Virginia continues to be one of the busiest stops on the College Pickleball Tour, and last weekend’s Super Regional showed just how much the region is evolving. For years, UVA set the standard, winning event after event and holding a firm grip on the top spot. But with four of five players from their championship lineup gone, the door has opened for new programs to step forward.

Virginia Tech has been building momentum quietly all season. Tournament by tournament, they’ve climbed the rankings, and in Virginia they finally broke through in a big way. After a chaotic bracket filled with upsets, Virginia Tech closed out the weekend with a convincing 3–0 win over UVA in the finals to claim the title.

A Bracket Full of Surprises

If there’s one thing this Super Regional proved, it’s that depth across college pickleball keeps growing. Only one Round of 16 match ended in a sweep with UVA 1 defeating Davidson in the #2 vs #15 matchup, while the rest of the round delivered tight, unpredictable battles.

Some of the biggest results included:

• #10 JMU 1 defeating #7 UMD (3–2)
• #11 Coastal Carolina defeating #6 Liberty 1 (3–1)
• #13 Stanford defeating #4 UVA 2 (3–2)
• #14 ECU defeating #3 Delaware 1 (3–2)

Those wins didn’t just shake up the bracket, they changed the Nationals race. Coastal Carolina, Stanford, and ECU all punched their tickets by reaching the quarterfinals, proving that seeding matters less and less in a region this competitive.

With fewer than two months until Nationals and only 25 bids remaining, every Super Regional is starting to feel like a pressure test.

Another Strong Showing for Virginia

The numbers tell the story. A total of 209 players from 19 different schools competed over the weekend, creating one of the deepest fields the region has seen this season. From established programs to newer teams finding their footing, the level of play keeps rising.

Check out the origin story of college pickleball here, and witness the rapid growth of college pickleball yourself. 

Virginia has hosted more college events than any other state so far, and weekends like this explain why. The mix of rivalries, new contenders, and close matches continues to push the region forward.

Spotlight College Players of the Weekend

Every Super Regional has its defining performances, and this one was no different. A few players stepped up in pressure moments and helped shape how the bracket unfolded.

Ryan Morneau (JMU), who has a 5.77 DUPR rating, was at the center of one of the strongest runs of the weekend. He helped carry JMU through two intense dreambreakers; first in the Round of 16 against UMD and then again in the quarterfinals against UVA 1. In matches where every point mattered, his consistency and composure kept JMU alive and pushed them deeper into the bracket.

Isabella Hoang (Stanford), who has a 5.01 DUPR, also delivered one of the standout performances of the event. Her play was a major factor in Stanford’s run to the quarterfinals, helping the team secure a valuable Nationals bid. In a region packed with experienced programs, Stanford’s push showed how much impact one strong weekend can have, and Hoang was right at the center of it.

A big thank you to JOOLA, Centerline, SQAIRZ, C&D Nets, and No Apologies Nutrition for supporting the College Pickleball Tour and helping make events like this possible.

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