Fountain Valley, CA, WPH Press, 6/30/19- Day 5: Sunday
(Editor’s Note: For info regarding Brady’s historic weekend, scroll down for “Saturday’s Wrap Up”)
Women’s Singles Final: Casey vs. Ni Churraoin
Catriona Casey was seeking her fourth USHA Women’s National Four Wall Championship on Sunday morning, while the WR48 #2 and current USHA Collegiate National champion Ciana Ni Churraoin was seeking her first pro singles title.
CNC stormed out of the gates in game one, pushing Casey from side to side and overpowering the WR48 #1 en route to a shocking 21-4 first game win. Casey changed her strategy in game two, switching to a power serve to the left that faded into the back left corner. The serve ignited Casey, who was able to establish front court position for the first time in the match. Casey executed a high percentage of fly kills and corner kills to take control of the match, turning a 21-4 loss into a 21-8 victory to force a third game.
CNC started with the serve in the third but dumped the third shot of the first rally into the ground, handing the advantage to Casey. Two CNC errors and two Casey kills quickly gave Casey a 4-0 lead. Casey extended the lead with more kills and several CNC deep court errors, eventually running the tables en route to her fifth singles national title.
“The first game was a combination of Ciana playing really well and me never really getting started,” Casey would later say. “I know that no matter what happens in the first game you have to start fresh in game two and that’s what I had to do. I expect this type of difficult match from Ciana every time we play. I’ll take a couple of weeks off before I start preparing for the 60×30 season (in Ireland), and I look forward to Minnesota next year.
Final: Casey def Ni Churraoin 4-21, 21-8, 11-0
Men’s Doubles Final: Lenning/Chavez vs. Team Cordova
Team Lenning/Chavez stunned the Flying Cordovas in game one, as Lenning reeled off crack serves and Chavez controlled the front of the court. Game two was more of the same, as Lenning and Chavez raced to an 18-2 lead. “This is just an exhibition by Lenning and Chavez,” declared play-by-play announcer Dave Vincent. Lenning and Chavez allowed Team Cordova to make it somewhat competitive but closed the door at 20-11 for the title.
Final: Lenning/Chavez def Team Cordova 21-11, 21-11
Thank you!
Thank you to the USHA, Los Cab Sports Village, the LAFD, and all of the volunteers who made the 69th USHA National Four Wall Championships such a phenomenal week.
To follow all of the brackets from the 69th USHA National Four Wall Championships, go HERE
For more information on the 69th USHA National Four Wall Championships, go to ushandball.org
To read the wrap up of this tournament from the USHA, go HERE>
Gather exclusive handball content before anyone else gets to see, Go HERE>
Read GAA Handball’s Coverage of this event, HERE>
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer
69th USHA National Four-Wall Championships – Fountain Valley, CA – Los Caballeros Sports Village
(Times: Local time zone – Pacific Daylight time)
Brackets HERE>
Fountain Valley, CA, WPH Press, 6/29/19- Day 4: Saturday
Men’s Pro Singles:
Mulkerrins vs. Brady
Paul Brady entered Saturday’s in pursuit of the record-tying 11th USHA National Four Wall title (Alvarado, Sr.), while Martin Mulkerrins was appearing in his third USHA National Four Wall final (2013, 2018) and seeking his first title. Both players were dominant en route to the final, as Brady defeated R48 #11 Shorty Ruiz, R48 #4 Lucho Cordova, and R48 #5 David Fink and Mulkerrins defeated the three-time defending champion and R48 #1 Killian Carroll.
Brady raced to a 9-0 start in game one, keeping Mulkerrins off-balance with power and first-strike offense. Mulkerrins worked his way into the first game by defending Brady’s serve to the left to the ceiling, cutting the deficit to four at 8-12. Brady turned up the intensity, scoring four consecutive points to retake command of the game. The players traded points until the end of the game, with Brady taking a one-game lead, 21-11.
Martin played with more purpose and offense to start game two, holding Brady to just one point in the first 14 minutes of the game en route to a 4-1 lead. Mulkerrins could not keep Brady at bay after controlling the first five points, as Brady shifted to another gear with the record-tying 11th title in his grasp. Brady ignited his sprint to the finish line with two right handed back wall kills to the left to tie the score at four and never looked back, outscoring Mulkerrins 20-3 after trailing 1-4. When Brady clinched the final point, “The Gunner” roared a primal scream and fell to his knees, as his quest to reach the pinnacle of the sport was met.
