MLP SEASON 2 PLAYOFFS: DAY 1 RECAP – CHALLENGER AND PREMIER LEVEL MATCHES
Day 1 Recap
The MLP Season 2 Playoffs got underway at Life Time Rancho San Clemente in sunny Southern California. With the competing Challenger and Premier Level teams vying for their Season 2 titles, today’s match play was full of elite pickleball, first-class teamwork, and that signature MLP magic.
Following a hard-fought match against the California BLQK Bears, the St. Louis Shock punched their ticket to tomorrow’s Challenger Level Championship against the undefeated SoCal Hard Eights.
To start the day’s Premier Level action, the Orlando Squeeze defeated their rivals, the D.C. Pickleball Team, ensuring their spot in tomorrow’s Premier Level Championship. Facing single elimination, the Chicago Slice beat the Miami Pickleball Club in a crucial match. The day ended with a thrilling Dreambreaker match between Chicago and D.C., with Chicago ultimately making a comeback to earn the second spot in the Finals against Orlando.
Tomorrow’s Schedule – Tues., Dec. 5
9:30am PT – Challenger Final: St. Louis Shock vs. SoCal Hard Eights
12:00pm PT – Premier Final: Chicago Slice vs. Orlando Squeeze
To rewatch all of today’s matches, head to MLP’s YouTube channel. Read on for today’s game-by-game match highlights.
CHALLENGER MATCH #1
St. Louis (3) vs. California (1)
Game 1 – Women’s Doubles: 15-21
Game 2 – Men’s Doubles: 21-17
Game 3 – Mixed Doubles: 21-18
Game 4 – Mixed Doubles: 21-18
Game 1: Judit Castillo and Genie Erokhina vs. Tina Pisnik and Alix Truong
The opening match started with the St. Louis Shocks’ Judit Castillo and Genie Erokhina battling it out against the California BLQK Bears’ Tina Pisnik and Alix Truong on Championship Court. California came out on the attack, and led 11-7 at the end-change. Their momentum continued in the second half as they maintained a convincing 15-9 lead. St. Louis responded with four straight points, closing their deficit to 15-13, which prompted California to call a time out in an effort to stop their momentum. The timeout proved to be effective, and Pisnik’s fiery play quickly brought the score to 19-13, as the Shock took a time out to regroup. Pisnik’s body bag against Erokhina brought the game to 20-14. A short hands battle ended with a St. Louis counter that sailed long and California closed the game with a 21-15 win.
Game 2: Martin Emmrich and Rob Nunnery vs. Erik Pailet and Rob Cassidy
Today was the debut of the Rob Cassidy and Erik Pailet pairing for California after the recent substitution of Cassidy in place of Anderson Scarpa. This match-up was unique in that each team had a left-handed player on the right side, giving both forehand-in-the-middle advantage. Cassidy was visibly frustrated with his two foot fault calls in the first half of this game, but used that energy to play with intensity. A failed Erne attempt by Nunnery gave California a 10-9 advantage, and they led 11-9 at the end-change. A lob from Cassidy sailed past the baseline and tied the score, 13-13. The game remained close as incredible offense from Cassidy and relentless defense from St. Louis brought the crowd to their feet with roaring applause. Erik Pailet seemed to be the target for St. Louis, and this game plan gave them the 20-17 advantage. The Shock took this one, 21-17.
Game 3: Judit Castillo and Rob Nunnery vs. Erik Pailet and Alix Truong
Pailet smiled and nodded at his teammates on the sideline as he found his groove in the first half of the game for California. After a counter attack from Castillo found the net following a cross-court drive from Truong, the Bears had the 11-10 game advantage. California continued their momentum after the end-change, maintaining the lead at 18-15. A run characterized by consistent defense and locked-in play from Nunnery got St. Louis back in the game, swinging the lead in their favor, 19-18. Nunnery continued to apply pressure as they hung onto the lead. On game point, California challenged the out call. After video review, the ball was confirmed out and St. Louis secured their second win, 21-18.
Game 4: Genie Erokhina and Martin Emmrich vs. Rob Cassidy and Tina Pisnik
This game remained close throughout the first half as California looked to force a game 5 Dreambreaker. The Bears had an 11-10 advantage at the end-change. Emmrich played big for the Shock as he commanded a majority of the court. A missed overhead putaway from Cassidy found the net and the Shock got out to a 16-13 lead. California refueled after a couple unforced errors, and minimized their deficit to 15-16. At 16-19, the Bears called a defensive time out. At 20-18, a backhand dink from Pisnik went wide and sealed the match win for the St. Louis Shock.
