Saunders wins eighth national doubles title

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John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press archives Jennifer Saunders and partner Jos��e Grand�Maitre came from behind for the win. (JOHN WOODS)

FOR the eighth time in the last 10 years, Jennifer Saunders is a Canadian women's doubles racquetball champion.

The Winnipegger, partnered with Josée Grand'Maitre (Longueuil, Que.), defeated the Montreal-based team of Brandi Jacobson Prentice and Frederique Lambert 2-0 (16-14, 15-10) in the final at the Racquetball Canada Senior Canadian Championships in Brossard, Que. Tuesday morning.

Jacobson Prentice and Lambert, the 2010 doubles champs, jumped out to a 14-11 lead in the first set but couldn't close out the veteran pair. From there, Saunders and Grand'Maitre kept the second set close, finally pulling away near the midway point for the win.

Saunders and Grand'Maitre have owned the women's doubles in Canada, winning in 2003-07, 2009, 2011 and now in 2012. Saunders is also a three-time defending national singles champion (2009-11) and a five-time winner of the Canadian women's title (she also was victorious in 2002 and 2005).

The 35-year-old is the top seed in the singles bracket of 16 and begins defence of her crown when she faces Lindsay Swaine of Etobicoke, Ont. this afternoon.

Saunders hopes to become the first woman to win four straight national championships since Heather Strupp won six straight in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Top athletes named

MATTHEW Fraser of the Garden City Fighting Gophers and Vanessa Christiuk of the Morris Mavericks are the Manitoba High School Athletic Association athletes of the week.

Fraser, a 6-foot-1 goalkeeper on the soccer team, posted four shutouts in nine games, leading the Fighting Gophers to an undefeated season and a berth in the Kildonan Peguis Athletic Conference finals.

"Matt always has a positive attitude on and off the field," Garden City coach Mike Peterson said in a statement. "He is the vocal leader from the back and constantly quarterbacks his team during the entire game. He is a reliable teammate and consistently makes timely saves at key points throughout games."

Christiuk is a key member of the Morris fastpitch squad. A starting pitcher and team captain, the Grade 12 student struck out 14 batters in a recent game against the Mennonite Collegiate Blues and chipped in offensively with a triple.

"Vanessa is a very dedicated student athlete," coach Stephanie Kurylko said. "She is a great motivator with her teammates and is always enthusiastic. Vanessa is constantly working to improve through hard work and her passion for sport. She continues to be a positive leader on both our teams and the school community."

-- Adam Wazny

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 23, 2012 C7