“This journey took so much sacrifice,” stated an emotional Brady. “I want to thank Martin and congratulate him. You have to lose some of these before you can win one. I feel like I could have surpassed the record had it not been for my broken finger (in 2011) and a few serves that I didn’t execute against Killian (in 2016). If my wife lets me train and dedicate myself next year maybe I’ll come back.”
Final
Brady def Mulkerrins 21-11, 21-7
Women’s Singles:
Catriona Casey continued to demonstrate why she is one of the world’s most dominant athletes, overwhelming Brooklyn lefty Danielle Daskalakis to advance to the final. Daskalakis grabbed an early 3-2 lead in game one, no small feat against the world’s best player. 2D sprinkled in a number of corner fly kills to tally a respectable 13 combined points in two games.
In a rematch of the 2019 USHA Collegiate National final, WR48 #2 Ciana Ni Churraoin blitzed Tully in the highly anticipated semifinal, never allowing the young star into the match. “Ciana has great athleticism, power, and she can hit all of the shots,” stated Ni Churraoin’s college coach Dr. Mike Wells.
Final (Sunday): Casey vs. Ni Churraoin (10 am PST)
Men’s A Singles:
Walsh vs. Palma
The Men’s A singles was loaded with future talent, as a number of soon-to-be qualifiers headlined the field. Ireland’s David Walsh met Southern California’s Ricardo Palma in Saturday’s final, as both would be seeking his biggest career title. Palma dominated game one and led throughout game two but fell two points shy of the clinching the match. Palma regrouped, building a 9-0 lead in the tiebreaker. Walsh was relentless, overcoming what he perceived to be bad calls and stunning Palma with 11 straight points.
Final:
Walsh def Palma 12-21, 21-19, 11-9
Men’s Pro Doubles
Top seeded Sean Lenning and Marcos Chavez faced Missouri State “young guns” Max Langmack and San Esser for a spot in the final in the upper bracket, while the Flying Cordovas challenged national finalists Carroll and Mulkerrins in the bottom bracket semifinals.
Lenning and Chavez dominated game one against Team Kansas and led 13-7 in game two in what appeared to be a route. Team Jayhawk finally worked their way into the match, as Esser hit four ace serves to Chavez on the right and eventually took a 16-13 lead. A right hand error in the front court by Langmack handed Lenning and Chavez a side out, allowing the veterans to retake the lead. The experience of Lenning and Chavez was the difference in the end, as the top seeds escaped, 21-19.
The Flying Cordovas were aiming for revenge against Team Ireland, having lost to Carroll and Mulkerrins 21-20, 21-20 at the 2018 World Championships/Nationals. Nothing separated the two teams in the 70-minute first game, as they found themselves tied at 20 for the third consecutive game. A Carroll left-handed spike error on game point for Team Ireland handed the Flying Cordovas the serve and the FC’s capitalized, winning the game with a Lucho error. Game two was all Team Ireland, as the match entered the third hour and third game.
The Cordovas built a seemingly comfortable 10-5 lead, but a side out, two Mulkerrins ace serves and a Carroll kill shot quickly erased the once comfortable lead. The Flying Cordovas’ poise and teamwork proved to be the difference, earning a side out and winning the match on a patented Lucho right hand left-corner kill.
Semifinals
Lenning/Chavez def Langmack/Esser 21-6, 21-19
Team Cordova def Carroll/Mulkerrins 21-20, 9-21, 11-8
Final (Sunday): Lenning/Chavez vs. Team Cordova (11 am PST)
JR WPH/USHA Junior Clinic
Six of the world’s top pros teamed up with seven of the Southern California junior stars for a special Pro/Am 3-Wall championship on Los Cab’s 3-Wall courts. The juniors played between 5-7 matches with their heroes, enjoying the camaraderie and competition that makes handball the perfect game. “This was the most fun experience of what has been the perfect tournament,” stated WPH Development Director David Fink. “Sharing the court with the juniors and seeing their smiles is why the WPH and the USHA are so motivated to teach handball to as many people as we can.”
