GRAND RAPIDS, MI - The New Jersey 5s are into the Premier finals of the MLP Mid-Season Tournament after a commanding 3-1 triumph over the Dallas Flash early Saturday afternoon.

The team featuring Anna Leigh Waters, Zane Navratil, Mari Humberg, and Will Howells had won all of its matches so far this season by way of a DreamBreaker, but a deciding contest wasn’t needed in the semifinals.

Dallas started off the stronger of the two squads, as the Flash’s JW Johnson and Augie Ge eased past Navratil and Howells in men’s doubles 25-15.

After that, the pressure fell to Waters and Humberg, who needed to earn the women’s doubles point to avoid falling into an 0-2 deficit.

They were up to that challenge, besting Jorja Johnson and Hurricane Tyra Black 25-18 to even the match.

Humberg was especially impressive in that one, outdueling Black with her backhand slice dink on the left side to set up attacks for Waters.

The former University of Louisville tennis player brought that momentum into the first mixed doubles game, where she and Navratil took down the Johnson siblings 30-28.

That contest might go down as the game of the tournament, as the Johnsons came all the way back from a 16-24 deficit before New Jersey eventually took the win.

It was a big result for the 5s in the context of Saturday’s match, of course, but this win might just be more important for Humberg and Navratil’s confidence as a partnership. It’s their first victory after starting their MLP mixed doubles partnership 0-4.

The key for the tandem on Saturday was having no fear.

“We went in with the mentality of having nothing to lose, and we just tried to stay loose and play our game,” Humberg explained. “We all really trust each other. We’ve grown to be friends all around, and it’s definitely easier to play with someone you trust.”

Howells and Waters then closed out the match with a victory over Black and Ge to secure the team’s first regulation victory of the season and book a spot in Sunday’s championship match.

New Jersey general manager Ryan Harwood credits his team’s positivity for its success so far this season.

“What’s special about this group is that everyone is so positive,” he shared. “They cheer each other on, and they never get down on each other.”

The 5s will face either the St. Louis Shock or D.C. Pickleball Team in the final, while Dallas moves to the consolation bracket.