Double Feature: PPA North Carolina Cup & APP Vlasic Classic
This past weekend, both the PPA and APP Tours were in action. The PPA Tour visited the east coast for the PPA North Carolina Cup. Meanwhile, the APP Tour headed south for the APP Vlasic Classic in Delray Beach, Florida. Both tournaments saw multiple JOOLA players on the podium, as well as the first Triple Crown performance of the year for Team JOOLA.
APP Vlasic Classic:
Milan Rane – Milan Rane secured another two medals on the APP Tour this past weekend. Teaming up with Jorja Johnson in Women’s Doubles, the duo made their way to the finals. In the finals, Rane/Johnson dropped an intense three-set match to Jill Braverman and Megan Fudge to take silver. In Mixed Doubles, Rane teamed up with Jorja’s brother, JW Johnson, to make another deep run into the bracket. Rane/Johnson dropped to Jorja Johnson and Gabe Tardio in the semifinals, 11-8, 11-7. In the bronze medal match, Rane/Johnson remained resilient, besting Yana Newell and Ben Howells in three sets, 9-11, 11-7, 11-6.
Simone Jardim – Simone Jardim was able to score another medal in Women’s Doubles at APP Vlasic Classic. Teaming up with Allison Harris, Jardim took down Susannah Barr and Mari Humberg in the bronze medal match, 11-0, 5-11, 11-5.
Angela Simon – Angela Simon grabs her second gold medal in a row on the APP Tour. Teamed up with Lee Whitwell, Simon went undefeated through the Senior Pro Women’s Doubles bracket.
PPA North Carolina Cup:
Ben Johns – Ben Johns earns his first Triple Crown of the 2024 season on the PPA Tour. Teamed up with his normal partners of Anna Leigh Waters and Collin Johns, B. Johns took home the gold in every category. In the Men’s Singles final, Johns faced Federico Staksrud, completing his Triple Crown with a 7-11, 11-5, 11-6 victory.
Federico Staksrud: Continuing on a steady path of success, Federico Staksrud secured another two medals on the PPA Tour. At the PPA North Carolina Cup, Staksrud took home silver in Men’s Singles as well as bronze in Men’s Doubles.
Collin Johns: Teamed up with his brother, Collin Johns continued to show why him and Ben Johns are the best doubles team in the world. Collin and Ben Johns took home gold in the Men’s Doubles category, trumping Augie Ge and Jaume Martinez Vich in the finals 11-2, 4-11, 11-5, 11-6.
Dekel Bar: Dekel Bar made an impressive run alongside partner Tina Pisnik at the PPA North Carolina Cup. Bar and Pisnik cruised through the Mixed Doubles bracket, defeating Maggie Brascia and Todd Fought in the semifinals. Bar and Pisnik faced Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters in the finals, dropping in three games 10-12, 3-11, 0-11.
Lacy Schneemann: Lacy Schneemann made her first Championship Sunday appearance for the year at the PPA North Carolina Cup. Alongside Vivienne David, Schneemann took down Tyra Black and Parris Todd in the semifinals. Facing a team with only one loss to their name, Schneemann and David fell to Waters and Parenteau 4-11, 6-11, 7-11.
Lea Jansen: Lea Jansen continued her success in singles in North Carolina. Jansen fell to Anna Leigh Waters in the semifinals in a tight battle 11-9, 11-9. Moving into the bronze medal match, Jansen faced Salome Devidze, besting her 11-7, 1-11, 11-1.
Next Up:
The PPA Tour takes no breaks as they travel to Houston, Texas for the PPA Houston Open. Meanwhile, the APP Tour will take a short hiatus, returning to Cincinnati, Ohio the first week of May.
