James Ignatowich hits a backhand.
James Ignatowich competing for the D.C. Pickleball Team at MLP D.C. Major League Pickleball

D.C. Pickleball Team routs Hustlers to make semifinals

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - The D.C. Pickleball Team punched its ticket to the semifinals early Friday afternoon with a decisive 3-0 victory over the New York Hustlers.

The squad featuring James Ignatowich, Rachel Rohrabacher, Dekel Bar, and Vivian Glozman has yet to drop a game in Grand Rapids after also sweeping the Utah Black Diamonds in Thursday’s opening round.

It looked like New York would take the opening women’s doubles game when Jackie Kawamoto and Lea Jansen had two game points, but Rohrabacher and Glozman steadied the ship and eventually took it 27-25.

That win gave D.C all the momentum it needed going into men’s and mixed doubles, and the team sprinted to two dominant wins to close out the match.

 

Glozman is playing her first event for D.C. since being traded from the Bay Area Breakers in exchange for Allyce Jones.

She’s had a strong start to her time with the team, boasting a 4-0 record through two matches so far.

She’ll look to keep it going on Saturday when D.C. faces the top-seeded St. Louis Shock.