Recap

Northern Rollers Cruise to Victory over Vancouver Rush

Rollers Win Handily Against Rush in Women’s Game

Already having a tough Eastern Split, the Vancouver Rush (who would finish 1-8) had to tangle with the Rollers, who would top the table at 7-2. Given the daunting task of taking down Rollers pair Jessica Kawamoto and Casey Rodgers in the first contest were Jordann Vigna and Hailey Almusa. They never stood a chance, losing 21-11.

Vigna did give the Rush the briefest of leads, dropping a nice lob and drilling a backhand for winners to put her team up 3-2. Kawamoto, the Player of the Match, and Rodgers then took over, with the former accounting for four of her teams next eight points, forcing the Rush to take a timeout down 10-5. Almusa and Vigna did show signs of making it a close one, keeping the Rollers in check enough to trail just 14-9 at one point.

That was all they could muster, however, with the Rollers countering almost every Rush return with an even better one and forcing a slew of Rush unforced errors, moving the score to 20-11 freeze. The amped up Kawamoto then ended proceedings with a massive forehand.

Rush Fall to Rollers in Interesting Men’s Game

There was something for everyone in this key match-up. The Rollers grizzled vet Corey Osborne and rookie partner Ryan Torresin squared off with Vancouver’s Brett Forsythe and Joe Willemsen in a game where all manner of shots were made. Most, fortunately for the Rollers, went their way in a key 21-18 triumph.

Torresin and Osborne both showed off extensive Pickle ball skills from the start, scoring three points each, while Forsythe shot back for three of his own to put the score at 9-5 Rollers and a needed timeout. The Rush, rested, came back with a flurry, tying it up 10-10 and then going ahead 12-11 in a spirited rally. Unfazed, Osborne and Torresin responded with outstanding winning shots, including an ATP from Torresin and a near ATP that just missed.

The two teams dinked and defended well for a few volleys; however, the Rollers again got the upper hand and forced a second Rush timeout with the score 19-16 in their favor. After the break, the Rollers coughed up two points to make things interesting, but Osborne set up the Rush for a mistake and a 20-18 freeze, followed by a sizzling Torresin backhand for the win.

Rush Push Back in Mixed Game to Stay Alive

Typically, a key turning point, or important game indicator, happens well into a CNPL game. In this one, taken by the Rush’s Brett Forsythe and Jordann Vigna 21-13, the turning point happened right away. While there were a lot of great winning shots made, this was an error-filled contest that started with the Rollers Casey Rodgers sending the first serve side out, followed two points later by a Corey Osborne serve that found the Selkirk net. And on it went.

The highlight of the first half of the game was an ATP that Vigna sent down the line to put the Rush in front 4-2, and up to the point the Rush led 10-8 virtually every scoring point was due to an unforced error. Another indicator that this wasn’t the Rollers finest hour was a total miscommunication between Rodgers and Osborne that resulted in a 15-10 Rush lead. The Rush, giving no quarter, took over the kitchen in the latter stages, with Vigna and Forsythe sending set up shots the Rollers weren’t ready for. The game ended, unremarkably, with another Rollers unforced error.

Rollers Stomp Rush to Win Match

The way this pivotal contest went, it is likely the Rush’s Joe Willemsen and Hailey Almusa would want it forgotten as soon as possible. Unfortunately, their complete domination by the Rollers Jessica Kawamoto and Ryan Torresin, by a score of 21-5, was captured for posterity on film. This was the most lopsided victory at the Eastern Split and another match win for the Rollers.

Hailey Almusa, a rookie, seemed very timid at the start and it continued throughout, as she made five unforced errors and was plunked by a Torresin Erne as the Rollers took a 9-2 lead. Kawamoto, the Player of the Match, added to the Rush woes, playing outstanding defense and stroking a couple of winners. With the score 10-3, the Rollers reeled off five straight points on Rush errors and a bit later Torresin ripped an overhand winner to push the score to 18-4. Mercifully, this game and the match concluded with two Rush unforced errors.