California Black Bears Pickleball Sweep: The California Black Bears earned a dominant 4-0 win over Florida Smash on July 18, 2025, at the Grandstand Court during the MLP St. Louis tournament. The match included men’s, women’s, and mixed doubles contests, followed by a Dreambreaker that also went the Black Bears’ way.
California Black Bears Win All Matches
The day started with the women’s doubles match. Paula Rives and Martina Frantova of the California Black Bears took on Layne Sleeth and Lina Padegimaite from Florida Smash. Rives and Frantova won a close game, 11-9.
Next, in men’s doubles, California’s Cason Campbell and Travis Rettenmaier beat Michael Loyd and Juan Benitez of Florida Smash with a strong 11-6 finish.
In mixed doubles, the California team continued to perform well. Travis Rettenmaier and Martina Frantova defeated Lina Padegimaite and Juan Benitez 11-3. Then, Cason Campbell and Paula Rives won 11-0 against Layne Sleeth and Michael Loyd, giving California a 4-0 series lead.
Because the match was already decided, the Dreambreaker was not required. However, the teams went ahead and played it for fans. The California Black Bears once again showed their strength, winning the Dreambreaker 21-17.
Black Bears Continue Strong Run
With this win, the California Black Bears moved to 2-1 in the standings. Their next match will be against the D.C. Pickleball Team on July 19. The Florida Smash, now 0-3, are still searching for their first victory of the season.
This win gave the Black Bears their second consecutive win at the MLP St. Louis event. The Florida Smash, on the other hand, continue to struggle with both their men’s and women’s doubles teams falling short.
| Match | Florida Smash | California Black Bears | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women’s Doubles | Paula Rives / Martina Frantova | Layne Sleeth / Lina Padegimaite | 11 – 9 |
| Men’s Doubles | Cason Campbell / Travis Rettenmaier | Michael Loyd / Juan Benitez | 11 – 6 |
| Mixed Doubles 1 | Travis Rettenmaier / Martina Frantova | Lina Padegimaite / Juan Benitez | 11 – 3 |
| Mixed Doubles 2 | Cason Campbell / Paula Rives | Layne Sleeth / Michael Loyd | 11 – 0 |
| Dreambreaker | Cason Campbell / Travis Rettenmaier / Martina Frantova / Paula Rives | Michael Loyd / Juan Benitez / Layne Sleeth / Lina Padegimaite | 5 – 0 |
What This Win Means
The California Black Bears are showing that they are a strong team in this season. With key players like Travis Rettenmaier, Paula Rives, and Martina Frantova performing well, they look ready for tougher challenges ahead.
Florida Smash, now at 0-3, need to make quick changes to stay in playoff contention. Their struggles in both doubles and mixed matches have put them under pressure.
The next few games will be important for both teams to shape their season.
News in Brief: California Black Bears Pickleball Sweep
California Black Bears swept Florida Smash 4-0 in the MLP St. Louis match on July 18. Wins in all doubles matches and the Dreambreaker showed California’s strength. Florida Smash remains winless this season at 0-3, while California improves to 2-1. Both teams return to action on July 19.
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