New Orleans, LA, WPH Press, 2/16/20-
Day 3: Sunday
WR48
Final: Casey vs. Ni Churraoin
Catriona Casey was aiming for her 24th consecutive WR48 victory, eighth consecutive WR48 title, and her astounding 20th WR48 title. Standing between Catriona and 24/8/20 was the supremely talented and tenacious Ciana Ni Churraoin, seeking her first WR48 title in her fifth final.
Casey started the final in control, dictating play and keeping the powerful CNC off-balance. “I was definitely happy with how I was playing in that first game,” stated Casey.
Casey built a sizable lead in game two, only to nearly relinquish her advantage midway through the frame. With her 20th WR48 title within her grasp and clinging to an 11-10 lead, Casey scored the final four points of the match with two CNC errors and two kills to seal her first title in New Orleans. “Ciana is so tough to play because she hits the ball so hard with both hands,” stated Casey. “I have to tell myself to be on my toes to be ready for her shots because I know that any ball that comes off the side wall or back wall is going to be hit extremely hard. I’m looking forward to Salt Lake in May!”
Final: Casey def Ni Churraoin 15-3, 15-10
Playoffs
Fiona Tully kept her perfect WR48 record intact against Danielle Daskalakis in the third place final, dominating the New Yorker in the one-game match.
Tracy Davis rallied from an 8-15 first half deficit to take fifth against Ashley Moler, blasting serves and drives to the left and fighting off a Moler rally late in the match to score a top five finish.
Third Place Final: Tully def Daskalakis 25-10
Fifth Place Final: Davis def Moler 25-23
2020 WR48 Mardi Gras Finishes
1st: Casey
2nd: Ni Churraoin
3rd: Tully
4th: Daskalakis
5th: Davis
6th: Moler
R48LTE
Final: Lucho vs. Danos
Lucho and Danos Cordova met for the tenth time on the R48 tour in Sunday’s Mardi Gras final, with Lucho winning five of the brother’s first nine encounters. Danos won their clash in the finals meeting to start the 2019/20 R48 IX season in Atlanta.
Danos started hot in the steamy and humid New Orleans show court, building an 11-3 lead. “I wasn’t worried at that point,” Lucho would later say. “I know he can start fast and neither of us was playing that well so I knew I was still in the match.” Lucho charged into the game, cutting the deficit to two at 10-12. 
Danos was able to overcome several errors to take the first game and after another grueling war of attrition in game two, Danos stood two points from the title, serving at 13-12. Danos over hit a power serve to the right, leaving Lucho a back wall setup, which he converted. Lucho scored three consecutive points to even the match. “That was a big moment (at 13-12) and I was definitely worried there,” stated Lucho. “He hit that serve off the back wall and I put it away to stay in the match.”
Danos raced to a 5-0 lead in the third game and seemed to retake control of the match. “I know that Danos can make big runs but I still felt like I was in the match,” stated Lucho in reference to Danos’ 5-0 lead. Lucho reeled off 12 consecutive points to edge in front for the first time in the match, a deficit Danos was unable to overcome.
The Flying Cordovas personified their well-deserved nicknames throughout the three-game classic, tracking down nearly every shot in the sensational rallies. “If the ball bounces, the Cordovas can retrieve it,” shouted Mardi Gras tournament host Bob Caluda.
Lucho def Danos 11-15, 15-13, 15-8
Playoffs
Leo Canales, Jr. won fifth for the first time in his young R48 career, toppling Team Ireland’s David Walsh and Patrick Funchion to pick up valuable ranking points on his quest towards the Elite 8. Ireland’s Patrick Murphy and Adam Walsh faced one another for ninth, with PMurph overcoming the stylish lefty for an impressive top nine finish.
Fifth place final: Canales, Jr. def Pat. Funchion 25-21
Ninth Place Final: P. Murphy def A. Walsh 25-18
2020 R48LTE Mardi Gras Finishes
1st: Lucho
2nd: Danos
3rd: Fink/Ruiz
5th: Canales, Jr.
6th: Pat. Funchion
7th: Bernhard/D. Walsh
9th: P. Murphy
A/B Singles
Ireland’s Anthony Fitzgerald captured a highly competitive “A” division, toppling Alaska’s Malachy Flisk in the final.
Final: Fitzgerald def Flisk 18-16, 15-2
Open Doubles
Team Walsh defeated Team Fitzgerald/Kiernan to win the Open Doubles, ousting their Irish counterparts in two games.
Final: Team Walsh def Team Fitzgerald/Kiernan 15-11, 15-11
Thank you
Thank you to 2020 Mardi Gras tournament host Bob Caluda for another outstanding Mardi Gras event. Thank you to the WPH for organizing, sponsoring, and filming the event.
