Fives Make It Two Straight as Waters and Johnson Go 11-1 at MLP Austin

The New Jersey Fives ran the table at MLP Austin for their second consecutive event title, banking all 25 regular season standings points and vaulting to second place in points per event ▶ The Dink (newsletter) ↗. Pool play was largely comfortable — a 4-0 sweep of the Smash, 3-1 wins over the Breakers, Ranchers, and Bouncers — with the closest call a nervy Dreambreaker escape over last-place Dallas, 22-20 ▶ The Dink (newsletter) ↗.

Anna Leigh Waters and Jorja Johnson each went 11-1 ▶ The Dink (newsletter) ↗. The men's unit of Noe Khlif and Will Howells went 7-5 overall but 2-4 in men's doubles — flagged as the lineup's current weak link through three events ▶ The Dink (newsletter) ↗.

The #1 v. #1 Super Sunday final went Fives over Columbus 3-1 ▶ The Dink (newsletter) ↗. Rain arrived moments after the trophy ceremony.

**Columbus without Todd, still dominant.** Rumors circulated at Austin Pickle Ranch about the legitimacy of Parris Todd's illness, but the Sliders swept Pool A anyway, winning all four matches ▶ The Dink (newsletter) ↗. Judit Castillo stepped in and went 5-5 ▶ The Dink (newsletter) ↗.

**Miami climbs.** Miami Pickleball Club moved up eight spots in the points-per-event standings at Austin ▶ The Dink (newsletter) ↗.

"I think as Dylan Frazier goes, so does Miami Pickleball Club." ▶ The Dink (newsletter) ↗

**Ranchers on the rise.** Nico Acevedo went 7-5 in his Texas Ranchers debut, helping the team jump from 10th to 6th with 15 standings points ▶ The Dink (newsletter) ↗. Right-side chemistry with Eric Oncins is building, and so is the partnership with Lea Jansen as the season progresses ▶ The Dink (newsletter) ↗.

*Disclosure: The Dink author identified themselves as the General Manager of the California Black Bears, a team mentioned in this recap.*