It's Day 3 at MLP Virginia Beach, and I've got all the latest updates from this exciting Challenger-only event.

Check back here throughout the day, as this article will be modified as results come in. 

You can watch the action for yourself on the MLP YouTube, starting at 8:30am EST.

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5:35 p.m. ET: Hard Eights rebound with sweep of Las Vegas

The SoCal Hard Eights lost both of their matches on Friday, but they got back on track with a sweep of the Las Vegas Night Owls on Saturday afternoon.

 

 

 

 

 

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The highlight of the encounter was Erik Lange and Yana Newell’s 33-31 victory over Rafa Hewett and Zoey Wang in the second mixed doubles match.

For Newell, already having secured the overall win helped her and Lange keep their composure down the stretch.

“It’s really nice to have a 3-0 lead and knowing that there’s no pressure of going to a DreamBreaker, so I think we were a little looser compared if the match had been closer,” she shared.

Even though the match finished as a sweep in favor of SoCal, Lange knows that each one of the tightly contested matches could have just as easily gone the other way.

“We scored eight more points than [Las Vegas] in this match, and we won 4-0, so the margins really are that slim,” he said. “We could have lost 0-4 if those points went the other way, so it comes down to trust in the team. We got here on Monday and have had a long week together, and I think that chemistry really helps us in those moments that matter.”

The Hard Eights will look to leave Virginia Beach on a positive note when they take on the Florida Smash and Frisco Pandas on Sunday.

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2:25 p.m. ET: Aces finding form with second straight win

Following a seven-game losing streak that spanned from MLP New York City to Virginia Beach, the Brooklyn Aces have now won two straight after their most recent 3-1 victory over the California Black Bears.

The gender doubles pairings of Pablo Tellez and Daniel de la Rosa and Layne Sleeth and Lina Padegimaite took the first two games before De la Rosa and Padegimaite defeated the Black Bears’ Brandon French and Genie Erokhina in mixed doubles to secure the win.

Even with a budding winning streak, Tellez is trying not to put too much pressure on any one match.

“MLP can be a crapshoot,” he said. “A lot of the time, you don’t control who’s gonna win and who’s gonna lose. It just happens. Whoever is on for two minutes wins the game.”

The Aces will look to extend their run when they face the Bay Area Breakers later Saturday afternoon.

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12:30 p.m. ET: Florida maintains stellar DreamBreaker form in win over Chicago

Since adding Donald Young and Christa Gecheva during Waiver Period 2, the Florida Smash are undefeated in DreamBreakers.

That record improved to 5-0 Saturday morning with a 21-14 victory over the Chicago Slice.

Florida player (and part owner) Travis Rettenmaier—who earned wins in men’s and mixed doubles to force that deciding contest—applauded Gecheva for the steadiness she brings to the team.

“Christa is just a great competitor,” he said. “She’s fighting for points, she moves well, and she’s making a lot of balls. A lot of times in the DreamBreaker, especially on the women’s side, that’s what it’s about. It’s not as much about shot making; it’s a lot more about just being steady and consistent.”

He also spoke about Young’s singles prowess and fast-improving game.

“I think Donald has really given us a sense that we have a true number 1 singles player. Having me out there at number 1 at 41 years old is not what we want. I’m not gonna run it, but [Donald] can and does consistently,” he mentioned. “I’m really high on him and am actually set to play with him all next year in the PPAs and just feel like his trajectory is going to go up very, very quickly.”

Florida will look to improve to 4-1 in Virginia Beach when they face the Atlanta Bouncers later Saturday afternoon.

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12:20 p.m. ET: Bouncers begin Saturday with back-to-back victories

The Atlanta Bouncers had a strong start to Saturday with two consecutive regulation victories over the Las Vegas Night Owls and Bay Area Breakers.

 

 

 

 

 

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Mixed doubles has proven to be a strength of the new-look Bouncers, as the pairings of Todd Fought and Emily Cederquist and Jaume Martinez Vich and Susannah Barr have combined to win their last six matches together.

The Bouncers, on the heels of three consecutive victories after dropping their opening match in Virginia Beach, will look to keep it going later Saturday afternoon against the also-surging Florida Smash.