The New Jersey 5s got off to a strong start at the Vulcan MLP Orlando Playoffs with a 3-0 victory over the Texas Ranchers.

It was a shocking result, especially given that the 5s won the only previous meeting where both teams were at full strength in a DreamBreaker.

Unsurprisingly, New Jersey chose to start the encounter with women’s doubles, where Anna Leigh Waters/Mari Humberg took on Texas’ Etta Wright/Tina Pisnik.

In that contest, Waters/Humberg watched as a 24-17 lead evaporated and Wright/Pisnik tied things up at 24.

The 5s narrowly avoided the collapse, though, with Waters/Humberg eventually coming away with a 27-25 victory to get on the board first.

That grueling win had a tangible impact on the rest of the contest, as Zane Navratil/Will Howells went on to beat Christian Alshon/Quang Duong in men’s doubles.

With the confidence of being up 2-0, Humberg/Navratil ended things with an upset victory over Wright/Alshon to secure the sweep.

This win puts New Jersey just one win away from making the Premier level final, but Humberg knows that the job is far from finished against a very talented Ranchers squad.

“They’re a very strong team,” she said. “Everyone that’s here deserves to be here, so we have to focus and know that we’re not done yet.”

Match 2 of this semifinal series will begin at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday.