Lacy Schneemann and Meghan Dizon Pull Off Upset at Greater Zion Cup

Major Upset in Utah

In a surprising turn of events at the Greater Zion Cup held in Utah, the duo of Lacy Schneemann and Meghan Dizon defeated the second-seeded team of Jorja Johnson and Tyra Hurricane Black on March 27. The match concluded with scores of 11-4, 6-11, and 11-6, propelling Lacy and Meghan into the semifinals. They are set to compete against the fourth-seeded team of Parris Todd and Kate Fahey on Saturday, with a chance to advance to the finals of this PPA Tour event.

Having previously secured a bronze medal at the PPA Indoor Nationals in Minnesota earlier this January, Lacy and Meghan showcased remarkable composure during the match, which lasted over an hour in front of a nearly full audience. Their ability to adapt under pressure was particularly noteworthy. As they faced continuous attacks from Johnson and Black, Lacy and Meghan modified their strategy mid-game, successfully identifying and exploiting weaknesses.

Schneemann later discussed the difficulties of countering the aerial prowess of Johnson and Black. She noted, “In women’s doubles, the common strategy is to employ aggressive dinks and maneuver the ball for optimal shots, but [Johnson and Black] are incredibly effective in the air, necessitating a more cautious approach with our dinks.” She emphasized the importance of using softer dinks to keep the ball short in the kitchen, preventing their opponents from capitalizing on aerial opportunities.

For Dizon, this victory was particularly meaningful. Having played college tennis at Brigham Young University in Utah, competing in her home state provided a sense of comfort and motivation. The enthusiastic support from the crowd further enhanced her experience, making the win feel even more special. “Competing in Utah is always a pleasure. The local fans are incredibly supportive of us Utah players. My family often travels to the west coast tournaments, so having them here today was fantastic. I’m thrilled with our win,” she expressed.