PREMIER MATCH #1
D.C. (0) vs. Orlando (3)
Game 1 – Women’s Doubles: 21-18
Game 2 – Men’s Doubles: 22-20
Game 3 – Mixed Doubles: 21-17
Game 1: Jade and Jackie Kawamoto vs. Anna Bright and Rachel Rohrabacher
The Orlando Squeeze have had one of this season’s most fiery women’s doubles teams. This reputation was on full display today as the Squeeze had an 11-6 lead over D.C. at the end-change. The Kawamotos routinely counter their opponents’ offensive runs with rock-solid defense. Their consistency today narrowed the deficit to 11-13. Anna Bright and Rachel Rohrabacher had zero intention of dinking this game as they attacked every high ball. At 11-17, the D.C. Pickleball Team called time out in an attempt to cool the Squeeze down. D.C. came back in and went on a short run, bringing the score to 15-17. A counter attack from D.C. soared long and the Squeeze banked the first game of this match, 21-18.
Game 2: Riley Newman and Christian Alshon vs. Orlando Squeeze and Zane Navratil
At no point during this game did it feel like one team was outplaying the other. Navratil was laser-focused, hitting powerful drives down the line at Alshon and setting himself and Andrei Daescu up for the putaways. It remained close through the end-change with D.C. up 16-14 before Orlando called a timeout. Daescu came back out and hit a dink reset into the net. D.C. had game point at 20-18, but Orlando’s determined play gave them the 21-20 lead. A forehand attack by Newman slammed into the net, and the Orlando Squeeze closed the game 22-20, heading into Mixed Doubles with the 2-0 match advantage.
Game 3: Riley Neman and Jade Kawamoto vs. Zane Navaratil and Rachel Rohrabacher
Hungry for a win, the D.C. Pickleball Team needed this win to bring the match to a fourth and potentially fifth game to secure their spot in the Season 2 Final. With adrenaline pumping from the first two games, Orlando led 11-9 going into the end change. Navratil’s intensity combined with Rohrabacher’s electric energy carried the Squeeze through the second half of the game as they cruised through to a 21-17 win, ensuring their spot in tomorrow’s final and sending D.C. to face-off against the winner of Miami vs. Chicago.
PREMIER MATCH #2
Chicago (3) vs. Miami (1)
Game 1 – Men’s Doubles: 20-22
Game 2 – Women’s Doubles: 21-14
Game 3 – Mixed Doubles: 21-11
Game 4 – Mixed Doubles: 21-15
Game 1: Ben Johns and Erik Lange vs. Tyson McGuffin and Federico Staksrud
Miami chose men’s doubles to start the match. The Chicago Slice’s Ben Johns and Erik Lange came out swinging to a 6-0 lead, prompting an early timeout call from Miami Pickleball Club. Miami could not seem to find their groove as Chicago pulled out another two points, bringing it to a quick 8-0 and then 11-3 at the end-change. The crowd remained quiet going into the end-change time out. Miami needed to make adjustments, and at 8-15, the momentum began to swing after McGuffin hit a Bert winner. Miami closed their deficit to 14-18. They saved game point and went on a run, using the crowd’s energy to pump themselves up. Chicago called a timeout at 18-20, but Miami brought the score to 19-20. With MLP format requiring teams to win game point on their serve, Miami soon had the 21-20 lead. A missed return from Ben Johns gave MPC a 22-20 game win in one of the biggest Season 2 game comebacks. The final out call was challenged by Chicago, but after video review the refs confirmed the ball was out.
Game 2: Hurricane Tyra Black and Mary Brascia vs. Lacy Schneemann and Jessie Irvine
With this being a “hometown” event for Mary Brascia, the crowd was heavily in favor of Miami Pickleball Club. After a slow start, the crowd remained quiet as Miami trailed behind Chicago Slice. At the end change, Chicago led 11-6. Hurricane Tyra Black was visibly frustrated with herself, and Irvine/Schneeman took full advantage of that. A missed backhand putaway from Black at 7-16 led to a timeout call from Miami. At time in, Tyra walked back out on the court with a different paddle. Chicago continued to send almost everything her way. A late return from Mary Brascia sailed past the baseline, sealing the game victory for Chicago Slice, 21-14.
Game 3: Ben Johns and Jessie Irvine vs. Tyson and Mary Brascia
Jessie Irvine was energized coming off her women’s doubles win and brought that enthusiasm into her mixed doubles game. Chicago went into the end-change with an 11-7 lead. Despite an incredible display of rapid-fire defense by Irvine at 15-7, McGuffin and Brascia emerged with the point. This long rally earned a thunderous roar from the crowd, who applauded Irvine’s moves as she stayed back at the baseline, sporting a smile. Chicago Slice did not let up their crusade, winning 21-11.
