{{short description|American racquetball player}} {{Infobox sportsperson | headercolor = | name = Michelle Key | image = | image_size = <!--Only for images narrower than 220 pixels.--> | caption = | birth_name = | fullname = | nickname = | nationality = American | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|8|18}} | birth_place = Phoenix, Arizona | death_date = | death_place = | height = <!-- {{convert|}} (yyyy) --> | weight = <!-- {{convert|}} (yyyy) --> | website = | country = | sport = Racquetball | event = | collegeteam = | plays = | team = | turnedpro = | coach = | retired = | coaching = | titles = | finals = | highestranking = 7th (2014-15) | worlds = | regionals = | nationals = 2nd 2016 (singles), 2nd 2013 (doubles) | olympics = | pb = | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport | Women's Racquetball}} {{MedalCountry | {{USA}} }} {{MedalCompetition|Pan Am Games}} {{MedalBronze | 2023 Santiago | Team}} {{MedalSilver | 2015 Toronto | Team}} {{MedalCompetition|Pan Am Championships}} {{MedalBronze | 2025 Guatemala City | Doubles}} {{MedalBronze | 2025 Guatemala City | Team}} {{MedalGold | 2024 Guatemala City | Mixed Doubles}} {{MedalBronze | 2024 Guatemala City | Team}} {{MedalSilver | 2016 San Luis Potosi | Doubles}} | show-medals = }}
'''Michelle Key''' (born August 18, 1988) is an American racquetball player. Key is a former Pan American Champion in Mixed Doubles (with Sam Bredenbeck). She also has two medals from the Pan American Games. She earned silver in the Women's Team event in Toronto in 2015 and bronze in the Women's Team event in Santiago in 2023. Key was ranked 7th at the end of the 2014-15 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) season.
== Racquetball == Key is a right handed player.<ref name=":4">{{cite web|url=http://www.ektelon.com/athletes/lprt-pros/michelle-key/|title=Michelle Key ||date=2016|website=Ektelon Racquetball|publisher=Ektelon LLC|accessdate=October 18, 2016}}</ref>
Competing at the 2006 International Racquetball World Junior Championships in Arizona, Key won her age group in the singles event.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news|url=http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/sports/article_14adb67a-492d-5221-9a90-49531c4041d2.html|title=East Valley victories: Gilbert's Keys members of national racquetball team|last=Paulson|first=Billye Jill|date=December 27, 2006|publisher=Strickbine Publishing Inc.|newspaper=East Valley Tribune|location=Tempe, Arizona|access-date=October 25, 2016}}</ref> Key also participated in the 3 Wallball World Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2014.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/columns-blogs/ron-kantowski/side-wagers-flying-balls-3-wallball-finals|title=Side wagers flying like balls at 3 Wallball finals|last=Kantowski|first=Ron|date=September 14, 2014|publisher=Las Vegas Review-Journal, Inc.|newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal|location=Las Vegas, Nevada|access-date=October 24, 2016}}</ref> Key was back to compete at the 2016 edition of the 3 Wallball World Championships, where she defeated Paola Longoria in the semi-finals.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://espndeportes.espn.com/otros-deportes/nota/_/id/2801171/cuando-pierdo-no-toco-la-raqueta-en-una-semana-paola-longoria|title=Paola Longoria minimiza derrota en Las Vegas|last=Montes de Oca|first=Daniel|date=September 26, 2016|newspaper=ESPN Deportes|location=New York, NY|language=es-ES|access-date=October 24, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cancha.com/aplicacioneslibre/preacceso/articulo/default.aspx?id=947287&urlredirect=http://www.cancha.com/aplicaciones/articulo/default.aspx?id=947287|title=Acaba invicto de Longoria|last=Carvajal|first=Jesús|date=September 24, 2016|website=Cancha|publisher=Reforma|location=México, Monterrey|publication-place=Mexico City, Mexico|access-date=October 24, 2016}}</ref>
===International career=== Key earned her first call up to the United States junior team in 2004, and was a member of the team for over three years.<ref name=":5" />
