Texas Ranchers Sweep Orlando Squeeze In Statement Win At MLP Austin
Source: Pickleball.com
The Texas Ranchers (4-1, 12 points) lit up their home court on Friday afternoon with a resounding 4-0 sweep over the Orlando Squeeze (9-3, 25 points), giving the crowd at the Austin Pickle Ranch every reason to cheer. It was the only Premier Level match of the day—and Texas made it count.
From the opening serve, the Ranchers looked sharp, focused, and completely in sync. Tina Pisnik and Etta Tuionetoa opened the contest in style, securing a tight 11-9 victory over Orlando’s Lacy Schneemann and Samantha Parker in women's doubles. Pisnik, reflecting on the match, acknowledged a slow start but credited a few critical defensive plays for shifting the momentum.
“I don't think I played clean to start the game,” she said. “But those few points where I was able to keep us in the point turned the match around and set the tone for the rest of the match.”
That tone carried through the rest of the lineup.
Oncins And Alshon Dismantle Squeeze In Men’s Doubles
The second match showcased the growing chemistry between Eric Oncins—acquired in March from Miami Pickleball Club—and Christian Alshon. The duo looked nearly unstoppable as they cruised to an 11-2 win over Federico Staksrud and Dylan Frazier.
“I couldn’t be happier to be here with my teammates, always carrying me throughout the matches, on and off the court,” said Oncins, visibly thrilled with the team’s early-season success. “We came in with a game plan, we executed, and we played really well.”
It didn’t take long for Texas to clinch the match.
Mixed Doubles Seals The Deal
In what turned out to be the clinching third match, Oncins and Pisnik returned to the court to take on Staksrud and Schneemann in mixed doubles. The result? An 11-4 masterclass from the Ranchers.
Oncins had high praise for Pisnik after the match.
“I can’t even call her a player—it’s like a wall,” he said with a grin. “She’s making every ball. I feel like I can play as free as possible, and that matches well with my game style.”
That confidence translated into poise and precision across the net.
The sweep was completed with Alshon and Tuionetoa defeating Frazier and Parker 11-6 in the final mixed doubles matchup, rounding out what was a dominant day for Texas from start to finish.
Focused And Ready For More
Despite the convincing win, Pisnik was quick to remind everyone that the weekend is far from over. The Ranchers are scheduled to take on their in-state rivals, the Dallas Flash, in what promises to be a heated showdown on Saturday at 4:30 PM CT, live on Pickleballtv.
“We go one match at a time, one practice at a time, one lunch at a time. It’s literally one point at a time,” she said, emphasizing the team’s mindset. “We have a game plan, but we have to stay present, stay in the moment, and execute.”
Still, she admitted the thrill of playing in front of a home crowd never gets old.
“It’s just exciting to play good pickle and play against top teams and top players,” Pisnik added. “It’s good to have the atmosphere of playing on the home court and having that crowd behind us all the way.”
Match Recap – Texas Ranchers vs. Orlando Squeeze
Women’s Doubles: Pisnik/Tuionetoa def. Schneemann/Parker 11-9
Men’s Doubles: Oncins/Alshon def. Staksrud/Frazier 11-2
Mixed Doubles: Oncins/Pisnik def. Staksrud/Schneemann 11-4
Mixed Doubles: Alshon/Tuionetoa def. Frazier/Parker 11-6
With a strong showing in Austin, the Texas Ranchers have solidified their Premier Level standing and sent a clear message to the rest of Major League Pickleball: this team means business.
