Recap

Lions Coast to Four-Game Triumph Against Rollers

Lions Women Rebound to Narrowly Beat Rollers

The Rollers, in dire need of a win after two straight opening losses in the Western Split, looked like they might slip past the Lions in this women’s doubles match. Jessica Kawamoto and Emma Li nearly pulled it off, jumping out to an early 7-4 lead, however the Lions Kim Layton and Grace Thomas fought gamely in a tight 15-13 win.

Li provided the heat to get the Rollers off to a good start, with an overhand bomb and a net cord squeaker, while she and Kawamoto dominated the kitchen. Yet, unforced errors would be their undoing, as the Lions scored seven straight points to go up 11-7. From there, more unforced errors by both sides lead to a 13-12 Lions lead and a timeout.

The Rollers rallied defensively to tie it after the break only to have the Lions counter and force a Kawamoto side out shot to go to freeze at 14-13. That freeze would last, amazingly, for six straight rallies as both sides traded net returns or side outs. Thomas would finally win it with a sweet forehand.

Lions Take Bite Out of Rollers to Win Easily in Men’s Doubles

There was no stopping the Lions in this game, as Eric Gagnon and Cam Rich controlled most of the play to thump the Rollers duo of Corey Osborne and Jonas Dahler 15-7. The tone for this contest for the Rollers was set when they hit the net on serve to trail 2-0. Gagnon and Rich then staged superb defense to offense transitions and made outstanding shots to force several Rollers unforced errors. The Rollers, naturally, called a timeout down 7-2.

The Lions pushed the lead to 10-3 after the break before the Rollers answered with the only flurry they would have. Osborne would fire a nice cross for a winner and followed it up with two great set-up shots that Gagnon put side out to trim the margin to 11-7. Dahler would narrowly miss a sweet ATP to make it 12-7 Lions, who would use a Gagnon flick and a Rich Erne that hit Dahler to go ahead 14-7. The game ended quietly when the Rollers sent one side out.

Lions Take Match in Spirited Battle with Rollers in Mixed Doubles

The Rollers mixed doubles team had to be given credit for not going down without a fight in this game. Osborne and Li threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Lions Gagnon and Thomas to get their team back in the match, but just couldn’t find the secret sauce in a 15-13 loss.

The game started out innocently, with both sides trading a few good shots, including Player of the Match Gagnon plunking Osborne with an Erne, along with unforced errors to see the Lions up 5-4 before a time out. Thomas and Gagnon used the rest to push the lead to 10-8, just prior Gagnon unleashing a forehand for another score.

The Rollers pushed back a bit, with Li and Osborne putting together a lengthy rally, capped by a Li forehand to make the score 12-10. Later, Li would add another backhand and play cohesive defense with Osborne and fire another backhand to get within one at 13-12. The Lions took a timeout one play later with the score tied 13-13. That helped, with Gagnon drilling an overhand winner and Thomas smacking Li with an Erne to win it.

Rollers Too Much for Lions to Handle in Match Finale

As formidable opponent as the Lions mixed doubles team of Layton and Rice were, the Rollers pair of lanky Dahler and diminutive dynamo Kawamoto were up to the task. Anyone watching would not have known that this game meant very little, but it was easily the most entertaining of this match as the Rollers triumphed 115-13.

Layton started things off with a bang, literally, apologizing after whacking Dahler with an Erne. Kawamoto followed that up with a tremendous cross and Layton got her team up 2-1 on a wicked ATP. Prior to the two teams being tied 5-5, Kawamoto was all over the Pickleroll floor, playing tremendous defense, while Dahler supplied a smooth overhand and Rich replied with a monster cross.

With the score 8-8, Dahler and Kawamoto again showed defensive acumen, scoring the go ahead point, and two points later Dahler nailing another overhand to go up 11-10. Dahler would pay back the earlier Erne with one of his own, this one finding Rich’s chin for a 12-10 Rollers advantage. The Rollers finally won when Dahler set up Rich for a net return.