For more info on the 2020 Mardi Gras R48LTE/WR48, including starting times and to follow the brackets go HERE
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer
New Orleans, LA, WPH Press, 2/15/20-
Day 2: Saturday
WR48 Quarterfinals
(EDITOR’S NOTE: You can watch most of the men’s and women’s Rd of 16, 8 and 4 on the WPH Patreon Page On-Demand: patreon.com/wphlive. Over 30 videos have been posted from those rounds)
WR48 #1 Catriona Casey extended her 21-match WR48 winning streak in her quarterfinal against Suz Entzeroth, not allowing the Missourian on the scoreboard in either game.
WR48 #2 Ciana Ni Churraoin faced a stern test from Tucson’s Ashley Moler, as Moler’s infant daughter Scarlett watched her mom dazzle with fist passes and kills to push CNC in both games before falling to the four-time WR48 finalist in two games. “I had my chances, I just didn’t convert my opportunities,” lamented Moler.
WR48 #3 Fiona Tully faced a white hot Megan McCann, dropping the first game on the strength of McCann’s incredible serving and kills. Tully took control of game two, building an 11-2 lead. McCann charged back, trailing by just two at 12-14. Tully capitalized on a McCann error to gain a side out and served out the game. Tully was in control in the tiebreaker, completing her comeback advance to the semifinals. “I had my chance there in the second, I just missed one that would have given me 13,” stated McCann. “Fiona stepped it up in third and was in control. It was definitely a learning experience.”
Danielle Daskalakis and Tracy Davis added another chapter to their storied rivalry, as the pair split the first two games and battled deep into the third game. With many of the rallies exceeding 20 shots, Daskalakis was able to convert on several more opportunities to overcome her mentor and great friend. “There are about three shots I wish I could have back,” stated Davis.
Semifinals
Casey was too strong for Daskalakis in the semifinals, keeping the dangerous sharp shooter in the back court and cruising in two games.
In a likely preview of next week’s USHA Collegiate National Women’s final, WR48 #2 Ciana Ni Churraoin met WR48 #3 Fiona Tully for a spot in the final. CNC played her best ball in game one, overpowering Tully from the start and taking a one-game lead. 
Tully matched CNC for much of the second game, adjusting to CNC’s powerful drives but ultimately came up short, as CNC advanced to her fifth WR48 final and Tully clinched third for the third time in three WR48 starts.
WR48 Quarterfinals
Casey vs. Entzeroth 15-0, 15-0
Daskalakis def Davis 15-9, 5-15, 15-11
Tully def McCann 6-15, 15-12, 15-7
Ni Churraoin def Moler 15-11, 15-7
Semifinals
Casey def Daskalakis 15-2, 15-4
Ni Churraoin def Tully
Final (Sunday 11:15 am CST): Casey vs. CNC
R48LTE Super Saturday
Seeking his third R48LTE title, Lucho Cordova defeated the 2019 USHA “A” national champion David Walsh in two games. “I had a lead in the second at 9-6 but he came back and took it,” stated Walsh.
Second-seeded Danos Cordova needed a huge second game comeback against Patrick Funchion to win their quarterfinal clash in two games. Trailing 7-13, 
Danos scored the final eight points of the match. “It just seemed like Patrick stopped shooting when he got to 13,” stated Danos.
David Fink overcame Adam Bernhard for the second consecutive event to advance to his second R48LTE semifinal of the season (Portland), while 
Shorty Ruiz notched his first win against Southwest rival Leo Canales, Jr. to advance to his first R48 semifinal.
Lucho entered the Mardi Gras semifinal sporting a sensational 12-1 R48LTE record and took the first game of the semifinal against Ruiz with relative ease, keeping Ruiz off-balance and tracking down Ruiz’s paddle kill attempts. 
Ruiz executed at a far higher percentage in game two, stunning Lucho with a number of deep kills to force a third. Lucho took control in game three, relying on his conditioning, retrieving, and one-inch high kills to advance to the Mardi Gras final for the second consecutive year. “I just need to get into better shape,” stated a disappointed Ruiz.
David Fink defeated Danos Cordova in their last encounter in the fifth place final in Montana three weeks ago and after rallying from an 11-7 deficit in game one to take a one-game lead, appeared poised to make his first R48 final in 11 months. Cordova applied the pressure in game two, building an insurmountable lead with power hop serves and controlling the front court. Game three was nearly identical, with Danos pushing Fink into the back corners of the court and finding the bottom board with either hand to advance to the final. “Danos was stronger, sharper, and just a lot better than me, a lot better,” stated Fink.