Key competed at the 2014 World Championships in the singles event, where she won a silver medal.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.winnipegsun.com/2015/07/25/winnipegs-sifuentes-wins-pan-am-silver-on-track|title=Winnipeg's Sifuentes wins Pan Am silver on track|date=July 25, 2015|website=Winnipeg Sun|publisher=Canoe Sun Media|location=Winnipeg, Canada|access-date=October 24, 2016}}</ref>
Key has competed for the USA three times. She was on Team USA at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, where she played Women's Singles.<ref name=":0" /> Key lost two of her three matches in the group stage. Her sole win was against Canada's Jennifer Saunders.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.winnipegsun.com/2015/07/26/locals-claim-bronze-at-pan-am-games|title=Locals claim bronze at Pan Am Games|last=Penton|first=Kirk|date=July 26, 2015|website=Winnipeg Sun|publisher=Canoe Sun Media|location=Winnipeg, Canada|access-date=October 24, 2016}}</ref> As a result, was seeded against her teammate Rhonda Rajsich in the Round of 16 in playoffs. Rajsich won that match 15-8, 15-7.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/olympics/2015/07/22/camarena-williams-takes-silver-pan-am-games/30550783/|title=Camarena-Williams takes silver at Pan Am Games|date=July 22, 2015|newspaper=azcentral|location=Arizona, United States|access-date=October 24, 2016}}</ref> However, in the Women's Team event Key helped the USA get the silver medal.<ref name=":1" /> Key's win over Canadian Jennifer Saunders, 15-2, 15-6, in the semi-finals, put the USA into the final.<ref name=":0" /> But in the first match of the final, Key lost to Samantha Salas, 15-3, 15-9, and Mexico's Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas who successfully defended their title and defeated the American pair.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/sports/mexican-racquetballers-defend-pan-am-gold-medal|title=Mexican racquetballers defend Pan Am gold medal|last=Kiss|first=Pamela|date=July 26, 2015|publisher=Postmedia Network Inc|newspaper=National Post|location=Toronto, Ontario|access-date=October 24, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.elnuevoheraldo.com/deportes/longoria-otra-vez-oros-para-m-xico/article_a740eefc-3407-11e5-8f9c-3fa07bfc3a90.html|title=Longoria, otra vez 3 oros para México|last=Associated Press|date=July 26, 2015|publisher=AIM Media TX LLC|newspaper=El Nuevo Heraldo|location=McAllen, Texas|language=es-ES|access-date=October 24, 2016}}</ref>
Key also represented the USA at the 2016 Pan American Championships in San Luis Potosí, where she partnered with Kelani Bailey in Women's Doubles.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dropbox.com/sh/dveba09fj6qf1qn/AAC4LOr5_2Yj1Jio8d1qLnkta/02-Open/02-Open-Draws?dl=0&preview=Llave-Women-Doubles-2.pdf|title=Women's Doubles Draw|date=March 26, 2016|publisher=International Racquetball Federation|page=1|accessdate=October 23, 2016}}</ref> They reached the finals with a win over Veronica Sotomayor and Maria Paz Muñoz of Ecuador in the semi-finals, 11-15, 15-14, 11-5. In the final, Key and Bailey lost to the Mexican team of Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas, 15-5, 15-10. Key also played singles in San Luis Potosí, and lost in the quarterfinals to Gabriela Martinez of Guatemala, 15-7, 10-15, 11-7.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dropbox.com/sh/dveba09fj6qf1qn/AAC4LOr5_2Yj1Jio8d1qLnkta/02-Open/02-Open-Draws?dl=0&preview=Llave-Women-Singles-2.pdf|title=Women's Singles Draw|date=March 26, 2016|publisher=International Racquetball Federation|page=1|accessdate=October 23, 2016}}</ref>
Key played Women's Singles for the USA at the 2016 World Championships in Cali, Colombia, where she lost in the Round of 32 to Mariana Tobon of Venezuela, 4-15, 15-9, 11-4.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dropbox.com/sh/um5uxozszdwy5yc/AAD6MgV8kFQe1xkmwDojUYjra/World-2016-02-Draws?dl=0&preview=Llave-Gold---03-Women-Singles-2.pdf|title=Women's SIngles Draw|publisher=International Racquetball Federation|accessdate=October 23, 2016}}</ref> She also lost to Bolivia's Adriana Riveros during the competition.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hsbnoticias.com/noticias/deportes/otros-deportes/colombia-inicio-con-tres-triunfos-el-xviii-mundial-de-racque-223194|title=Colombia inició con tres triunfos el XVIII Mundial de Racquetball Cali 2016 |date=July 16, 2016|website=HSB Noticias|publisher=Grupo Editorial El Periódico S.A.S.|location=Bogotá, Colombia|language=es-ES|access-date=October 24, 2016}}</ref>
