· By Olivia Friedley
MLP St. Louis Recap - Orlando Squeeze Open the MLP Season
Major League Pickleball | June 4-7, St. Louis
Tournament Overview
The Orlando Squeeze returned to the court in St. Louis for their second stop of the 2026 Major League Pickleball season and looked every bit like a team in the playoff mix. Orlando opened with momentum and carried it through the weekend, stacking wins over the Atlanta Bouncers, Palm Beach Royals, and Bay Area Breakers to finish 3–2 and secure a 4th place result.
Day 2 marked the team’s high point. Behind a strong showing from Jack Sock, the Squeeze handled Palm Beach in a matchup that had the feel of a postseason preview, pushing Orlando into a tie for first heading into the last match of the day.
The run stalled later that day against the host St. Louis Shock, where Orlando ran into one of the league’s top teams, but the overall body of work reinforced the Squeeze’s upward trajectory. Across the event, Orlando showed depth across the lineup, earning player-of-the-match honors from multiple contributors and staying within striking distance of the eventual tournament winners.
Facing the Brooklyn Pickleball Team for the 4th place match on Super Sunday, we saw the Squeeze with some excellent match play against a strong, playoff-contending team, that ended in a 3-1 Squeeze loss. There is a lot to learn from and play off of heading into St. Pete.
The Squeeze now sit at 6–4 on the season with 18 points, tying for the 7th spot in the current MLP standings — well within range as the schedule turns toward St. Petersburg.
Tournament Results
The following reflects Orlando Squeeze's performance across all matches played:
|
Match |
Opponent |
Score |
Result |
|
Match 1 |
Atlanta Bouncers |
3-1 |
W |
|
Match 2 |
Palm Beach Royals |
3-1 |
W |
|
Match 3 |
St. Louis Shock |
0-4 |
L |
|
Match 4 |
Bay Area Breakers |
3-1 |
W |
|
Match 5 |
Brooklyn Pickleball Team |
1-3 |
L |
Final standing / placement out of all teams: 4th
Overall record (W-L): 3-2
Tournament Highlights
Player Performances
• Lacy Schneemann — Earned Player of the Match (presented by AdventHealth) honors after setting the tone in Orlando’s opening win over Atlanta, anchoring the lineup in a 3–1 result.
• Federico Staksrud — Delivered a steady, high-level weekend and picked up Player of the Match (presented by AdventHealth) recognition, continuing to be a reliable presence across Orlando’s wins.
• Jack Sock — Took control in Orlando’s 3–1 win over Palm Beach, leading the match with aggressive shot-making in a result that pushed the Squeeze into top tier for Day 3.
• Milly Rane – Added a Player of the Match (presented by AdventHealth) performance in Orlando’s win column, contributing key points in a weekend where multiple Squeeze players stepped forward.
Key Moments
• A Day 2 push vaulted Orlando into a share of 1st place, built on consecutive wins that positioned the Squeeze among the top teams heading into Sunday.
• Orlando proved it could match the tournament’s best level early, holding pace with St. Louis before the host team pulled away on the final day.
Team Quote
“We’re the duo that people didn’t know they wanted but now they know they need it.”
— Jack Sock, Orlando Squeeze Tour Pro on his teamwork with Federico Staksrud
Next Tournament
MLP Tournament — St. Petersburg, Fla.
Dates: June 18-21, 2026
Location: St. Petersburg, Fla.
Venue name: St. Pete Athletic
How to watch (broadcast / streaming info): Pickleballtv & the Pickleballtv App
Ticket info or fan attendance details: Courtside Pass & VIP Pass Ticketing can be purchased through the official MLP website.
Follow the Orlando Squeeze on social media for live updates, player content, and behind-the-scenes coverage from St. Petersburg.
Instagram handle: @orlandosqueeze
TikTok handle: @orlandosqueeze
Website URL: orlandosqueeze.com