Broadcast Schedule HERE
To follow all of the brackets from the 69th USHA National Four Wall Championships, go HERE
For more information on the 69th USHA National Four Wall Championships and daily wrap up, go to ushandball.org
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer
Then there was 2019…
Brady defeated Martin Mulkerrins 21-11, 21-7 in the finals today and had a remarkable tournament where opponents scored just over 7 points per game in four rounds.
Congratulations to Paul Brady for getting his 11th trophy and at the age of 39.
View all of the brackets for this event, HERE>
Saturday’s Remaining Broadcast Schedule, HERE>
Fountain Valley, CA, WPH Press, 6/28/19- Day 3: Friday
2013 USHA National Four Wall finalist and 2018 GAA All Ireland 40×20 champion Martin Mulkerrins ended Killian Carroll’s three-year run as the USHA national champion, dominating game one and holding off a gritty Carroll in game two. “I got up 10-2 in game one like I have in our last few matches but unlike in those matches, I was able to close out the game,” stated Mulkerrins. “The second game was just a good game. My serve was working like it was against Daniel yesterday and I got some cracks, which helps against him. I was able to move him throughout both games and not just let him get comfortable making kills in the front. I feel great for tomorrow.”
Paul Brady was dominant against fellow 40-something David Fink, never allowing Fink into either game by overpowering and outmaneuvering the Tucson lefty. “This is less about Fink’s ability and more about Brady being Brady,” said WPH Analyst, Dave Vincent. “Brady was as crippling to Fink as Fink was to Lenning a day earlier. This happens in sport.”
Semifinals
Mulkerrins def Carroll 21-13, 21-19
Brady def Fink 21-3, 21-1
Final (Saturday): Mulkerrins vs. Brady (noon PST)
Women’s Singles
Top-seeded Catriona Casey overcame a motivated Kena Byrd-Jackson to advance to the semis, while second-seeded Ciana Ni Churraoin defeated Rebecca Mulholland to book her spot in Saturday’s semifinals.
Third-seeded Fionna Tully overcame a slow start against Jennifer Schmitt to cruise in two games. “I wasn’t great in the beginning but I got my serve going,” stated Tully.
Brooklyn friends and rivals Tracy Davis and Danielle Daskalakis met for a spot in the women’s semifinal and to determine the highest-finishing American woman. Daskalakis took a close first game but was pushed to a third by an offensive-minded Davis in game two. Davis built a 7-4 lead in the tiebreaker but two right-handed Davis errors and three left-handed Daskalakis left-handed whip kills erased the deficit. Daskalakis served for the match at 10-7 but could not score the final point, as Davis fought off two match points and struck two perfect stiff-arm kills to tie the score at 10. Davis came up short on her match point attempt, allowing Daskalakis to serve for the math for a third time. On the fifth shot of her third match point, Daskalakis hit an overhand left right corner kill, stunning Davis and clinching the match. “I just decided to go for the Ashley Moler cross court spike and it worked,” stated Daskalakis. “I wasn’t feeling too comfortable with my serve or kills, so I tried to use the ceiling and the walls.”
Quarterfinals
Casey def Byrd-Jackson 21-7, 21-0
Ni Churraoin def Mulholland 21-3, 21-3
Tully def Schmitt 21-11, 21-1
Daskalakis def Davis 21-16, 6-21, 11-10
Semifinals
Casey vs. Daskalakis (10 am PST)
Ni Churraoin vs. Tully (11 am PST)
Saturday’s Broadcast Schedule is posted HERE: https://wphlive.tv/wphlivetv-to-broadcast-the-4-wall-nationals/
The men’s and women’s pro doubles semifinals will be featured on Saturday, as well as the men’s pro big ball singles.
To follow all of the brackets from the 69th USHA National Four Wall Championships, go HERE
For more information on the 69th USHA National Four Wall Championships, go to ushandball.org
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer
Thursday’s Wrap; Friday’s Broadcast Schedule – The Men’s Pro Singles featured the top eight seeds playing for spots in Friday’s semifinals, as well as a number of outstanding matches in the skill level and age division brackets.
Top-seeded and three-time defending champion Killian Carroll started quickly against the LAAC’s Vic Perez, racing to a 10-0 lead. Perez rallied, cutting the deficit to four at 12-16. Carroll was able to take control from there, taking the first game and cruising in the second to advance.
“I felt like I was playing well,” Perez would later say. “He got off to a good start but I got into the game late in the first.”
