D.C. Pickleball Team Rallies Past California Black Bears in Challenger Showdown

D.C. Pickleball Team Rallies Past California Black Bears: In a tightly contested MLP Challenger match that delivered on drama and depth, the D.C. Pickleball Team overcame an early deficit to defeat the California Black Bears 3–1. While the Black Bears struck first with a strong win in women’s doubles, it was D.C. that roared back, sweeping the next three games to close out the match and continue their momentum in Challenger-level play.

This July 11 clash featured rising stars, sharp strategy, and a reminder of just how competitive the Challenger division has become.

Black Bears Strike First in Women’s Doubles

The match couldn’t have started better for the California Black Bears, as Layne Sleeth and Lina Padegimaite dominated Christa Gecheva and Andrea Koop in women’s doubles with an 11–5 win.

Sleeth was especially aggressive at the net, controlling exchanges and applying pressure with fast hands and quick poaching. Padegimaite played steady from the right side, setting up Sleeth and closing points cleanly when needed.

That opening win gave California a 1–0 edge and early confidence, but the D.C. squad wasn’t rattled for long.

D.C. Answers Back in Men’s Doubles

Needing a response, Daniel De La Rosa and Stefan Auvergne delivered for D.C. in the men’s doubles match. Their 11–8 victory over Juan Benitez and Michael Loyd evened the match at 1–1 and shifted the momentum in D.C.’s favor.

De La Rosa’s raw athleticism and shot-making ability proved critical in tight moments, while Auvergne’s consistency and control helped settle the match after a tight back-and-forth start. The Black Bears had their chances, but unforced errors down the stretch proved costly.

Mixed Doubles: Pressure Points Make the Difference

The next two matches proved decisive.

In Mixed Doubles 1, Sleeth returned to the court alongside Michael Loyd to take on Stefan Auvergne and Andrea Koop. It was a well-matched contest, but D.C. found just enough edge in the closing points to grab a tight 11–9 win. Koop’s smart resets and Auvergne’s all-court defense proved too much, giving D.C. their first lead of the day at 2–1.

Mixed Doubles 2 was all D.C. from the start. Daniel De La Rosa and Christa Gecheva overwhelmed Lina Padegimaite and Juan Benitez 11–5 to close out the match at 3–1. De La Rosa remained aggressive on third shots, and Gecheva controlled the middle of the court with precise timing and strategic dinks.

At that point, the match was decided and the scheduled Dreambreaker was not played.

Key Performers

• Daniel De La Rosa: A two-win day in both men’s and mixed doubles; his energy and shot variety drove D.C.’s comeback.

• Stefan Auvergne: Quietly excellent in both appearances, especially in close mixed doubles.

• Layne Sleeth: Bright spot for California; aggressive and effective in women’s and mixed play despite the loss.

• Andrea Koop: Made her experience count in the mixed doubles clutch moments.

News in Brief: D.C. Pickleball Team Rallies Past California Black Bears

The D.C. Pickleball Team continues to look like a serious Challenger contender. After weathering an early loss, they showcased resilience, depth, and high-level team coordination to win three straight matches and close things out without needing a Dreambreaker.

For the California Black Bears, it was a tale of missed opportunities. Despite a strong start and several close sets, they couldn’t convert key points in mixed play. The pieces are there, but closing ability remains the difference between wins and near-misses at this level.

As the Challenger division heats up in Major League Pickleball, D.C.’s latest win proves that every lineup spot matters—and this squad has the kind of balance and chemistry to make noise all season long.

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