WPH Press, Portland, OR, 6/16/22
Thursday featured the Men’s Open Singles quarterfinals from the Multnomah Athletic Club in Portland, OR, with seven of the top men’s seeds and the U.S.’s youngest star in action. The Women’s Open Singles kicked off with round of 16 and quarterfinal action on Thursday.
Pre-Nationals Fun Facts HERE
Men’s Open Singles
Top-seeded, three-time USHA collegiate national champion and current R48 Player’s Champion Martin Mulkerrins faced current USHA collegiate national champion and countryman David Walsh in the day’s first quarterfinal. Mulkerrins edged past the steady Walsh in two games.
Martin Mulkerrins Pre-Nationals Chat HERE
Tucson rivals and top eight Race 4 Eight pros Sam Esser and Shorty Ruiz clashed for a spot in the semifinals, with Martin Mulkerrins awaiting the winner. Ruiz was able to overcome Esser in two close games, advancing to his first Four Wall Nationals semifinal.
Second-seeded Sean Lenning overcame Race 4 Eight rival Max Langmack in two games to continue his quest for his first USHA national four wall title.
Current GAA All Ireland champion Diarmaid Nash outmaneuvered multiple-time USHA junior national champion Ray Ure in two games to set up a clash with Sean Lenning on Friday.
Men’s Open Quarterfinals
Mulkerrins def D. Walsh 21-11, 21-12
Lenning def Langmack 21-14, 21-12
Nash def Ure 21-9, 21-6
Ruiz def Esser 21-18, 21-19
Women’s Open Singles
Top-seeded Catriona Casey and second-seeded Fiona Tully cruised to Friday’s semifinals with comprehensive two-game sweeps. Third-seed Ashley Moler and fourth-seeded Mikaila Esser also coasted into Friday’s semifinals with two-game sweeps.
Women’s Open Singles Quarterfinals
Casey def Kirk 21-0, 21-2
Tully def Rumping 21-3, 21-2
Moler def Hinman 21-10, 21-17
Esser def Hughes 21-20, 21-15
Catriona Casey Pre-Nationals Chat HERE
Fiona Tully Pre-Nationals Chat HERE
Friday Broadcast Schedule
Mulkerrins vs. Ruiz 11 am PST
Lenning vs. Nash Noon PST
Casey vs. Esser 1 pm PST
Tully vs. Moler 2 pm PST
Friday broadcast link, starting at 11 am PST HERE
For more on the 2022 USHA Four Wall Nationals, visit ushandball.org
Follow the Men’s Open Singles draw HERE
Follow the Women’s Open Singles draw HERE
Follow all of the draws HERE
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer