Saturday
Los Angeles, CA WPH Press, 3/21/22
R48 Round of 8
Martin Mulkerrins needed just 28 minutes to advance to the semifinals in his two-game sweep against the National Handball Center Captain Jeff Streibig, staying in second gear throughout the clinical display.
“I was a little bit too passive and not looking for the opportunities going for the kill in St, Louis.” Martin told ESPN’s Kara Mack. “Focusing on being aggressive and going for my kills. I have a lot more confidence this tournament. I have a lot more work done than I did in St. Louis.”
Lucho Cordova met Sean Lenning for the third time in the quarterfinals this season, having won the first two in tiebreakers. The third encounter between the two would be no different, as Lenning won a close first game and Lucho dominated the second. Although exhausted, Lenning pressed Lucho in the third, relying on his great serve and kills. Lucho remained steady, thwarting the Lenning attack to defeat the R48 #7 in the third.
“I usually try to slow it down against Sean but he was really defending my serve,” Lucho told ESPN’s Kara Mack. “I wasn’t sure to start slow or hard. In the very end, my serve down the right was coming off well. He rolled out a lot in the tiebreaker. It’s always nerve-wracking him. He can always make a lot of crazy shots. I’m always on my toes when we play. I always feel he has it in him to come back. I’m always tense against him.”
Ivan Burgos entered his quarterfinal will Ray Ure having made the final of the first stop of the season in Portland but finishing outside of the top five in the next two stops, including a lopsided two-game loss to Ure in the St. Louis quarterfinals. Burgos established his game early against Ure at the LAAC, powering drives and kills to keep Ure off-balance. Burgos dominated the first game on the strength of a power serve to the left and scored the final five points of the second to advance to his second semifinal of the season.
“I’m an emotional guy and I have a lot of feelings in the court,” stated Burgos. “I had a lot of confidence in myself and my confidence fills the room. I try not to dive but (on match point) I had to go for it. Ray has amazing fitness. You have to believe in your own strengths as well. I just try to focus on myself. I moved to a whole different country to practice this sport to become a better player. Handball has provided a lot of friendships and key characteristics and purpose and pride to my family.”
Leo Canales faced the twenty-second seed and LAAC member Dylan Hernandez in the final quarterfinal of the morning. Canales overwhelmed Hernandez in the first game, but Hernandez played more aggressively in the second to force a third. Canales was too strong in the tiebreaker, as Hernandez was unable to win his third tiebreaker of the event.
“Relieved to make it out alive,” stated Canales. “Dylan was playing really well. He was hitting great shots with his left. I had to keep moving my legs and keep shooting. He has always been very aggressive with two good hands. He has become more consistent. He has always been tough. My dad told me to keep going. It’s tough conditions in the court because it’s so warm in there. It’s amazing to have my dad with me. It’s a huge inspiration for me.”
R48 Round of 8
Martin def Streibig 15-2, 15-6
Lucho def Lenning 13-15, 15-6, 15-10
Burgos def Ure 15-7, 15-12
Canales def Hernandez 15-7, 12-15, 15-5
R48 Semifinals
Martin Mulkerrins and Ivan Burgos renewed their rivalry that has seen Mulkerrins win each encounter in the first semifinal match of the day. Mulkerrins played flawlessly in the first game, striking nineteen rally-ending shots against two errors to dominate. Mulkerrins was unable to match his efficiency in game two, failing to convert opportunities and opening the door for the Burgos Express. Burgos rallied from an 8-12 deficit in the second, keeping Mulkerrins stuck on twelve points for eighteen minutes and eventually forcing a tiebreaker.
Burgos was unable to maintain his high level of play in the third, sending Mulkerrins to his third final of the season.
“It was tired handball from both of us,” Mulkerrins told ESPN’s Kara Mack. “I was delighted to get the quick start in the tiebreaker. I had good chances at 13-13 in the second game and I missed some chances. This match had the ups and the downs. I had some good patches. The tiebreaker went mostly just one way and matches go like that sometimes. The finals is where you want to be. The strength and conditioning has been better the past few weeks. Tighten up a few things for tomorrow. Looking forward to who I’ll play tomorrow.”