Game 4: Erik Lange and Lacy Schneemann vs. Federico Staksrud and Hurricane Tyra Black
Chicago was looking to ink their spot in Tuesday’s Final with this game, while Miami sought to push this match to a Dreambreaker. Following Black’s return into the net, Chicago had an 11-8 game advantage. Black couldn’t seem to settle into this match, making her a repeat target for Chicago. Down 13-18, Miami called a timeout in an attempt to rally. Chicago was determined to keep their lead, and Erik Lange was up for the challenge. Staksrud’s drive into the net gave Chicago their first match point, and they put it away, 21-15. With this match win, Chicago had to get ready to face-off against D.C. in the day’s third Premier match.
PREMIER MATCH #3
D.C. (2) vs. Chicago (3)
Game 1 – Women’s Doubles: 19-21
Game 2 – Men’s Doubles: 14-21
Game 3 – Mixed Doubles: 21-11
Game 4 – Mixed Doubles: 21-15
Game 5 – Dreambreaker: 22-20
Game 1: Jackie and Jade Kawamoto vs. Jessie Irvine and Lacy Schneemann
Chicago hasn’t yet made the finals in a Season 2 tournament, and their fresh win against Miami ignited a fire in them. At 8-2, D.C. Pickleball Team called a time out, where Riley Newman was seen giving advice to the Kawamoto twins. At 11-6, Chicago Slice held the lead at the end-change. D.C. Pickleball Team challenged an out call at 13-8, where a dink from Jackie seemed to have clipped the edge of the kitchen sideline. After video review, the out call was confirmed and Chicago widened the gap to a 14-9 advantage. The Kawamotos were able to claw back as a united front, tying the game at 18-18. Chicago’s two consecutive enforced errors brought the score to 21-19 in favor of the D.C. Pickleball Team.
Game 2: Christian Alshon and Riley Newman vs. Ben Johns and Erik Lange
Ben Johns and Erik Lange wanted redemption after their tough men’s doubles loss against Miami. Christian Alshon and Riley Newman were synced up and played impressive defense to combat Johns’ notorious offensive skills. At 11-7, D.C. had the lead, which they held onto for the remainder of the match and closed the game 21-14, giving D.C. a 2-0 match advantage.
Game 3: Riley Newman and Jade Kawamoto vs. Erik Lange and Lacy Schneemann
Backed into a corner, the Chicago Slice had to win this one to survive. Lange and Schneeman played with confidence, and you could see the excitement in their faces as they snagged a 14-11 lead over D.C. Jade’s attack shot soared far past the baseline and Riley Newman, visibly frustrated, called a timeout as they were down 12-16. D.C. hasn’t let a deficit get them down all-season. Newman and Kawamoto turned the heat up on their defensive prowess and tied up the game at 17-17, earning a standing ovation from the crowd. Newman’s body bag against Lange put D.C. in the position for match point. After a prolonged dink rally, Kawamoto hit a dink into the net and then missed the next return. The Slice had a 21-20 advantage and prevailed in game 3 with a 22-20 win over D.C.P.T.
Game 4: Christian Alshon and Jackie Kawamoto vs. Ben Johns and Jessie Irvine
Ben Johns and Jessie Irvine were ready to bring this to a game 5 dreambreaker. And with an 11-4 lead at the end change,the Chicago Slice were on their way to getting what they wanted. Ben Johns was showing why his is world #1, and Jessie was a steady right side player Ben needs so he could play his best. At 19-15, a missed return by Alshon gave Chicago Slice their first game point. D.C. Picklball team was able to bring the game close to 19-20. An backhand flick by Ben Johns at Jackie Kawamoto sealed the game for the Chicago Slice 21-20, bringing the match to a game 5 dreambreaker.
Game 5: Dreambreaker
Erik Lange vs. Riley Newman
Ben Johns vs. Christian Alshon
Lacy Schneemann vs. Jade Kawamoto
Jessie Irvine vs. Jackie Kawamoto
With an eye on tomorrow’s Championship, both teams brought all they had to this Dreambreaker game. The head-to-heads appeared evenly matched in the first half. At the end-change, the Chicago Slice were up 11-10, but then fell behind 16-20, giving D.C. match point. Ben Johns and Christian Alshon split their points 2-2, bringing the game to 18-20. Lacy Schneeman came in and put the hammer down on the match in her set against Jade Kawamoto, and Chicago reigned supreme, 22-20. Tomorrow, they will face the Orlando Squeeze in the Season 2 Premier Level Championship, who swept them in their last match-up in Dallas.