Carolina Hogs Beats Texas Ranchers: The Carolina Hogs earned their first victory of the 2025 Major League Pickleball (MLP) season with an exciting DreamBreaker win over the Texas Ranchers on Friday, June 6. The match was part of Day 2 action at the 2025 MLP Daytona Beach tournament at Pictona in Holly Hill.
Carolina Hogs Rally to Win in DreamBreaker
The Ranchers appeared set for a regulation win after dominating the gender doubles. Etta Tuionetoa and Tina Pisnik won their match, and Christian Alshon and Eric Oncins secured a second victory. But the Hogs came alive in mixed doubles, forcing a DreamBreaker and ultimately securing the upset.
“Honestly, we know we can win singles against any team—it’s just a matter of getting there. This is definitely a confidence booster in terms of mixed and singles, and I’m sure we can pull together the gender doubles, too.” – (Ben Johns)
Tournament Background
The 2025 MLP Daytona Beach tournament is the fifth stop of the 2025 MLP season. Nine elite teams are competing over four days for crucial points toward the MLP Playoffs in August. Fans have packed the venue to watch some of the top pickleball talent in the country.
Carolina entered the day with an 0-8 record but delivered a determined performance against Texas (5-4). The action will continue through the weekend, with more key matchups ahead.
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Match Results
Here is a full breakdown of the match between the Carolina Hogs and Texas Ranchers:
| Event | Texas Ranchers | Score | Carolina Hogs | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women’s Doubles | Tina Pisnik / Etta Tuionetoa | 11 | Tamaryn Emmrich / Kaitlyn Christian | 5 |
| Men’s Doubles | Christian Alshon / Eric Oncins | 11 | Ben Johns / Collin Johns | 2 |
| Mixed Doubles 1 | Tina Pisnik / Eric Oncins | 7 | Ben Johns / Tamaryn Emmrich | 11 |
| Mixed Doubles 2 | Christian Alshon / Etta Tuionetoa | 6 | Collin Johns / Kaitlyn Christian | 11 |
| DreamBreaker | Christian Alshon / Eric Oncins / Etta Tuionetoa / Tina Pisnik | 12 | Ben Johns / Collin Johns / Kaitlyn Christian / Tamaryn Emmrich | 21 |
Final Match Result: Carolina Hogs win 3 – 2 over Texas Ranchers
Mixed Doubles Turn the Match
The Hogs’ comeback began in mixed doubles. Tammy Emmrich and Ben Johns defeated Pisnik and Oncins 11-7. Then Kaitlyn Christian and Collin Johns shocked Tuionetoa and Alshon 11-6 to send the contest to a DreamBreaker.
“Collin helped me a lot with strategy, and when I have a plan, it makes things a lot easier. There’s no one better to get a plan from than Collin, so kudos to him.” – (Kaitlyn)
DreamBreaker Clinches the Win
In the DreamBreaker, Ben Johns dominated Alshon 8-3, and Christian outscored Tuionetoa 6-2 through two rotations. Their performances powered Carolina to a 21-12 victory, sealing their first win of the season.
Both teams will return to the court on Friday. Carolina faces the St. Louis Shock, while Texas will take on the Utah Black Diamonds.
News in Brief: Carolina Hogs Beats Texas Ranchers
The Carolina Hogs earned their first 2025 MLP win with a 3-2 DreamBreaker victory over the Texas Ranchers at the 2025 MLP Daytona Beach tournament. Strong mixed doubles play and standout DreamBreaker performances by Ben Johns and Kaitlyn Christian helped Carolina complete the upset.
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