===US Championships=== Key played for the Arizona State University at Intercollegiates. Key was the 2011 USA Racquetball Intercollegiate Champion in Women's Singles, as she defeated Sharon Jackson in the final, 15-11, 15-14.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.r2sports.com/tourney/drawsOut/view-bracket.asp?leftFrame=&TID=7196&divID=0&combinedID=49559&print=&fromPage=&highlightMatchNum=&drawVar=&message=|title=Women's #1 Singles Draw|date=2011|website=R2 Sports|publisher=USAR / R2Sports Racquetball Software|accessdate=October 23, 2016}}</ref> That win avenged a loss to Jackson in the 2010 final.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.r2sports.com/tourney/drawsOut/view-bracket.asp?leftFrame=&TID=5826&divID=0&combinedID=37649&print=&fromPage=&highlightMatchNum=&drawVar=&message=|title=Women's #1 Singles Draw|publisher=R2 Sports|accessdate=October 23, 2016}}</ref> Key also played in the doubles tournament at the 2014 edition of the US Open with Lambert. The pair lost to eventual winners Paola Longoria and Verónica Sotomayor .<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cre.com.ec/noticias/2014/10/15/76932/veronica-sotomayor-campeona-en-dobles-en-us-open-de-racquetbol/ei|title=Verónica Sotomayor campeona en dobles en US Open de Racquetbol|last=Ludeña|first=William|date=October 15, 2014|publisher=Compañía de Radio y Televisión (CORTEL) S.A|newspaper=CRE Satelital Radio en Vivo|location=Guayaquil, Ecuador|language=es-ES|access-date=October 24, 2016}}</ref>
Key was runner-up at the 2016 USA Racquetball National Singles Championships in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, where she lost to Rhonda Rajsich in the final, 15-7, 15-7.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.r2sports.com/tourney/drawsOut/view-bracket.asp?leftFrame=&TID=14388&divID=1321&combinedID=0&print=&fromPage=&highlightMatchNum=&drawVar=&message=|title=Women's Singles US team Qualifying Single Elimination - Racquetball - USA Racquetball National Singles Championships presented by Penn|website=R2sports.com|accessdate=October 23, 2016}}</ref> Key reached the final by defeating Janel Tisinger in the semi-finals, 15-4, 15-13.{{Citation needed|date=October 2016}}
Key and her sister Danielle were runners up at the 2013 USA Racquetball National Doubles championship, losing the final to Aimee Ruiz and Janel Tisinger, 15-6, 15-8.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.r2sports.com/tourney/drawsOut/view-bracket.asp?leftFrame=&TID=10172&divID=1417&combinedID=0&print=&fromPage=&highlightMatchNum=&drawVar=&message=|title=Women's Doubles US Team Qualifying Single Elimination - Racquetball - 2013 USAR 46TH NATIONAL DOUBLES-Presented by Penn/CoSponsor GearBox|website=R2sports.com|accessdate=October 23, 2016}}</ref> They got to the final by upsetting that year's defending champions Rhonda Rajsich and Kim Russell-Waselenchuk, 9-15, 15-5, 11-8.{{Citation needed|date=October 2016}}
===Professional career=== Key was a top 10 player on Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour in 2014-15.{{Citation needed|date=October 2016}} In January 2016, she was ranked eighth in the world.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.zocalo.com.mx/seccion/articulo/twitter-paola-longoria-se-lucira-en-el-zocalo-capitalino-1452868866|title=Paola Longoria se lucirá en el Zócalo Capitalino [Raquetbol]|last=Agencias|date=January 15, 2016|website=Periódico Zócalo|publisher=Zócalo Saltillo|location=Coahuila, Mexico|language=es-ES|access-date=October 24, 2016}}</ref>
