73rd USHA National Four-Wall Championships
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. — Phenomenal handball finals highlighted Memorial Day Weekend of the 2024 USHA Four-Wall National Championships. Four of the five Pro / Open Divisions were decided by tiebreakers and exciting finales. Killian Carroll reclaimed his spot as our Men’s Pro Singles Champion; while Danielle Daskalakis played unbelievable in the Women’s Pro Singles final against Fiona Tully to win her second Women’s Four-Wall National Singles title. Read more in the following summary of the 73rd USHA National Four-Wall Championships at Los Cab.
Men’s Open Singles: Killian Carroll vs. Martin Mulkerrins
Killian Carroll won his fifth USHA National Four-Wall Men’s Open Singles title by defeating Martin Mulkerrins in a tiebreaker in an incredible match.
The defending champion Mulkerrins didn’t make it easy on Carroll as he came out strong in the first game. Carroll did his best to run Mulkerrins around the court, but anytime Mulkerrins was able to get his feet set and step into a shot, he almost always ended the rally. The players found themselves tied at 15 in the first game when Mulkerrins caught fire. He rattled off six-straight points that included several kill shots and a few serves that cracked out for aces.
Game two was a one-sided affair the whole way. Carroll countered Mulkerrins’ first-game energy with a red hot start, and he jumped out to a 12-0 lead to start the game–a lead he never relinquished, winning 21-8 to force the tiebreaker.
Carroll set the tone for the tiebreaker by hitting four of the flattest rollouts of the tournament to start the game and built a 4-0 lead before Mulkerrins entered the service box. Mulkerrins battled back to 4-5, but Carroll again caught fire towards the end of the tiebreaker, rolling balls out flat and keeping Mulkerrins on the move. At 10-4, Carroll hit an amazing serve down the left that had Mulkerrins leaning right and double bounced before hitting the back-wall. Mulkerrins couldn’t get a hand on it and Carroll clinched the 2024 Four-Wall National title, his fifth.
Watch the replay on the Men’s Final on our YouTube Channel HERE.
Women’s Open Singles: Danielle Daskalakis vs. Fiona Tully
The Women’s Singles final featured former four-wall champion Danielle Daskalakis against multiple time runner-up and one of the best Irish Women’s player, Fiona Tully. Each player looked impressive in their semifinals, with Daskalakis defeating Collegiate Champion Clodagh Munroe, and Tully overcoming top player Ashley Ruiz.
The first game between Daskalakis and Tully was one of the most exciting of the tournament. The players traded leads throughout the first game with both displaying excellent play. Daskalakis found herself up 20-18 and serving for the first game. Tully though returned Daskalakis serve with a rollout and quickly tied the game up at 20-20. She then hit a laser serve down the left side that forced an error from Daskalakis, granting Tully the first game victory.
The second game remained close for most of the game, but when down 13-15 Daskalakis caught fire and rattled off the next eight points with an impressive array of kill shots and amazing serves that Tully couldn’t get her hands on.
Daskalakis jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the tiebreaker, only to be caught by Tully at 4. Daskalakis regained the serve and scored another 3 points to build a 7-4 lead, only to be passed by Tully and trail 8-7. Daskalakis sided her out there and scored the next three points and served for the match at 10-7. A back-wall error though from Daskalakis gave the serve back to Tully.
In the ensuing rally, Tully hit a huge set-up off the back-wall that Daskalakis took near shoulder height close to the front-wall and still found a way to roll it out by clipping the side wall then the front wall. Many in the crowd commented it was one of the best shots they had ever seen.
Daskalakis capitalized this time for match point by converting a back-wall setup with her left hand that she killed down the right. It was a great win for Daskalakis and you could tell it meant a lot to her. It’s her second title and she seems to only be improving. Living in California and playing four-wall more regularly has made a tremendous impact for her.
Watch a replay of the Women’s Final on our YouTube channel HERE.
Men’s Open Doubles Final:
In the Men’s Open Doubles, Killian Carroll and Martin Mulkerrins successfully defended their title. It was a rematch of the final last year against Ray Ure and Ivan Burgos. Like last year, this year’s match went to a tiebreaker, and Carroll and Mulkerrins leaned on their experience to prevail.
Fiona Tully and Clodagh Munroe won the Women’s Open Doubles title by defeating Mikaila Esser and Ashley Ruiz in two games. It was Munroe’s first USHA Four-Wall National Open title and Tully’s second time winning the doubles.
Thank You to our amazing USHA Volunteers!
It was a great weekend at the Los Caballeros Sports Village filled with amazing player and people playing tremendous matches. Los Cab is a player and fan favorite site with a storied history of hosting several USHA Four-Wall National Championships. This year’s championships were another great chapter in the club’s legacy.
None of this could have happened without the amazing teamwork and volunteer help. A SPECIAL THANK YOU to Mark Zamora and the Southern California Handball Association. Zamora coordinated local organizations to help cook and serve up amazing hospitality each day. It’s not a Nationals at Los Cab without Hall of Fame Contributor Gary Cruz working non-stop behind the scenes. Finally, a big thank you to our desk of volunteers, representing Missouri State University and Texas A&M Handball Clubs! Handball has a bright future and a slew of young (now “seasoned”) veterans who can run tournaments!
