MLP DALLAS: DAY 2 RECAP – PREMIER LEVEL GROUP PLAY AND CHALLENGER LEVEL PLAYOFFS

Day 2 Recap 

That’s a wrap for Day 2! Premier Level Group Play matches got underway on this sunny Friday morning, followed by the excitement of Challenger Level Playoffs. With temperatures and crowd noise on the rise, the enthusiasm at Brookhaven Country Club was palpable throughout the day.

Premier Level Teams played two games apiece and will return tomorrow for their third Group Stage matches in the morning before the top teams advance Quarterfinals in the afternoon. After this first day of play, the Orlando Squeeze remain undefeated for Season Two.

Overcoming several nail-biting matches during the Challenger Level Playoffs, the SoCal Hard Eights and the Frisco Pandas made it through to tomorrow’s Final. The Hard Eights are aiming for a repeat of their standout Championship performance in Atlanta, while this is the first time in MLP history that the Pandas have made it this far in a tournament.

Below is a snapshot of all match scores from Day 2.

To rewatch all matches, head to MLP’s YouTube channel.

PREMIER LEVEL GROUP STAGE PLAY

Group A Matches
Arizona (1-1), Chicago (1-1), Orlando (2-0), Texas (0-2)

Chicago (3) vs. Arizona (1)

The Chicago Slice showed up with the full pie of powerhouse moves to tip the scales in their favor against an athletic Arizona Drive team.

Game 1 – Women’s Doubles: 22-20 (Chicago)
Game 2 – Men’s Doubles: 17-21 (Arizona)
Game 3 – Mixed Doubles: 22-20 (Chicago)
Game 4 – Mixed Doubles: 23-21 (Chicago)

Texas (1) vs. Orlando (3)

Still riding the high of their status as MLP Atlanta Champions, the Orlando Squeeze came out against the Texas Ranchers with the same elevated play they displayed at the last tournament.

Game 1 – Women’s Doubles: 17-21 (Orlando)
Game 2 – Men’s Doubles: 21-23 (Orlando)
Game 3 – Mixed Doubles: 17-21 (Orlando)
Game 4 – Mixed Doubles: 22-20 (Texas)

Arizona (3) vs. Texas (1)

After a shaky start to the tournament, the AZ Drive came alive in their second game of the day against the Texas Ranchers.

Game 1 – Women’s Doubles: 21-19 (Arizona)
Game 2 – Men’s Doubles: 12-21 (Texas)
Game 3 – Mixed Doubles: 21-15 (Arizona)
Game 4 – Mixed Doubles: 21-11 (Arizona)

Orlando (2) vs. Chicago (2)

In a highly anticipated match, the Orlando Squeeze and Chicago Slice match was full of intense firefights, quick feet, and elite shots from both teams. Down two games, the Slice had to kick things up a notch in their first Mixed Doubles game and World #1 Ben Johns and Jessie Irvine got it done. Their teammates, Lacy Schneeman and Erik Lange continued the mission and forced the match into an exciting Dreambreaker. Ultimately, the Squeeze emerged victorious.

Game 1 – Women’s Doubles: 21-15 (Orlando)
Game 2 – Men’s Doubles: 21-18 (Orlando)
Game 3 – Mixed Doubles: 12-21 (Chicago)
Game 4 – Mixed Doubles: 23-25 (Chicago)
Dreambreaker:

Group B Matches
Atlanta (0-2), Bay Area (1-1), Columbus (1-1), D.C. (2-0)

D.C. (3) vs. Columbus (1)

The Kawamoto Twins put up a unified front to kick off the day for the D.C. Pickleball Team. Their first game set the tone against the Columbus Sliders, with the match ultimately going D.C.’s way. Megan Fudge replaced Maggie Brascia on the Sliders, so she and Dizon had some new teammate nuances to work through. Columbus’ J.W. Johnson and Meghan Dizon fended off D.C.’s sweep attempt, winning the last game by two well-defended points.

Game 1 – Women’s Doubles: 21-11 (D.C.)
Game 2 – Men’s Doubles: 23-21 (D.C.)
Game 3 – Mixed Doubles: 21-19 (D.C.)
Game 4 – Mixed Doubles: 19-21 (Columbus)

Bay Area (3) vs. Atlanta (1)

The Bay Area Breakers and Atlanta Bouncers traded wins in the first three games before taking the fourth to the highest scoring game of the day. Bay Area bounced Atlanta out of the winner’s seat for this opening match.

Game 1 – Men’s Doubles: 21-19 (Bay Area)
Game 2 – Women’s Doubles: 19-21 (Atlanta)
Game 3 – Mixed Doubles: 21-19 (Bay Area)
Game 4 – Mixed Doubles: 29-27 (Bay Area)

Columbus (4) vs. Bay Area (0)

Despite three super tight games, the Breakers could not get over the hurdles that the Columbus Sliders swung their way.

Game 1 – Men’s Doubles: 22-20 (Columbus)
Game 2 – Women’s Doubles: 22-20 (Columbus)
Game 3 – Mixed Doubles: 21-12 (Columbus)
Game 4 – Mixed Doubles: 22-20 (Columbus)

D.C. (3) vs. Atlanta (1)

Sister power coupled with the Newman and

Game 1 – Women’s Doubles: 22-20 (D.C.)
Game 2 – Women’s Doubles: 16-21 (Atlanta)
Game 3 – Mixed Doubles: 21-17 (D.C.)
Game 4 – Mixed Doubles: 21-16 (D.C.)

Group C Matches
Brooklyn (1-1), Dallas (1-1), Miami (1-1), Utah (1-1)

Dallas (2) vs. Utah (3)

As the hometown team, Dallas Pickleball Club, entered the match against the Utah Black Diamonds to cheers from local fans. James Ignatowich and Jay Devilliers set a quick pace and had the Black Diamonds on their heels for the Men’s Doubles game. The Diamonds dug their way out of an early deficit when Anna Leigh Waters and Irina Tereschenko took the court. After two close Mixed Doubles games, the match went into a Dreambreaker, where the Diamonds ran away with it, posting their first victory of the tournament.

Game 1 – Men’s Doubles: 21-14 (Dallas)
Game 2 – Women’s Doubles: 16-21 (Utah)
Game 3 – Mixed Doubles: 21-12 (Dallas)
Game 4 – Mixed Doubles: 22-24 (Utah)
Dreambreaker: 10-21 (Utah)

Brooklyn (1) vs. Miami (3)

Miami brought the heat and put the pressure on Brooklyn from the jump, as they confidently took both gendered Doubles games. This first Mixed Doubles game was characterized by long rallies and clever shots as Mary Brascia and Tyson McGuffin battled Hayden Patriquin and Andrea Koop for another Miami W. Tyler Loong and Catherine Parenteau salvaged the final game to give Brooklyn one game point.

Game 1 – Women’s Doubles: 14-21 (Miami)
Game 2 – Men’s Doubles: 14-21 (Miami)
Game 3 – Mixed Doubles: 17-21 (Miami)
Game 4 – Mixed Doubles: 21-19 (Brooklyn)

Dallas (4) vs. Miami (0)

Devilliers and Ignatowich used their size to their advantage and played big at the net against McGuffin and Staksrud, giving Dallas the first match point. Callie Jo Smith and Allyce Jones followed suit with a display of hustle and heart against Hurricane Tyra Black and Mary Brascia. Smith’s flying Erne ATP made the crowd go wild! After several firefights and Miami comeback late in the second Mixed Doubles game, Callie Jo Smith sealed the match for DPC with an ATP.

Game 1 – Men’s Doubles: 21-14 (Dallas)
Game 2 – Women’s Doubles: 21-19 (Dallas)
Game 3 – Mixed Doubles: 21-15 (Dallas)
Game 4 – Mixed Doubles: 21-19 (Dallas)

Utah (2) vs. Brooklyn (3)

ALW and Irina Tereschenko were in lock-step to start their final match of the day against the Brooklyn Aces. Tyler Loong and Hayden Patriquin countered for the aces to capture the Men’s Doubles win. The first Mixed Doubles match was neck and neck with both teams trading cross-court slices and strategic dinks across the net. This match was destined for a Dreambreaker, with the Brooklyn Aces bucketing the W.

Game 1 – Women’s Doubles: 21-18 (Utah)
Game 2 – Men’s Doubles: 17-21 (Brooklyn)
Game 3 – Mixed Doubles: 29-27 (Utah)
Game 4 – Mixed Doubles: 16-21 (Brooklyn)
Dreambreaker: Brooklyn 18-21 (Brooklyn)

CHALLENGER LEVEL PLAYOFFS

Quarterfinals

New York (2) vs. Frisco (3)

The Cinderella story continued for the underdog Frisco Pandas Team as they worked as a unit to take down the New York Hustlers in a heart-pounding, overtime Dreambreaker.

Game 1 – Men’s Doubles: 21-19 (New York)
Game 2 – Women’s Doubles: 15-21 (Frisco)
Game 3 – Mixed Doubles: 10-21 (Frisco)
Game 4 – Mixed Doubles: 22-20 (New York)
Dreambreaker: 21-23 (Frisco)

California (1) vs. Los Angeles (3)

The LA Mad Drops came in hot against the California BLQK Bears, and there was no stopping their shine.

Game 1 – Men’s Doubles: 18-21 (Los Angeles)
Game 2 – Women’s Doubles: 21-12 (California)
Game 3 – Mixed Doubles: 17-21 (Los Angeles)
Game 4 – Mixed Doubles: 17-21 (Los Angeles)

Semifinals

Frisco (3) vs. St. Louis (2)

The Shock gave their Season Two Semifinal debut their all, but the grit and grind of the Frisco Pandas proved too tough to overcome.

Game 1 – Men’s Doubles: 24-22 (Frisco)
Game 2 – Women’s Doubles: 17-21 (St. Louis)
Game 3 – Mixed Doubles: 23-21 (Frisco)
Game 4 – Mixed Doubles: 21-16 (Frisco)

Los Angeles (1) vs. SoCal (3)

Once again, the SoCal Hard Eights punched their ticket to the Challenger Level Finals after an impressive team performance against their neighbors, the Los Angeles Mad Drops.

Game 1 – Men’s Doubles: 19-21 (SoCal)
Game 2 – Women’s Doubles: 11-21 (SoCal)
Game 3 – Mixed Doubles: 21-17 (Los Angeles)
Game 4 – Mixed Doubles: 15-21 (SoCal)