Quarterfinals
Lucho def D. Walsh 15-6, 15-11
Ruiz def Canales, Jr. 15-12, 15-9
Fink vs. Bernhard 15-7, 15-8
Danos def Pat. Funchion 15-6, 15-13
Semifinals
Lucho def Ruiz 15-3, 6-15, 15-6
Danos def Fink 11-15, 15-6, 15-6
Final (Sunday 10:30 am CST): Lucho vs. Danos
JR WPH Clinic
WPH Master Instructor David Fink and R48 #2 Lucho Cordova held a JR WPH Clinic for more than 10 collegiate and junior players from the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
The pros discussed cross-training, proper warm up, tournament preparation, tournament diet, the power serve and the fly kill.
“These kids made this event and we all the MVP’s of New Orleans,” stated Fink. “The Irish traveled 4,200 miles to be here, while the other juniors drove up to 15 hours to be a part of this event. These kids are everything that makes our game great. 
Not only are all of them phenomenal world class players, they demonstrate wonderful sportsmanship, amazing effort on the court, and are willing to referee, move boxes, and do whatever they can to help the event. Lucho and I were thrilled to be able to answer their questions and hopefully make these great kids better players.”
For more info on the 2020 Mardi Gras R48LTE/WR48, including starting times and to follow the brackets go HERE
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer
New Orleans, LA, WPH Press, 2/14/20-
Day 1: Friday
The fourth Race 4 Eight Mardi Gras kicked off on Friday in New Orleans, as the WR48 and R48LTE fields kicked off their 2020 Mardi Gras campaigns.
WR48
Ashley Moler advanced to Saturday’s WR48 Mardi Gras quarterfinals with a convincing two-game sweep against Kyra “K3” Vidas. “I had been playing well, I just don’t know what happened in there,” stated a disappointed K3.
Former WR48 finalist Suz Entzeroth started slowly against her Missouri rival Mikaila Mitchell, dropping the first game 15-2 but rallied to advance to Saturday’s quarterfinals by winning the next two games. “This happens every time we play,” stated Entzeroth. “It’s always a tiebreaker and both of us are all over the court keeping rallies alive. Our rivalry has pushed us to the level we’ve reached today.”
WR48 Quarterfinals (Saturday)
Casey vs. Entzeroth (9:30 am CST)
Daskalakis vs. Davis (9:30 am CST)
Tully vs. McCann/Gregory (10:15 am CST)
Ni Churraoin vs. Moler (11 am CST)
R48LTE Round of 16 (Men)
Top-seeded and defending R48LTE champion Lucho Cordova jumped out of a 15-hour cross-country journey from El Paso and survived game point in the second game against Miami’s Andrew Reiersen, while second-seeded Danos Cordova overcame his cousin Enrique in two games.
Third-seeded David Fink steamrolled Irish prodigy Oran Kiernan, while fourth-seeded Leo Canales, Jr. was efficient in dismissing Ireland’s Conor Walsh.
Fifth-seeded Shorty Ruiz landed just hours before his round of 16 clash with Patrick Murphy and found himself in a tiebreaker after dropping game two. Ruiz raced to a 13-0 lead in the tiebreaker and ultimately advanced. “I just lost my concentration in that second game and he was playing good,” stated Ruiz.
Sixth-seeded Adam Bernhard overcame left-handed Adam Walsh in a close first game and pulled away in game two. “I just lost my focus, it was a good learning experience though,” stated Walsh.
Seventh-seeded Patrick Funchion was ruthless against New York’s Matt Chu, while David Walsh earned revenge on eighth-seeded Ryan Bowler from a lost last season with an emphatic two-game statement.
R48LTE Quarterfinals (Saturday)
Lucho vs. D. Walsh (10:15 am CST)
Canales, Jr. vs. Ruiz (10:15 am CST)
Fink vs. Bernhard (11 am CST)
Danos vs. Pat. Funchion (11 am CST)
The WR48 and R48LTE will be in action all day Saturday, as well as the WR48 and R48LTE playoffs, A/B singles, and Open Doubles. Stay tuned to this thread for updates from New Orleans throughout the weekend. You won’t be able to watch this event LIVE; however, you can watch them on demand at patreon.com/wphlive. Become a WPH Patreon HERE.
For more info on the 2020 Mardi Gras R48LTE/WR48, including names, times and to follow the brackets go HERE
Follow all of the latest handball news from the WPH HERE
Follow all of the latest news from JR WPH HERE
2019/20 Race 4 Eight IX Schedule HERE
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer