The collegiate pickleball season rolls into Pennsylvania this weekend for the second Collegiate Super Regional of 2025 and the first ever hosted in the state. With no teams pre-qualified, twenty-seven teams from fourteen schools are participating, seeking the three bids to April’s National Championship. No program arrives pre-qualified, so pool play and elimination rounds will matter from the first serve to the last.

Collegiate Teams Competing

Utah Tech took the last Super Regional, but the spotlight shifts to Pennsylvania with JMU entering as the favorite thanks in part to the 32-player contingent they’re bringing. The field is deep around them, with UConn, Penn State, Rutgers, Pitt, Delaware, Villanova, Maryland, Lehigh, George Mason (GMU), Cornell, Towson, West Virginia, and Stony Brook all in the mix.

JMU enters with teams ranked No. 1 and No. 3 in the field, which should bring a steady crowd and plenty of support courtside. UConn’s depth, Penn State’s home-state familiarity, and steady risers like Rutgers and Pitt give the bracket a good mix of favorites and spoilers.

Players to watch

A handful of athletes have already made names for themselves as forces on the collegiate scene and they’ll be key difference-makers this weekend.

Top Men

• Ryan Morneau (JMU) — DUPR 5.757 doubles
  
  
• Ethan Estatico (Pitt) — DUPR 5.115
  
  
• Mati Dawit (JMU) — DUPR 4.909
  
  

Top Women

• Kate Cooper (Villanova) — DUPR 4.572
  
  
• Michaela Pierznik (Rutgers) — DUPR 4.492
  
  
• Addie Soucek (JMU) — DUPR 4.354
  
  

Programs in the Spotlight

The preseason buzz has a few programs standing out as early frontrunners heading into Pennsylvania:

James Madison University (JMU):A program loaded with talent and energy. With 32 players making the trip and teams ranked #1 and #3 in the field, JMU arrives with both firepower and fan support.

UConn:  Deep, disciplined, and ready to challenge for the top spot after a strong fall showing.

Penn State: Backed by home-state pride and a roster filled with grinders, Penn State is poised to make a statement.

Keep your eye on Rutgers and Pitt as potential dark horses ready to disrupt the favorites.

What to expect

• 27 teams, 14 schools: A dense field, but schedules are designed to move matches along without long waits.
  
  
• Three bids available:  with no teams pre-qualified for CNC, the quarterfinals and semifinals will feel win-or-go-home with thin margins and big momentum swings.
  
  
• Format: Doubles-heavy, round-robin into bracket play. Most teams will get a meaningful volume of matches before the cut.
  
  
• Atmosphere: Student sections, familiar rivalries, and a few first-time matchups that could produce upsets.

Livestream

Performance Pickleball will stream Sunday’s rounds with Jon Laaser, Lauralei Singsank, and David Bieger on commentary. Expect straightforward analysis, score context, and coverage that sticks with tight courts down the stretch.

Why this Super Regional matters

With Nationals bids still open, this stop helps set the tone for the spring. It’s also a useful measuring stick: programs see how their top pairs handle back-to-back pressure, how second pairs hold serve in pool play, and which lineups close on 8–8 points. For players tracking their DUPR, these are the kinds of matches that move the needle.

Follow Collegiate Pickleball on Instagram for scores, clips, and bracket updates throughout the weekend, and catch Sunday’s stream to see who books a spot for April.

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