Recap

Smash Take Exciting Five-Game Match Over Wolverines

Smash Women Cruise to Big Win over Wolverines

Once Smash veterans Christina Chin and Kim Layton got going, there was little that Wolverines relative newcomers Natalie Araya and Sabrina Lam could do to stem the tide. After Lam scored the game’s first point on a good overhand, it was all Smash, as Player of the Match Chin and partner Layton won handily, 21-8.

Chin and Layton put on quite a display of transitional pickleball, each making brilliant shots that neither Araya nor Lam could solve, leading to a timeout down 8-3. The rest worked a bit in the Wolverines favor, as they scrambled back to trail only 10-6. But, the Smash found another gear, combining on an awesome rally to go up 12-6, followed by a slew of Wolverines unforced errors, leading to another timeout at 18-8. The game would then end quietly, as another Wolverines return found nothing but Selkirk net.

Wolverines Win Hard-Fought Thriller in Men’s Contest

With a fair number of rookie players present for the Eastern Split, it was refreshing to see a game contested by some wily vets. In a great display of fortitude, Joel Pelletier and Haddow Thul of the Wolverines outlasted the Smash’s Dalbir Bhandal and Nathan Choi by a score of 21-19.

In the early going, the Smash seemed in control, with both Bhandal and Choi rallying and making shots that eluded Wolverines’ paddles. After shaking off the rust, Thul and Pelletier chipped away, eventually taking a lead and forcing a Smash timeout with the score 14-11 in the Wolverines favor.

After the rest, the two squads battled back and forth, with as many great shots made as unforced errors, until the match went to double freeze at 20-19 Wolverines. Incredibly, the hold lasted six rallies, until a Pelletier bomb nicked Bhandal for an Erne and the win.

Smash Stage Epic Comeback to Win First Mixed Game

With two of CNPL’s most emotional players in the mix, this tilt was due to be a dramatic one. The Smash’s Nathan Choi and Christina Chin are known for their inspired play and the two brought it in this one, overcoming an early six-point deficit to trim the Wolverines Haddow Thul and Sabrina Lam 21-20.

Thul was the catalyst from the first volley, threading some great shots to put his team up 9-3. The Smash took it in stride and then reeled off seven of the next 10 points to trail 12-10. For their part Thul and Lam battled right back in this electrifying game, rallying to go up 16-13 and seemingly have a stranglehold.

However, the charged-up duo of Chin and Choi failed to lie down, rallying, and making great transitions to get this one to double freeze at 20-19 Wolverines. After five straight holds, the Smash broke through, winning it 21-20 on a Wolverines unforced error.

Wolverines Turn Tables on Smash to Even Up Match

And here we thought the first mixed doubles game in this outstanding match was charged up. In a crucial test and facing a match loss, the Wolverines Joel Pelletier and Natalie Araya had to hold off another late rally by the Smash, winning a 21-20 nailbiter to send this one to a tiebreaker.

The Wolverines built a commanding 7-2 lead early, with a fired-up Pelletier supplying the fireworks. But his hulking counterpart Dalbir Bhandal came out swinging too, bringing the Smash to within two at 8-6. However, Araya and Pelletier charged ahead and eventually held a 17-9 cushion.

Bhandal and Layton, to their credit, rallied to inexplicably knot this one at 20-20, using some seriously good shot-making. The hold would last five rallies, until a Pelletier net cord shot won it.

Smash Cap Match Triumph with Inspired Comeback in Singles Tiebreaker

Looking at the first four games of this wild match, it was fitting this singles tiebreaker had great momentum swings and lots of emotion. Trailing again late, the Smash this time completed a comeback, trimming the Wolverines 21-19.

Joel Pelletier got the Dura ball rolling right away, taking three points on Nathan Choi. Yet, Dalbir Bhandal went to work and whitewashed Haddow Thul to tie it. Christina Chin and then Kim Layton each took two of three to give the Smash a short-lived 7-5 lead.

Choi coughed up two maintain a lead and Bhandal allowed Thul to smoke him for three straight and a 10-8 Wolverines lead. The Wolverines then would hold on, maintaining the two-point gap after four mini-games, 16-14. Chin provided the late fireworks, sweeping Araya 3-0, followed by Layton taking two of three for a 19-17 cushion. Choi was only able to take one point against Pelletier for a 20-19 lead, but Bhandal won it when he set up Thul to go side out.