Utah Black Diamonds and Chicago Slice Triumph in MLP Mid-Season Tournament
Exciting Start for Utah Black Diamonds and Chicago Slice
In the opening matches of the 2026 Major League Pickleball (MLP) Mid-Season Tournament held in Grand Rapids on July 8, the Utah Black Diamonds and Chicago Slice both secured impressive 3-1 victories against the College All Stars and Carolina Hogs, respectively. After facing initial setbacks, both teams rallied to win crucial matches, setting the stage for their pursuit of the tournament title.
The Utah Black Diamonds faced an early challenge when they lost the first men's doubles match. Kallan Arledge and Ryan Morneau of the College All Stars took the lead with an 11-9 victory over Connor Garnett and Tama Shimabukuro. However, the Black Diamonds quickly bounced back in the women's doubles, where Allyce Jones and Etta Tuionetoa dominated Ella Cosma and Lauren Mercado with an 11-1 win, leveling the score.
Utah then gained momentum as Allyce Jones and Connor Garnett triumphed over Ella Cosma and Ryan Morneau in the first mixed doubles match, winning 11-5. Etta Tuionetoa and Tama Shimabukuro sealed the comeback with an 11-4 victory against Lauren Mercado and Kallan Arledge in the second mixed doubles, concluding the match at 3-1.
Similarly, the Chicago Slice rebounded after losing the opening men's doubles to the Carolina Hogs. Brandon French and Michael Loyd secured an 11-8 win, putting the Hogs ahead. Chicago responded strongly in the women's doubles, with Elsie Hendershot and Ting Chieh Wei defeating Nicole Conard and Abbigail Hatton 11-6 to equalize the match.
The Slice continued their strong performance in mixed doubles, with Jalina Ingram and John Lucian Goins winning 11-6 against Abbigail Hatton and Brandon French. Ting Chieh Wei and Zane Navratil followed up with another 11-6 victory over Nicole Conard and Michael Loyd, ensuring Chicago's 3-1 win.
With these victories, both the Utah Black Diamonds and Chicago Slice advanced to the next round of the Mid-Season Tournament, while the College All Stars and Carolina Hogs continued their journey in the double-elimination format.