The 2015 WPH Outdoor 3-Wall “X” Fest- The Xrossover Revolution and Junior 1-Wall Challenge: Upset Sunday!

Pro men’s and women’s big ball concluded on Sunday and Xrossover champions were crowned in Venice Beach.

Catriona Casey slammed the Xrossover Revolution, adding the women’s big ball title to Saturday’s small ball title. Casey avenged her 2014 loss to WPH Outdoor Women’s #1 Tanisha Groomes and handing the #1 just her second big ball singles loss in 18 events. Casey trailed 6-4 in the tiebreaker against Groomes in the semifinals after dropping game one and evening the match at one game-all with a second game victory. As Casey had done in the small ball final, Casey ended the match by scoring the final seven points to advance to the final. Casey faced New York’s all-around handball superstar Danielle Daskalakis in the women’s big ball final. Casey dropped game one before rallying to dominate games two and three to become the only player in the Xrossover Revolution to wins both the small ball and big ball events.

Top seeds Juan Santos and Samzon Hernandez appeared to be on a collision course to face one another in the finals but their semifinal opponents had other ideas. Ramon “Lobo” Valencia overwhelmed his frequent sparring partner and #1 WPH Outdoor star with precise lobs and perfectly placed “drop” kills. Lobo earned the biggest win of his WPH Outdoor career, advancing to his first singles final, 11-7, 11-8.

Samzon Hernandez faced Alfredo Morales in the second semifinal. Morales seized control against the “Machine” and the heavy favorite in game one, racing to a 10-4 lead. A late push by Hernandez closed the gap to 9-10, but the gap proved too large to overcome, as “Fredo” took a one-game lead, 11-9. Game two featured the best handball of the event, as both superstars dazzled galleries with outstanding shot making and retrieves. Morales served for the match at 10-9 and earned three setups that would have ended the match but Hernandez kept the rally alive with two dives and a rekill. An 18-shot rally at 10-10 ended with both Morales and Hernandez on the ground just a few feet from the front wall, with Hernandez ultimately executing a perfectly placed pass to extend the match. Hernandez raced to an 8-3 lead in the third game and seemingly on the verge of another finals appearance but Morales climbed back into the game with patience and percentage handball. Two costly Hernandez left-handed errors and three Morales kill shots tied the score at nine and Morales needed just four more swings to end the match and earn his greatest singles victory, 11-9, 10-11, 11-9. “I just told myself to relax,” Morales would later say in reference to trailing 3-8 in the third game. “I just went for my shots and it worked.”

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Lobo Valencia was too strong in the final, dominating the front court with precise kills and passes and scrambling effectively when necessary. Valencia needed just 17 minutes to clinch his first WPH Outdoor singles title, 11-6, 11-4.

Xrossover Champions!

Sean Lenning clinched the Men’s Xrossover (cross over) Championship with his small ball victory and round of eight big ball finish. Catriona Casey clinched the Women’s Xrossover Championship by winning both the women’s small ball and big ball divisions. Victor Corona takes down the 55+ Senior Cross-Over Cup; while, Christian Lopez wins the A/B trophy.  Congratulations!

Thanks!

Huge thanks to Dave Vincent, Lolita Vincent, Matt Titaino, David Fink, Tom Flores, Javi Flores, Albert Martinez, Ricky Ruiz, Timbo Gonzalez, Alfredo Morales, Sal Duenas and those who made the Xrossover Revolution a huge success.To follow all of the action from Venice Beach, Like the World Players of Handball on Facebook, follow the WPH on Twitter @wphlive.tv and @dfwph and go to wphlive.tv. To follow all of the draws and scores, click Here>

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