See the final results and draws HERE.
Congrats to all of our 2024 USHA National Four-Wall Championships:
Open Singles: Killian Carroll
Open Doubles: Killian Carroll/Martin Mulkerrins
Women’s Open: Danielle Daskalakis
Women’s Open Doubles: Fiona Tully/Clodagh Munroe
Women’s A Singles: Laura Finn
Women’s B Singles: Sarah Walsh
Open Big Ball: Ivan Chapa
Open Amateur Singles: Cian O’Driscoll
A Singles: Ian McLoughlin
A Doubles: Adam Walsh/Cian O’Driscoll
B Singles: Darragh Mulkerrins
B Doubles: John Hurley/Jack McNeela
C Singles: John Hurley
35 Singles: Adam Bernhard
40 Singles: Adam Bernhard
40 Doubles: Eddie Silveyra/Jorge Lopez
45 Singles: George Garcia Jr.
50 Singles: Chris Watkins
50B Singles: Brian Henson
50 Doubles: Chris Watkins/Alex Garcia
55 Singles: Leo Canales Sr.
55 Doubles: John Bike Jr./John Robles
60 Singles: Steve Roberts
60B Singles: Ron Walsworth
60 Doubles: Gary Scogin/Steve Roberts
65 Singles: David Streibig
65 Doubles: Gary Scogin/Lloyd Garcia
70 Singles: Mike Barna
70 Doubles: Bob Lohmueller/Mike Barna
70B Singles: Bob Housman
75 Singles: Edward Campbell
75 Doubles: Edward Campbell/Merv Deckert
80 Singles: James Ward
80 Doubles: Jim Smith/Rick Graham
Nationals Banquet and Tom Sove Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony:
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. — On Saturday night, the tournament players and guests gathered in the Terrace room at the Los Caballeros Sports Village for the banquet.
After opening remarks from USHA Executive Director Matt Krueger and USHA President Denis Hogan, World Handball Council member Dessie Keegan was invited up to speak on the 2024 World Handball Championships taking place in Ireland later this year. Keegan said Ireland is excited to play host this year to the World’s and hoping for large contingent of Americans to make the trip across the pond.
Next, Jim Ward was honored with his Grand Master sweater. Grand Master sweater’s are awarded to players who have won 10 age division national titles. Ward earned his last year at the Master Doubles, and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down at 80 years old as he has already added one title this weekend with a chance at another.
Next was Tom Sove’s Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. It began with a speech from Gary Cruz. Cruz and Sove have worked countless hours together administrating tournaments. Cruz went over all Sove has done for handball, from chairing committee’s to raising thousands of dollars for the development of handball and everything in between.
Next was Sove’s daughter Erika, who played handball at Lake Forest and spent many years with her dad around handball. She let her dad know who was the better player and reminded him who had more national titles, but also made sure the crowd knew just how much her father loved handball and the hours he has dedicated to it.
Lastly, USHA Board Member LeaAnn Martin gave the final speech on Sove and officially welcomed him in to the Hall of Fame. Martin and Sove have spent decades together on the Board and have formed a strong relationship through the good times and bad times of handball.
In Sove’s acceptance speech, he touched on how much the game has meant to him and thanked several people who have helped him grow the sport over the years. He of course went over some of the rules of our game and reminded everyone to wear your eye guards when you’re on the court!
He closed by urging players to continue playing and to support our youth and collegiate programs, as they are the future of the game going forward.
You watch the banquet video on our YouTube Channel HERE.
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Early Tournament Recap:
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. — The Los Caballeros Sports Village was a welcome site to handball players at the 73rd USHA Four-Wall Nationals. It’s a beautiful facility, and the near 270 players enjoyed seeing old friends as they renewed their rivalries on the court.
With only eight courts available, days have been filled with handball from the early a.m. to the late p.m. hours, and players and spectators have packed the galleries for all of them.
In the Men’s Open, defending champion Martin Mulkerrins has looked dominant in his title defense. Mulkerrins held Sam Esser to singles digits in each game of their quarterfinal match, and then did the same to Leo Canales Jr. in their semifinal match. Canales Jr. had an impressive quarterfinal win over 2022 national champion Diarmuid Nash.
Mulkerrins will take on Killian Carroll in the final who has looked equally strong. Carroll made quick work of rising star Ray Ure in his quarterfinal, before outlasting Sean Lenning in the semifinal.
Lenning knocked Carroll out in the semifinals last year, and Carroll looked motivated to defeat Lenning this time. The first game Carroll was flawless and won handily. Game two saw Lenning come to life and the players traded blows throughout the game. Carroll kept fighting though, and fought off 5 of Lenning serves at game point! He finally closed out game two 21-20 to advance to the finals.
The heavyweight battle in the mens open final between Carroll and Mulkerrins will take place Sunday at noon.
On the Women’s side, all of the top four seeds have advanced and the semifinals are set.
Fiona Tully and Ashley Ruiz will do battle on the top side of the bracket, while Danielle Daskalakis and Clodagh Munroe will face off on the bottom half. None of these players have dropped even a game so far and both semifinals should be exciting.
You can follow along with all the draws HERE.
Start times and draws will be posted on Monday, May 20th. When they are available, you can view them HERE. Please be sure to check them each day leading up to the tournament as times are subject to change.
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