New Jersey 5s Bounce Back to Beat Columbus Sliders from an early setback to secure a solid 3-1 victory over the Columbus Sliders at MLP Las Vegas. Despite a tight contest in the mixed doubles, where the Columbus Sliders’ pairing of Parris Todd and Riley Newman edged out the New Jersey 5s’ Mari Humberg and Zane Navratil 25-23, the New Jersey 5s ultimately dominated the match.
Columbus Sliders Struggling for Momentum
The Columbus Sliders have struggled near the bottom of the standings for much of the 2024 season but made notable changes leading up to this event. They traded their female players, Andrea Koop and Meghan Dizon, acquiring Callie Smith and Parris Todd in return. Additionally, Roscoe Bellamy stepped in for Jay Devilliers, who is sidelined for the rest of the year due to surgery.
Anna Leigh Waters Shines in Women’s Doubles
Earlier in the day, Anna Leigh Waters faced a surprising mixed doubles loss alongside partner Riley Newman against the New Jersey 5s’ Federico Staksrud and Vivienne David. However, she came back with a vengeance in the women’s doubles, partnering with Mariana Humberg to decisively defeat the Columbus Sliders’ Callie Smith and Parris Todd with a commanding score of 25-11.
“We were pretty tired going into this match,” Will Howells, Waters’ mixed doubles partner, commented. “The moral of the story here was, ‘be resilient and stay disciplined. Don’t give up free points.’”
“This was our last match, our last day of competition in this event, so ‘leave it all out there’ is what we talked about,” Mari Humberg reflected after the match.
Score Board
- Columbus Sliders: 1
- New Jersey 5s: 3
| Event | New Jersey 5s | Score | Columbus Sliders | Score |
| Women’s Doubles | Parris Todd / Callie Smith | 20 | Anna Leigh Waters / Mariana Humberg | 25 |
| Men’s Doubles | Roscoe Bellamy / Riley Newman | 20 | Will Howells / Zane Navratil | 25 |
| Mixed Doubles 1 | Parris Todd / Riley Newman | 25 | Mariana Humberg / Zane Navratil | 23 |
| Mixed Doubles 2 | Callie Smith / Roscoe Bellamy | 11 | Anna Leigh Waters / Will Howells | 25 |
News in Brief: New Jersey 5s Bounce Back to Beat Columbus Sliders
The New Jersey 5s bounced back from an early loss to secure a 3-1 victory against the Columbus Sliders. Despite a mixed doubles defeat, the 5s showcased their strength in women’s and men’s doubles. Anna Leigh Waters, after a surprising earlier loss, led the charge in women’s doubles with a dominant performance. The Columbus Sliders, struggling near the bottom of the standings, made key roster changes but faced challenges against the resurgent New Jersey 5s.
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