California Black Bears Pickleball Victory: The Picklr MLP Salt Lake City tournament continued on Sunday with a series of matches at The Picklr Kaysville. The California Black Bears defeated the D.C. Pickleball Team in four matches played on the Grandstand Court. The Black Bears won three matches, securing their victory without needing a tiebreaker.
California Black Bears Take Early Lead
On August 3, 2025, the women’s doubles match saw Layne Sleeth and Lina Padegimaite of the California Black Bears beat Christa Gecheva and Andrea Koop from the D.C. Pickleball Team 11-2. Following this, Martin Emmrich and Michael Loyd won the men’s doubles 11-8 over Daniel De la Rosa and Rafa Hewett.
Mixed Doubles Matches Show Split Results
In the first mixed doubles match, Rafa Hewett and Andrea Koop of the D.C. Pickleball Team fought back to defeat Layne Sleeth and Michael Loyd 11-4. However, the California Black Bears quickly responded in the second mixed doubles match. Lina Padegimaite and Martin Emmrich won 11-5 against Daniel De la Rosa and Christa Gecheva.
All matches were played to 11 points, with a two-point margin required to win.
| Match | California Black Bears | vs | D.C. Pickleball Team | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women’s Doubles | Layne Sleeth / Lina Padegimaite | vs | Christa Gecheva / Andrea Koop | 11–2 |
| Men’s Doubles | Martin Emmrich / Michael Loyd | vs | Daniel De la Rosa / Rafa Hewett | 11–8 |
| Mixed Doubles 1 | Layne Sleeth / Michael Loyd | vs | Rafa Hewett / Andrea Koop | 4–11 |
| Mixed Doubles 2 | Lina Padegimaite / Martin Emmrich | vs | Daniel De la Rosa / Christa Gecheva | 11–5 |
What This Means for Both Teams
The California Black Bears’ 3-1 win over the D.C. Pickleball Team strengthens their position in the tournament. Their strong play in women’s doubles, men’s doubles, and the second mixed doubles match helped secure the overall victory. The D.C. Pickleball Team showed resilience in the first mixed doubles match but will need to regroup for their next games.
The win boosts the California Black Bears as they move forward in the Picklr MLP Salt Lake City event, while the D.C. Pickleball Team will aim to improve their performance in future matches.
News in Brief: California Black Bears Pickleball Victory
On August 3, 2025, the California Black Bears defeated the D.C. Pickleball Team 3-1 in the Picklr MLP Salt Lake City tournament. The Black Bears won women’s doubles, men’s doubles, and one mixed doubles match at The Picklr Kaysville. The D.C. Pickleball Team won the other mixed doubles match.
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