New Jersey 5s Respond In Style With Back-to-Back Saturday Sweeps
Just two days after a narrow DreamBreaker defeat at the hands of the Utah Black Diamonds, the New Jersey 5s (10-3, 30 points) stormed back with two commanding victories on Saturday, reminding Major League Pickleball fans why they’re one of the most formidable teams in the league.
With a much-needed break on Friday following the loss, the 5s regrouped, recalibrated, and returned to the court with clarity and force. Their Saturday schedule featured matchups against the SoCal Hard Eights and the Chicago Slice—both of whom were swept clean in 4-0 fashion.
Source: Pickleball.com
Meghan Dizon’s Return Sets The Tone
A key factor in New Jersey’s resurgence was the return of Meghan Dizon, who had missed Thursday’s match due to illness. Her presence brought balance and depth back to the roster, and it showed.
The extra day off gave the team more than just time to recover physically—it gave them space to reflect, re-strategize, and rebuild their team chemistry.
“I think it was a good opportunity to talk with the team and go over things that worked and things that didn’t,” Anna Leigh Waters said about the Friday pause. “On Thursday, there were obviously some things that didn’t work, so we were just trying to problem-solve and fix it. Zane [Navratil] did an amazing job as team captain to kind of get us together, sit down, and talk about some things that maybe we wouldn’t want to talk about without him.”
Zane & Will’s Clutch Comeback Against The Slice
The team’s second match of the day—against the Chicago Slice—provided a moment of early tension. Zane Navratil and Will Howells quickly fell behind 0-5 to the aggressive men’s doubles pairing of James Ignatowich and Max Freeman. But what followed was a testament to New Jersey’s adaptability and poise.
Navratil and Howells reeled off 11 of the next 12 points to claim the match 11-6, shifting the momentum decisively back to their side ahead of mixed doubles.
“It’s a game of runs, as we all know,” Navratil said after the comeback. “Teams can get hot, especially teams like Max and James who have good drives and quick hands. So, we just had to not let it bother us and make some adjustments.”
He added, “I think we do a really good job of adjusting our game plan throughout a single game to 11, which isn’t an easy thing to do. It’s not a large time frame to even identify trends and adjust as a result of them, but it’s necessary. We buckled down, executed, and we were able to turn it around.”
Poised for A Strong Finish
With momentum firmly back on their side, the New Jersey 5s now set their sights on Sunday’s final matchups in Florida. They’ll face off against the New York Hustlers and the Carolina Hogs to wrap up their campaign in the Sunshine State.
The team’s performance on Saturday not only reasserted their championship credentials—it also showcased the power of veteran leadership, team chemistry, and the ability to reset when adversity strikes. If the weekend is any indication, the 5s are peaking at just the right time.
And with Dizon healthy, Waters locked in, and Navratil steering the ship, it’s clear that New Jersey isn’t just responding to pressure—they’re thriving in it.
