Erik Lange and Yana Newell playing mixed doubles.
Erik Lange and Yana Newell competing for the Socal Hard Eights. Major League Pickleball

Hard Eights outlast Black Bears in DreamBreaker for tenth consecutive victory

OVERLAND PARK, KS - The SoCal Hard Eights—featuring Erik Lange, Irina Tereschenko, Max Manthou, and Yana Newell—are on a roll.

With their DreamBreaker victory over the California Black Bears Monday afternoon, the Hard Eights secured their tenth consecutive victory.

It’s a streak that began in July at the mid-season tournament, where they won their final three matches to earn third place. Couple that with three wins in Salt Lake City and now another four in Kansas City, and you’ve got quite the run.

In Monday’s match, Lange was the X-factor. He won both of his games to help SoCal force a DreamBreaker.

Once the deciding contest began, it was Manthou who shined. He set the tone early with a 4-0 rotation against Rafa Hewett to give SoCal a lead it wouldn’t lose.

 

Lange, who won a title in 2023 with the Chicago Slice, says that the Hard Eights’ chemistry has been the biggest contributor to their success.

“Really, it’s about the team picking each other up at different moments,” he shared. “I feel like our chemistry is unmatched. We’re here for each other. We’re staying at the same house and know each other’s daily routines. It just feels like a family, and I think that’s helping us on court.”

Now in sole position of first place in the challenger level standings, SoCal has a bit of a break before taking the court again. The Hard Eights won’t be back in action until MLP Virginia Beach, set to run Sept. 26-29.