WPH Press, Portland, OR, 6/17/22
Friday at the Multnomah Athletic Club featured the Men’s and Women’s Open singles semifinals, with four players from Tucson and four players from Ireland.
Men’s Open Singles Semifinals
Martin Mulkerrins continued his mission to win his first USHA Four Wall Nationals after five top three finishes in five starts and to join Paul Brady as the only player to have won the WPH R48 Player’s Championship, the All Ireland Championship, and the USHA Four Wall Nationals. Tucson’s Shorty Ruiz would attempt to abort Martin’s mission. “This is a rematch, he beat me in December and I want to go out there and play hard,” stated Ruiz.
With the score tied at three in game one, Mulkerrins took control, playing nearly error-free handball, while finding the bottom brick with nearly every setup. Ruiz was never able to gain traction, as he was forced to play off his back foot, resulting in 27 errors in the two-game match.
“Get in and out, not dragging it on,” stated Mulkerrins to the WPH’s Kara Mack after advancing to the final. “The Player’s Championship was eight weeks ago, so I’m not sure how much momentum I have from that. Very tough game with David Walsh yesterday and it made me sharper today. Whichever serve works is what I’m going with. The serves down the left – I was just focusing on them more after not hitting that serve well yesterday. You have to adapt and change the serve if it’s not working. Look, we all make a lot of sacrifices to be here, travel, spending a lot of money, holiday from work, so we all want to win it.”
Sean Lenning (AZ) and Diarmaid Nash (IRE) played the most anticipated match of the event, as both entered the event in top form. The pair staged an epic clash in their last encounter three years ago in Montana, with Lenning overcoming five match points to win 19-17 in the third game.
Lenning started strong in game one, scoring the first six points in his first inning. Nash remained composed, chipping away at Lenning’s lead with several re kills and precise pass shots. Nash took his first lead at 11-9, only to see Lenning regain the lead at 13-11. Nash took over the match from there, outscoring Lenning 31-2 in the final 33 points of the match. “I told myself just get the ball back and get the ball into play because he might cool off (after trailing 0-6 in game one),” stated Nash in his post match interview. “I am delighted to get through. I’m expecting the ball to come at me100 mile per hour when I play Martin tomorrow. He has such power and his serve is such a weapon. I’ll try to keep him off-balance a bit and try to not let him get set as much as I can. That’s the game plan anyways.”
Men’s Open Singles Semifinals
Mulkerrins def Ruiz 21-7, 21-5
Nash def Lenning 21-13, 21-2
Final: Mulkerrins vs. Nash 12:15 pm PST
Women’s Open Semifinals
Catriona Casey was flawless in the upper bracket semifinal, dismantling Mikaila Esser in two quick games. “We’ve talked to Catriona about giving zeroes and she said if it was the other way around she would want her opponent to go for the zero and not patronize her and try to give her a point,” stated WPH play-by-play broadcaster Dave Vincent.
Current USHA collegiate national champion Fiona Tully survived a scare in the bottom bracket semifinal, winning game one and dropping game two against Ashley Moler. Tully took control in game one, using her serve and power to disrupt Moler’s rhythm, while also using the left side glass to force a number of Moler errors. Moler took an early lead in game two with an array of punch-fist kills and passes. Moler continued to apply pressure throughout the second frame, forcing a tiebreaker.
After falling behind early in the tiebreaker, Tully started to take advantage of her opportunities. “Tiebreakers are very nerve wracking!” stated Catriona Casey from the broadcast booth. Tully used her speed to keep rallies alive in the third, and once into the rally, found rally-ending shots.
Tully led 7-5 and cracked an ace for the pivotal eighth point that swung the momentum in her favor. A Moler error, a two-wall blast for the tenth point, and an ace ended the match.
“Fiona played aggressively in game three and seemed fresher and she didn’t really make any mistakes there in the tiebreaker,” stated Casey.
Women’s Open Semifinals
Casey def Esser 21-0, 21-2
Tully def Moler 21-14, 12-21, 11-5
Final: Casey vs. Tully 11 am PST
Watch the action from Friday’s semifinals HERE
Saturday 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
WATCH LIVE HERE:
Saturday, June 18, 2022 – WATCH HERE
11:00 Women’s Open Singles Final ~ Catriona Casey vs Fiona Tully
12:15 Men’s Open Singles Final ~ Martin Mulkerrins vs Diarmaid Nash
13:45 Women’s Open Doubles Semifinal ~ Casey/Tully vs Hinman/Kastner
14:45 Women’s Open Doubles Semifinal ~ Hughes/Schmitt vs Esser/Moler
15:45 Men’s Open Doubles Semifinal ~ Nash/Mulkerrins vs Collado/Torres
17:00 Men’s Open Doubles Semifinal ~ Buggy/Lynch vs Esser/Langmack
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer