship

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — The WPH Player’s Championship concluded Sunday with two epic finals.

The first was between the two top women’s players in the world, Catriona Casey and Martina McMahon. Each of them cruised to their highly anticipated final.

The first game was handball at its finest, with several lead changes and incredible shots on display. Casey edged McMahon out to win the game in overtime 16-14.

Game two was much different, as McMahon came out of the gates red hot from beginning to end, winning 15-1 and forcing a tiebreaker.

Casey came out a new player in the breaker, converting her set-ups into kill shots and not allowing McMahon many offensive opportunities. She kept her foot on the gas until the very end, and won the third game 15-6 to become the champion.

The Men’s final between Killian Carroll and Martin Mulkerrins was just as exciting. Mulkerrins jumped out to a big lead in game one with a 7-0 lead. Carroll started to chip away, getting the score to 8-9. A backwall rollout from Mulkerrins got him back in the box where he began to get hot again, and closed out the game 15-8. 

Game two began somewhat similar, with Mulkerrins holding a small lead for most of the game. Carroll trailed 8-11  before he really found his groove. He hit several aces and a few more kill shots to score the final 7 points of the game and won 15-11 to force a tiebreaker.

The tiebreaker started similar to the first game, with Mulkerrins jumping out to first a 6-0 lead, then an 11-1 lead. Carroll showed fight after that but it was too late, and Mulkerrins claimed the players championship with a 15-4 tiebreaker victory. 

To view the full results click HERE

For much more on the tournament, visit the WPH website HERE

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — The WPH Player’s Championship kicks off this weekend with the best men, women and senior players in the sport looking to end this years pro tour with a victory.

Qualifying matches begin on Friday morning with the main draw starting Friday night. The matches will be livestreamed on Watch ESPN beginning Saturday morning. For more information on the tournament, see the WPH’s full preview HERE. To follow along with the results go HERE

Houston R48 Pro & State Doubles

HOUSTON — Finals Sunday featured the R48 and WR48 finals, as well as the R48 and WR48 playoffs, as the Race 4 Eight’s stars battled for Race 4 Eight gold and valuable ranking points.

Complete WPH tournament report and coverage HERE.
All images and content courtesy of WPH.

Men’s R48Pro Final: Carroll vs. NashFinal: Carroll vs. Nash

Killian Carroll entered Sunday’s Houston final riding a five-tournament Race 4 Eight win streak and seeking his nineteenth Race 4 Eight final. Diarmaid Nash entered his second Race 4 Eight final in search of his first R48 title against his junior and Irish Senior rival. “I suppose in Ireland I was sick of playing Killian because we met in every tournament but we haven’t played much since so I’m looking forward to playing him,” stated Nash. Killian is a dog and gives it 120%, so I hope to play my best ever match and come out on top.”

Killian Carroll picked up where he left off on Saturday, dominating the action en route to a seven-minute, 15-1 first game win. Nash changed his approach in game two, slowing the game down with a lob serve and changing the momentum of the match. “This is what Diarmaid always does against me, he plays me,” stated Carroll after the match. “I was used to playing the ball low and hard and he slowed the game down and I made a lot of errors and he waited for his opportunities and took advantage.”

The tiebreaker started with six consecutive side outs, as neither player was able to seize the momentum. With the score tied at seven, Carroll switched to his right-handed serve for the first time in the match and rediscovered the game that carried him to the first game lead. “I’m chasing Catriona now,” stated Carroll after his nineteenth R48 title. “She has 21 and I’m just trying to keep up with her.”

Final: Carroll d. Nash, 15-1, 11-15, 15-7.

Playoffs

5th place playoff: Esser vs. Canales

Sam Esser and Leo Canales continued their rivalry in the fifth place final, with Esser taking their last encounter in the fifth place playoffs at the R48 January Classic. Canales led 19-14 and 22-18 but Esser found his back wall kill, scoring the final seven points of the match to take fifth place for the second consecutive event. “Leo and Killian are the two fastest guys on the tour, so it’s not easy to put the ball down,” stated Esser. “I feel like I was skipping my back wall shots by an inch early in the match, but I found my kills just in time.”

Final: Esser def Canales 25-22

9th place playoff: Ruiz vs. Montijo

Tucson rivals played a classic ninth place final, with Ruiz racing to a 14-2 lead before narrowly leading at the half, 15-14. “When Shorty is playing like that there’s not much anyone can do,” stated Montijo. “I just tried to grind and stay in.” Montijo changed his serve throughout the match, alternating between 2-Wall lobs, underhand lobs, power serves, and 2-Wall power serves to change the momentum. “Those slow serves just kill my momentum,” Ruiz would later say. Montijo forged ahead in the second half and just crossed the finish line with both players exhausted. “Winning ninth place is a big deal and I’m proud of myself,” stated Montijo. “Shorty made three dives in the last rally and there were not many easy points.”

Final: Montijo def Ruiz 25-23

R48 Finishes

1st: Carroll

2nd: Nash

3rd: Fink/Lucho

5th: Esser

6th: Canales, Jr.

7th: Langmack/Danos

9th: Montijo

10th: Ruiz

WR48

Final: Casey vs. Tully

Catriona Casey entered Sunday’s WR48 Houston final seeking her twenty-first WR48 title in her twenty-third WR48 start, while Fiona Tully was appearing in her first WR48 final in her third season on the tour.

Catriona blitzed Tully in game one, needing just five minutes to take the lead. Fiona started to demonstrate her immense talent in game two, playing close with Catriona in the first several rallies in game two. Casey pulled away, changing her serves and implementing the all-around game that has made her unstoppable since the inception of the tour. “I got here early, skipped rope, and threw the ball around, so even though I was nervous and my legs felt heavy, I got off to a good start,” stated Casey. “I knew Fiona would start to play better in the second and she did. I made adjustments, just as she did, and I’m thrilled to win the title.”

Final: Casey d. Tully, 15-1, 15-4.

JR WPH Clinic

JR WPH was proud to host a junior handball clinic during the 2022 Houston Race 4 Eight, teaching several youngsters how to properly swing, rally, and have fun on the court. “We have really missed having the opportunity to get kids on the court during our hiatus, and it was wonderful to see all of the smiling faces enjoying the game,” stated WPH Development Director David Fink.

Thank you

Thank you to the Houston Handball Club, the Tellepsen Family YMCA, Ron Cole, Chuck Reeve, Sandy Gaitz, Jim Krepper, and the WPH staff and broadcast crew for an outstanding event in H Town.

Follow all of the brackets from the 2022 Houston Race 4 Eight HERE

David Fink
WPH Senior Writer

Hosting Overview

Hosting Overview

USHA Pro Stop Guidelines

Goals/Objectives

  • To promote the sport of handball
  • To showcase elite handball play of males and females
  • To showcase an existing elite tournament for national recognition
  • To increase participation and membership by showcasing handball
  • To provide handball instructional clinics by elite players
  • To promote the sport of handball
  • To showcase elite handball play of males and females
  • To showcase an existing elite tournament for national recognition
  • To increase participation and membership by showcasing handball
  • To provide handball instructional clinics by elite players 

Tournament Application Criteria for the Championship Series

  • Agree to conduct a USHA sanctioned event, requiring USHA membership for all entrants
  • Provide a minimum of $5,000 toward the prize money for men’s and women’s open events
  • Provide ample tournament promotion in the city and region tournament will be held
  • Help promote media coverage for the event to include interviewing of at least one player
  • Provide time and location for an instructional clinic held by one of the elite players
  • Promote the USHA
     
    USHA Responsibilities
  • Provide prize money funding toward the men’s and women’s purse ($2,500 -$5,000) which would be used with the host’s fee to make a total purse of approx. $7,500-$10,000).
  • Provide national exposure for the tournament through the HANDBALL magazine and website
  • Provide tax deductible status for financial donations to support the tournament
  • Provide a USHA representative from the USHA staff or USHA Board of Directors or USHA Ambassador list of that region 

Fill out the Event Host Agreement or contact USHA to learn more.