Martin Mulkerrins and Danos Cordova met for the first time since Danos defeated Mulkerrins in the USHA Collegiate National Final in 2014. The rematch was one-way traffic, as Mulkerrins overpowered Danos to move into the semis.
Paul Brady and Lucho Cordova met for the second time in less than a year. Brady defeated Lucho in two close games at the 2018 World Championships in August and Thursday’s encounter started similarly. Lucho led throughout the first game before being tied at 15. Brady served for the game at 20-16 but Cordova charged back, earning a side out and striking three consecutive kills to pull within one at 19-20. An over hit Lucho serve resulted in an easy kill for Brady to earn the side out and a right-handed kill ended the game for Brady. “The Gunner” cruised in game two. “Paul was playing well, but I felt like I had my chances,” stated Lucho.
Sean Lenning and David Fink split matches on the R48 tour this season, with both earning wins in the late spring. Fink took control of the quarterfinal clash from the outset, executing a high percentage of kills, while defending Lenning’s bullet serves and drives. “That’s the best I’ve ever seen you play,” Fred Chapman shouted at Fink after the match.
Men’s Pro Singles Quarterfinals
Carroll def Perez 21-14, 21-8
Mulkerrins def Danos 21-12, 21-7
Brady def Lucho 21-19, 21-8
Fink def Lenning 21-4, 21-6
Men’s Pro Singles Semifinals (Friday) – Watch LIVE on WPHLive.tv. Look for the broadcast Schedule, HERE>
Carroll vs. Mulkerrins (11 am PST)
Brady vs. Fink (Noon PST)
Hall of Fame Induction
David Chapman and Vince Munoz were inducted into the USHA Hall of Fame in a touching tribute to their sensational handball careers and the Nationals banquet. Thank you to the USHA for the outstanding banquet and for recognizing two of the game’s legends.
To follow all of the brackets from the 69th USHA National Four Wall Championships, go HERE
For more information on the 69th USHA National Four Wall Championships, go to ushandball.org
Fountain Valley, CA, WPH Press, 6/26/19-
Day 1: Wednesday
More than 300 of the world’s best professional and age bracket players gathered at the Los Cab Sports Village for the 69th USHA National Four Wall Championships.
One of the strongest Men’s Pro Singles Nationals draws of the past decade kicked off on Wednesday morning, with the 28-man field shrunk to just eight by day’s end.
Round of 32 Highlights
Rising star Niall O’Connor overcame Midwest sensation Sam Esser, while O’Connor’s NYAC teammate Stephen Cooney overcame St. Louis’ Jeff Streibig in the round of 32’s two best matches. O’Connor advanced in a thrilling 11-8 tiebreaker, while Cooney handed the hustling and diving Gateway City’s Streibig an 11-7 loss.
Max Langmack, Abraham Montijo, Emmett Peixoto, Loren Collado, Erik Torres, and Shorty Ruiz joined O’Connor and Cooney in the round of 16 to meet the top eight seeds on Wednesday evening.
Round of 16
The round of 16 featured all top eight seeds advancing in two games, as three-time defending champion Killian Carroll outlasted junior rival O’Connor, Sean Lenning crushed Kansas’ Max Langmack in one of the tallest combined matches in pro handball history, Lucho Cordova overcame Cooney, Danos Cordova survived a second-game charge from the Olympic Club’s Loren Collado, Martin Mulkerrins overwhelmed Tucson’s Abraham Montijo, Paul Brady fought off a challenge from Shorty Ruiz, David Fink erased a 13-4 first-game deficit to defeat the Olympic Club’s Erik Torres, and Vic Perez needed two hours to defeat Emmett Peixoto.
Thursday morning’s quarterfinals should be sensational. See below for the matchups. The WPH and USHA will broadcast the 69th USHA National Four Wall Championships starting at 10 am PST on Friday, June 28.
Men’s Pro Singles Quarterfinals (Thursday)
Carroll vs. Perez (Noon PST)
Danos vs. Mulkerrins (11 am PST)
Lucho vs. Brady (Noon PST)
Lenning vs. Fink (11 am PST)
To follow all of the brackets from the 69th USHA National Four Wall Championships, go HERE
For more information on the 69th USHA National Four Wall Championships, go to ushandball.org
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer