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# Ari Storms to No. 1 as NCBA Rankings Are Turned Upside Down
Ari took control of the NCBA preseason with a seven-game winning streak, reaching #1 and 500 points before Triston ended the run with a major upset. Easton and Connor remain close behind, while Logan fell to ninth and Samuel became the first player to reach the 0-point floor.
# Ari Storms to No. 1 as NCBA Rankings Are Turned Upside Down
**By John Jacob Jr. | NCBA News**
One week ago, Easton appeared firmly in control of the NCBA.
Now, there is a new No. 1.
**Ari delivered the biggest performance of the young season Monday, putting together a seven-game winning streak and climbing all the way to the top of the National Carpet Ball Association rankings.**
By the end of play, Ari stood at **9–3 with 500 rating points**, while Easton and Connor found themselves in an extremely close fight for second.
At the opposite end of the rankings, Samuel became the first player this season to fall all the way to the NCBA's **0-point floor**.
## Seven Straight for Ari
Ari entered the season as one of the NCBA's established contenders.
Monday may have been the day he became its biggest threat.
During a remarkable seven-game winning streak, Ari defeated **Samuel, Connor, Easton twice, Triston T. and Logan**.
Several were anything but easy.
Ari defeated Easton **6–5 in both meetings**, including one victory while Ari was ranked #3 and Easton held the #1 position.
He also defeated Connor 6–5 and survived tiebreaks against Logan, Samuel and Triston.
*"Once you win a few in a row, you just want to keep playing,"* Ari said in a fictionalized postgame interview. *"Getting to No. 1 is great. Staying there is the harder part."*
Ari became the first player this season to reach **500 rating points**.
## Triston Ends the Streak
Ari's day was extraordinary.
It wasn't perfect.
After losing to Ari twice earlier in the day's action, **Triston got one more opportunity**.
This time, Ari was #1.
The match went to a **6–6 tiebreak**.
Triston won.
Because Triston entered ranked #8 against the league's #1 player, the victory earned him a massive upset bonus and **58 rating points**.
It was a fitting result for a player who is quickly developing a reputation as one of the league's most dangerous underdogs.
Triston now sits at **4–6 overall**, but two of his most memorable victories this season have come against Ari.
## Easton Falls to No. 2—but Stays in the Hunt
Opening day belonged to Easton.
Easton began the season **5–0**, made history with the first known five-ball throw and finished opening day with a commanding 462 rating points.
Ari changed that Monday.
Easton lost twice to Ari, both times by the narrowest possible 6–5 margin.
Still, the defending NCBA Champion avoided ending the day on a loss.
Easton defeated newcomer **Seth 6–2**, improving to **6–2 with a league-best +11 ball differential**.
He finishes the day at **411 points**, good for second place.
Ari may have opened an 89-point advantage, but Easton remains very much in the hunt.
## Five Points Separate Easton and Connor
While Ari has created some breathing room at the top, the battle immediately behind him could hardly be closer.
**Connor is 6–2 with 406 points.**
**Easton is 6–2 with 411.**
Only five points separate them.
Connor added victories over Logan, William A. Triston during Monday's action, but his 6–5 loss to Ari prevented him from keeping pace with the new No. 1.
Connor's +9 ball differential also trails Easton's +11 by only two.
Last season's battle between Easton and Connor hasn't disappeared.
It has simply gained a third participant.
## Logan's Early Season Takes a Dramatic Turn
Last season, **Logan reached the NCBA Championship Final**.
After opening day this year, he was still #5 with a 2–2 record.
Now he has fallen to **ninth**.
Logan has lost four consecutive matches and sits at **2–5 with only 41 rating points**.
That is one of the most surprising developments of the season so far.
There is plenty of time for the former championship runner-up to recover, but the climb back toward the top has suddenly become enormous.
## No Miracle This Time: Samuel H. Zero
Nobody entered the season with a more appropriate reputation for escaping disaster than **Samuel**.
Last season's **"Miracles on Carpet"** made Samuel famous for turning seemingly impossible situations into victories.
This season has produced opportunities for another miracle.
None have been completed.
Samuel is now **0–5**, has lost five consecutive matches and carries a **
**By John Jacob Jr. | NCBA News**
One week ago, Easton appeared firmly in control of the NCBA.
Now, there is a new No. 1.
**Ari delivered the biggest performance of the young season Monday, putting together a seven-game winning streak and climbing all the way to the top of the National Carpet Ball Association rankings.**
By the end of play, Ari stood at **9–3 with 500 rating points**, while Easton and Connor found themselves in an extremely close fight for second.
At the opposite end of the rankings, Samuel became the first player this season to fall all the way to the NCBA's **0-point floor**.
## Seven Straight for Ari
Ari entered the season as one of the NCBA's established contenders.
Monday may have been the day he became its biggest threat.
During a remarkable seven-game winning streak, Ari defeated **Samuel, Connor, Easton twice, Triston T. and Logan**.
Several were anything but easy.
Ari defeated Easton **6–5 in both meetings**, including one victory while Ari was ranked #3 and Easton held the #1 position.
He also defeated Connor 6–5 and survived tiebreaks against Logan, Samuel and Triston.
*"Once you win a few in a row, you just want to keep playing,"* Ari said in a fictionalized postgame interview. *"Getting to No. 1 is great. Staying there is the harder part."*
Ari became the first player this season to reach **500 rating points**.
## Triston Ends the Streak
Ari's day was extraordinary.
It wasn't perfect.
After losing to Ari twice earlier in the day's action, **Triston got one more opportunity**.
This time, Ari was #1.
The match went to a **6–6 tiebreak**.
Triston won.
Because Triston entered ranked #8 against the league's #1 player, the victory earned him a massive upset bonus and **58 rating points**.
It was a fitting result for a player who is quickly developing a reputation as one of the league's most dangerous underdogs.
Triston now sits at **4–6 overall**, but two of his most memorable victories this season have come against Ari.
## Easton Falls to No. 2—but Stays in the Hunt
Opening day belonged to Easton.
Easton began the season **5–0**, made history with the first known five-ball throw and finished opening day with a commanding 462 rating points.
Ari changed that Monday.
Easton lost twice to Ari, both times by the narrowest possible 6–5 margin.
Still, the defending NCBA Champion avoided ending the day on a loss.
Easton defeated newcomer **Seth 6–2**, improving to **6–2 with a league-best +11 ball differential**.
He finishes the day at **411 points**, good for second place.
Ari may have opened an 89-point advantage, but Easton remains very much in the hunt.
## Five Points Separate Easton and Connor
While Ari has created some breathing room at the top, the battle immediately behind him could hardly be closer.
**Connor is 6–2 with 406 points.**
**Easton is 6–2 with 411.**
Only five points separate them.
Connor added victories over Logan, William A. Triston during Monday's action, but his 6–5 loss to Ari prevented him from keeping pace with the new No. 1.
Connor's +9 ball differential also trails Easton's +11 by only two.
Last season's battle between Easton and Connor hasn't disappeared.
It has simply gained a third participant.
## Logan's Early Season Takes a Dramatic Turn
Last season, **Logan reached the NCBA Championship Final**.
After opening day this year, he was still #5 with a 2–2 record.
Now he has fallen to **ninth**.
Logan has lost four consecutive matches and sits at **2–5 with only 41 rating points**.
That is one of the most surprising developments of the season so far.
There is plenty of time for the former championship runner-up to recover, but the climb back toward the top has suddenly become enormous.
## No Miracle This Time: Samuel H. Zero
Nobody entered the season with a more appropriate reputation for escaping disaster than **Samuel**.
Last season's **"Miracles on Carpet"** made Samuel famous for turning seemingly impossible situations into victories.
This season has produced opportunities for another miracle.
None have been completed.
Samuel is now **0–5**, has lost five consecutive matches and carries a **