New Jersey 5s Crush D.C. Pickleball Team: In a decisive championship match on Sunday, the New Jersey 5s secured a 3-1 victory over the D.C. Pickleball Team at the Hertz MLP New York City event. This showdown served as a rematch of the thrilling Mid-Season Tournament final held in July, where New Jersey won in a nail-biting DreamBreaker. However, Sunday’s encounter unfolded with much less drama, showing the 5s’ growing dominance in the league.
Women’s Doubles Display
The action kicked off with women’s doubles, where Mariana Humberg and Anna Leigh Waters took center stage against Vivian Glozman and Rachel Rohrabacher. The New Jersey duo delivered an impressive performance, dominating their opponents with a final score of 25-8.
Their combination of powerful serves and strategic volleys left Glozman and Rohrabacher struggling to find their footing, setting a confident tone for the 5s early in the match.
Men’s Doubles Matchup
Next, the men’s doubles featured Will Howells and Zane Navratil facing off against D.C.’s James Ignatowich and Dekel Bar. In a tightly contested match, Howells and Navratil emerged victorious with a score of 25-22.
This win marked a crucial turnaround from their previous encounter in Grand Rapids, where D.C. had claimed the victory. The performance showed New Jersey’s ability to adapt and improve, a theme that resonated throughout the day.
Mixed Doubles Drama
The mixed doubles match added excitement as Zane Navratil and Mariana Humberg squared off against Dekel Bar and Vivian Glozman. Despite a valiant effort, the New Jersey pair fell short, losing 25-21.
However, the pressure was quickly alleviated as Anna Leigh Waters and Will Howells teamed up for the final mixed doubles match against Rachel Rohrabacher and James Ignatowich. Waters and Howells decisively claimed victory with a score of 25-16, sealing the overall win for New Jersey.
Reflecting on Success
With this victory, the New Jersey 5s concluded their time in New York with an impressive 5-0 record. General manager Ryan Harwood credited the team’s success to a culture of continuous improvement.
“I think over the season, we’ve just continued to get better and better. Will and Mari haven’t even been playing pickleball that long, so they’re getting better and better every single day, and then the chemistry—that ‘Clown Culture’—is getting really strong.” – (Ryan Harwood)
With another dominant performance under their belts, the 5s now lead the Premier level with an average of 2.21 standings points per match. As they look ahead to the MLP Las Vegas event scheduled for October 14-16, the team aims to maintain their momentum and solidify their position as title contenders.
News in Brief: New Jersey 5s Crush D.C. Pickleball Team
The New Jersey 5s won over the D.C. Pickleball Team with a 3-1 victory on Sunday, capping off their impressive performance at the Hertz MLP New York City event. Mariana Humberg and Anna Leigh Waters dominated in women’s doubles, while Will Howells and Zane Navratil secured a key victory in men’s doubles.
Despite a setback in mixed doubles, Waters and Howells clinched the overall win. The 5s finished the tournament with a perfect 5-0 record, and general manager Ryan Harwood praised the team’s continuous improvement as they prepare for MLP Las Vegas in October.
ALSO READ: New Jersey 5s Outplay Columbus Sliders in Thrilling MLP NYC Clash