Perhaps Key's best pro result is a semi-final finish at the 2016 Paola Longoria Experience tournament in San Luis Potosí.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.r2sports.com/website/bracket.asp?leftFrame=&TID=17561&divID=34&combinedID=0&print=&fromPage=&highlightMatchNum=&drawVar=&message=|title=Women's Singles LPRT Pro Single Elimination - Racquetball - The 2016 Paola Longoria Experience|website=R2sports.com|accessdate=23 October 2016}}</ref> She got to the semis by defeating Susana Acosta, 11-5, 11-1, 11-6, in the Round of 16, and Rajsich in the quarterfinals, 11-2, 2-11, 6-11, 11-4, 11-9. In the semi-finals, Key lost to Frédérique Lambert, 11-3, 11-5, 11-3.{{Citation needed|date=October 2016}} She also participated in the 2014 edition of the Paola Longoria Experience in the women's double event with Canadian partner Frederique Lambert.<ref name=":3" /><ref name="Reina Longoria - El Vigía">{{Cite news|url=http://www.elvigia.net/deportes/otros/2015/5/18/reina-longoria-197900.html|title=Reina Longoria|last=Agencia Reforma|date=May 18, 2015|work=El Vigía|publisher=Editorial El Vigia S.A De C.V|location=Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico|language=es-LA|access-date=October 24, 2016}}</ref> The pair opened the tournament with a loss to Mexico's Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas despite winning the first set.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=https://am.com.mx/leon/superdeportivo/paola-longoria-y-samantha-salas-triunfan-en-dobles-135374.html|title=Paola Longoria y Samantha Salas triunfan en dobles|last=Agencia Reforma|date=August 18, 2014|publisher=Compañía Periodística Meridiano S.A de C.V|newspaper=Periódico am|language=es-LA|access-date=October 24, 2016}}</ref>
In May 2015, she played doubles with Lambert at a tournament in Herndon, Virginia. The pair finished second after losing in the finals to Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas.<ref name="Reina Longoria - El Vigía"/> Playing again with Lambert, the pair made the finals of the 2015 Battle of the Alamo tournament, finishing second after failing to appear for the final.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.oem.com.mx/elsoldesanluis/notas/n4145511.htm|title=Doble título en Texas para Paola Longoria|last=Mirabal Chessal|first=Roberto|date=April 25, 2016|website=El Sol de San Luis|publisher=Organización Editorial Mexicana S.A. de C.V.|location=San Luis, Mexico|language=es-MX|access-date=October 24, 2016}}</ref> In 2015, she reached the finals of the Open de Cali in Colombia while playing with Lambert, only to lose to Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas Solis in sets of 10-15, 15-10 and 11-5.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.rds.ca/sports-divers/racquetball-frederique-lambert-et-michelle-key-en-finale-a-l-open-de-cali-1.2564132|title=Racquetball : Frédérique Lambert et Michelle Key en finale à l'Open de Cali|date=August 30, 2015|newspaper=RDS|language=fr-CA|access-date=October 25, 2016}}</ref> In March 2016, she participated in the Zócalo Capitalino tournament.<ref name=":2" /> In September 2016, she participated in a tour event in Las Vegas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pulsoslp.com.mx/2016/09/26/paola-longoria-sufre-reves-en-el-racquet-outdoor/|title=Paola Longoria sufre revés en el racquet outdoor - Pulso Diario de San Luis|last=Velázquez|first=Carlos|date=September 26, 2016|website=Pulso|location=San Luis Potosi, Mexico|language=es-MX|access-date=October 24, 2016}}</ref>
==Personal life== Key was married to racquetball player Daniel De La Rosa, and has two children. Key's younger sister Danielle has also played elite racquetball.
==See also== {{Portal|Sports}} * List of racquetball players
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Key, Michelle}} Category:1988 births Category:Living people Category:American racquetball players Category:Sportspeople from Phoenix, Arizona Category:Racquetball players at the 2015 Pan American Games Category:Racquetball players at the 2023 Pan American Games Category:Medalists at the 2015 Pan American Games Category:Medalists at the 2023 Pan American Games Category:Pan American Games silver medalists for the United States in racquetball Category:Pan American Games bronze medalists for the United States in racquetball