Leo Canales played his best handball of the season in the first game, blitzing the defending LAAC champion Lucho Cordova in a nine-minute first game. Lucho was equally dominant in the second, raising his level and matching Canales’s first-game pace.
Canales built a 12-4 tiebreaker lead, despite battling exhaustion and cramping. With very little energy remaining, Canales opened up his game with the finish line in site, striking four deep-court kills to advance to his first final of the season.
“I played exactly how I wanted to play in the first game,” stated Canales. “I got so tired and I was just hoping for misses in the tiebreaker. I just went for broke in the tiebreaker and I hit them. He is just so hard to beat. Just happy I got the result today.”
R48 Semifinals
Mulkerrins def Burgos 15-5, 13-15, 15-2
Canales def Lucho 15-2, 7-15, 15-5
R48 Final (Sunday, 11:15 am PST): Mulkerrins vs. Canales
WR48 Semifinals
WR48 #1 Niamh Heffernan and WR48 #4 Mollie Dagg continued a rivalry that started when both were thirteen in Ireland in the first WR semifinal of the afternoon. Very little separated the two WR stars at any point in the match, with both hitting the ball extremely hard, moving well, and ending rallies with both hands. Heffernan won the first game after pulling away late, while Dagg did the same in the second.
The tiebreaker followed the same script, with the lead changing hands four times until Heffernan ultimately took control at 10-9.
“Really tough game,” stated Heffernan. “I just felt I wasn’t on top of my game. I misjudged setups. In the end I just needed to change something. I’m delighted to get over that game. I am just point-by-point, tiebreaker can go either way. I think I execute best under pressure. I know I have nothing to lose in the tiebreaker. I have to rev myself up. I’ve played Mollie since I was 13 and we’ve always gone tiebreakers.”
Aoife Holden defeated Suz Entzeroth for the second time this season in the bottom bracket semifinals, controlling the rallies with her power serve to the left and stiff-arm passes and kills. Holden ended the match with consecutive left first-strike kills, sending her to her second WR final of the season.
“Just too many hand errors and she played really well,” Suz would later say. “I’m happy with my earlier win (against Munroe). I just wish I could have played a little better against Aoife.”
“I have gotten more training games with the guys in Texas and I feel like I was making more kills today than I was in St. Louis,” stated Holden. “Suz is a really good player. For tomorrow, I’ll just get a good warm-up and play my game. I got off to a good start against Niamh in Tucson, so I’ll try to keep that going.”
WR48 Semifinals
Heffernan def Dagg 15-10, 10-15, 15-11
Holden def Koehler 15-5, 15-7
WR48 Final (Sunday, 10:30 am PST): Heffernan vs. Holden
SR48
Sean Lenning’s quest for a LAAC SR repeat was in jeopardy late in the second game against George Garcia, trailing by a game and Garcia serving with twelve in game two. Lenning escaped the second game and dominated the third to advance to his fourth SR final in four SR starts.
Tournament director Rafael Martinez advanced to his first SR final of his career, dominating the bottom bracket with two-game wins against Jorge Lopez and Leo Canales, Sr. Martinez will be seeking his career-best win on his home court in Sunday’s final.
SR48 Round of 8
Lenning def M. Ortega 15-2, 15-10
Garcia def C. Watkins 15-6, 15-12
Canales, Sr. def A. Garcia 12-15, 16-14, 15-9
Martinez def J. Lopez 15-5, 15-4
SR48 Semifinals
Lenning def G. Garcia 9-15, 15-12, 15-6
Martinez def Canales, Sr. 15-3, 15-4
SR48 Final (Sunday, 9 am PST): Lenning vs. Martinez
Follow all of the brackets from the 2026 Race 4 Eight LAAC HERE
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer