Tucson, AZ, WPH Press, 4/15/23-
Super Saturday at the USHA Hall of Fame R48LTE produced five combined tiebreaker thrillers between the R48LTE quarterfinals and semifinals and Women’s Classic semifinals, leading to more glass-banging than any day in the history of the TRC.
Quarterfinals
Lucho def Esser 15-3, 13-15, 15-4
The R48 #1 appeared to be in complete control against Tucson’s Sam Esser, leading 15-3, 13-5. Esser launched a comeback with no warning, reeling off points with power serves and kills. Esser ended the game on a ten-point run, forcing a third. “I let down just a bit and was thinking about conserving energy and it cost me,” Lucho would later say. Lucho turned up the intensity in the third, retaking control of the match and advancing to the semifinal. “Lucho definitely turned up the intensity and was making really good gets, even on balls I thought I had killed,” stated Esser.
Danos def Canales 15-9, 8-15, 15-9
Danos and Canales met for the fourth time this season, with Canales having taken two of their first three encounters. Danos continued his stellar play from Friday and the Juarez LTE last month to start the match, racing to a 12-4 first-game lead and closing out the game, 15-8. Canales quickly took control in the second, offering few offensive opportunities and evening the match at one game apiece. The tiebreaker featured a number of incredible rallies, with both top five stars making jaw-dropping retrieves. With the match hanging in the balance, Danos was able to break a nine-all tie and score the final six points of the match to advance to his second consecutive semifinal.
Fink def Doyle 15-1, 15-12
Mark Doyle has defeated David Fink in their first two matchups this season, overcoming four match points in their first encounter in New Orleans and winning a razor close playoff match in Montana. Fink was ready for his 26-years-younger adversary on his home court, blitzing Doyle 15-1 in the first. Doyle started to find his range in the second, staying within striking distance and eventually leading 11-9. “I played as well as I could play in the first game and Mark was not as sharp,” stated Fink. “My game dropped a bit in the second and Mark’s level improved, so of course I became unhinged. We both missed a bunch of opportunities late in the second, but I hit a great ace on my fourth match point to win.”
Unfortunately for Fink, his back spasmed during the handshake, rendering him unable to move and unable to play his quarterfinal later in the day.
Lenning def Mulkerrins 8-15, 16-14, 15-8
The blockbuster matchup of the morning featured former R48 #1’s Sean Lenning and Martin Mulkerrins. Mulkerrins led 3-2 in their head-to-head matchups coming into their quarterfinal and looked to be in control of the match, leading 15-8, 14-10. Mulkerrins was just one point from a straightforward two-game sweep, but Lenning had other ideas. Lenning saved Martin’s only match point at 14-10 and scored five straight points to force overtime. Mulkerrins only served one more time in the second game at 14-15 but could not score, as Lenning forced a third. Lenning feasted on a number of revolving door serves in the tiebreaker and added a number of his trademark kills and aces to upset the R48 #2.
Semifinals
Lucho def Danos 16-14, 8-15, 15-2
Lucho and Danos met in the upper bracket semifinal for the second consecutive event. Danos led throughout most of game one, seemingly playing with more vigor and energy than his older brother. Neither was able to put the ball down consistently, mostly due to fatigue and knowing one another’s games so well. Danos served for the game but could not convert, leading to the highlight of the season from Lucho – at 14-14, a behind the back corner kill that propelled him to an overtime game one win.
Lucho quickly fell behind 8-1 in the second and never threatened, as both Danos and Lucho would be playing a tiebreaker for the second time on Super Saturday. A grueling rally at two-all seemed to eliminate what was left of Danos’s energy, as Lucho systematically scored thirteen straight points to set up a second consecutive final against Lenning.
Lenning def Fink (forfeit due to back spasms)
Final: Lucho vs. Lenning 11:15 am MST
Women’s Classic
Semifinals
Ruiz def Monroe 21-6, 21-1
Ashley Ruiz emphatically exacted her revenge against Clodagh Monroe in the upper bracket semifinal, trouncing Monroe in two games and allowing Monroe to score just seven points in two games. Ruiz played arguably the best match of her career, playing every shot with purpose and giving Monroe virtually no opportunities to dictate rallies. “I am a different person now,” stated Ruiz, who lost to Monroe in the semifinals of the WR48LTE New Orleans in January.
Esser def Daskalakis 13-21, 21-14, 11-9
Mikaila Esser arguably claimed the best 4-Wall win of her career, coming back from a one-game deficit to defeat one of the sport’s most stylish stars, Danielle Daskalakis in one of the best matches of the event. Known for her 3-Wall prowess, Esser brought her winning attitude against 2D, using her length and athleticism to keep rallies alive. “Mikaila is very hard to read and she hit so many shots that just died in the corners that I thought I would get,” stated Daskalakis.
Final: Ruiz vs. Esser 10 am MST
WPH IS NOT PROVIDING A STREAM/LINK FOR THIS EVENT. SOME MATRCHES MAY BE UPLOADED AT A LATER TIME; ONLY LIMITEFD MATCHES WERE RECORDED
Follow all of the brackets from the 2023 R48LTE USHA Hall of Fame HERE
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer