Utah Black Diamonds Find Spark at MLP NYC: In the heart of Central Park, the Utah Black Diamonds capped off Thursday’s action with a decisive 3-1 victory over the New York Hustlers at CityPickle. The evening concluded with a sense of triumph, as the Black Diamonds showcased resilience and teamwork.
Early Setback
Callie Smith and Alix Truong had the opportunity to put Utah on the scoreboard early, facing New York’s formidable duo of Jackie Kawamoto and Lea Jansen in women’s doubles. Despite holding match points, they ultimately fell short, succumbing to a nail-biting 25-27 defeat. It was a tough start, but it would be the last time Utah would taste defeat that day.
Turning the Tide
Determined to turn the match around, Tyler Loong and Connor Garnett stepped up to the plate in men’s doubles. They delivered a commanding performance, defeating Jack Sock and CJ Klinger with ease, leveling the match and setting the stage for the mixed doubles showdown.
Smith, eager to erase the memory of her earlier loss, teamed up with Loong for a critical mixed doubles match. Their synergy shone through as they dominated Kawamoto and Klinger, securing a comprehensive 25-16 victory. “Mentally, you’ve got to have a short memory when it comes to losing and just know that there’s always going to be another match,” Smith reflected, emphasizing the importance of resilience in competitive play.
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Redemption and Chemistry
With momentum on their side, Truong sought her own redemption. Teaming up with Garnett, they faced Jansen and Sock in a thrilling finish. In a hard-fought battle, they clinched the match with a narrow 28-26 victory, sealing Utah’s triumph for the evening.
Despite still lingering near the bottom of the Premier level standings, the Black Diamonds have shown remarkable growth after starting the season with six consecutive losses. Smith attributes this turnaround to the blossoming team chemistry. “The longer we’ve played together, the closer we’ve gotten as a team,” she noted. “Not only do we have a good time as a team, but I feel like we have each other’s backs. That’s the biggest thing—when you support each other during play, whether you’re up or down. That helps our team do well.”
As the Black Diamonds prepare to take on the Columbus Sliders and Carolina Pickleball Club on Friday, they carry with them the confidence and camaraderie built through their recent successes.
News in Brief : Utah Black Diamonds Find Spark at MLP NYC
In a thrilling conclusion to Thursday’s matches at CityPickle in Central Park, the Utah Black Diamonds secured a 3-1 victory over the New York Hustlers. After a narrow defeat in women’s doubles, the Diamonds rallied with strong performances from Tyler Loong and Connor Garnett, followed by Callie Smith and Loong’s mixed doubles win. Truong and Garnett capped the night with a comeback victory. The Black Diamonds, despite a rocky start to the season, credit their improving chemistry for recent successes as they look ahead to matches against the Columbus Sliders and Carolina Pickleball Club.
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