Jessie Irvine Shines at MLP Las Vegas: Monday marked the opening day of MLP Las Vegas, setting the stage for intense competition, especially following the recent trade deadline that saw multiple teams reshuffling their lineups. Among the most notable moves was the trade between the Arizona Drive and Carolina Pickleball Club, involving a key exchange of players.
Arizona Drive sent Kaitlyn Christian to Carolina in return for Jessie Irvine. In a previous analysis of these trades, it was predicted that both teams would benefit—Carolina gaining strength in singles with Christian, while the Drive would enhance their right-side presence with Irvine. Day one in Las Vegas appears to validate the latter prediction.
Early Success for Irvine with the Drive
Jessie Irvine wasted no time making an impact on her new team, going 3-1 in her matches and helping the Arizona Drive—alongside teammates Andrei Daescu, Dylan Frazier, and Lacy Schneemann—secure regulation victories over the Los Angeles Mad Drops and Dallas Flash. The win over a short-handed Los Angeles Mad Drops squad wasn’t unexpected, but their 3-1 victory against the Dallas Flash, a team currently in third place in the Premier level standings, certainly turned heads.
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Dominating Doubles with Schneemann
Jessie Irvine and Lacy Schneemann set the tone in their matchup against Dallas with an impressive 25-16 win over Jorja Johnson and Hurricane Tyra Black. This victory marked their second win together, following their earlier triumph against Catherine Parenteau and Jade Kawamoto from the Los Angeles Mad Drops. Notably, these performances came despite the duo having little time to prepare.
“We didn’t really even have that much time to practice because we all just played the Vegas PPA, so this is literally our first time playing matches together,” Jessie Irvine explained. “We did so well today, and I’m happy for everybody.”
A Steady Climb in the Standings
With two victories on Monday, Arizona Drive now sits in 8th place based on a points-per-match system as they continue their push for the playoffs. Irvine’s strong performance showcases her ability to contribute immediately to her new team and highlights her drive to succeed, regardless of the jersey she’s wearing.
“It doesn’t matter what team I’m on—I just want to play good pickleball,” Jessie Irvine commented, reinforcing her commitment to excellence.
Her next test will be a highly anticipated showdown against her former team, the Carolina Pickleball Club, on Tuesday morning. That match, set to take place on Championship Court, promises to be a must-watch event.
News in Brief : Jessie Irvine Shines at MLP Las Vegas
Jessie Irvine made an immediate impact for the Arizona Drive on Day 1 of MLP Las Vegas, helping her team secure wins over the Los Angeles Mad Drops and Dallas Flash. The former Carolina Pickleball Club player, who was traded just before the competition, teamed up with Lacy Schneemann to dominate in doubles. Arizona Drive’s playoff chances improved with the victories, placing them in 8th in the standings. Irvine will face her old team, the Carolina Pickleball Club, in Tuesday’s match.
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