Arizona Super Regional Showdown: Collegiate pickleball clubs from across the country gathered in Glendale, Arizona, over the weekend to compete in the DUPR Collegiate Arizona Super Regional Tournament. The event took place at The Pickleball Space on Saturday and Sunday, where top university teams fine-tuned their skills in preparation for the upcoming Team Nationals.
Teams in Attendance
The pickleball tournament featured a diverse lineup of teams:
- Arizona State University (ASU) – 6 teams
- Grand Canyon University (GCU) – 4 teams
- Utah Tech University – 2 teams
- University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) – 1 team
- University of Arizona – 1 team
- University of Texas at Arlington (UT Arlington) – 1 team
As per the tournament rules, only one team per school earns an automatic bid to the DUPR Collegiate Team Nationals, which takes place in less than two weeks. UCLA, Arizona, and UT Arlington secured their spots at the event, while ASU, GCU, and Utah Tech had already qualified through previous super regionals.
Winners and Payouts
Team Bracket:
- Utah Tech #1: $2,500
- ASU #1: $1,250
- GCU (two teams): $500 each
- Arizona, GCU #3, UT Arlington, Utah Tech #2: $250 each
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Challenger Bracket:
- Southern Utah University: $250
Saturday Pool Play and Sunday Semifinals
The tournament kicked off with pool play on Saturday, featuring three pools of five teams each. The top eight teams advanced to the quarterfinals on Sunday, setting the stage for intense semifinal action.
Semifinal Results:
Utah Tech, ASU, and two GCU teams made it to the semifinals, and the competition quickly heated up. In the first semifinal, ASU #1 faced GCU #2, with the ASU women’s duo of Halie Kealoha and Zoe Hugos pulling off a narrow 21-19 win over Aly Evanson and Sophia Gargiulo.
In men’s doubles, ASU’s Josh Leivas and Nathan Tang edged out Xavier NcCorchuk and Adam Jones, 21-19. The mixed doubles match wrapped up the sweep as Nathan Tang and Halie Kealoha won 21-17.
In the second semifinal, Utah Tech #1 dominated GCU’s top team, which included standout player Artur Fonseca. Utah Tech’s solid play carried them through to a commanding 3-0 sweep.
Utah Tech Wins in a Thrilling Final
The final showdown between Utah Tech #1 and ASU #1 was a display of skill and resilience. With a combined DUPR of 21.114, Utah Tech’s lineup was formidable, easily surpassing ASU’s combined DUPR of 17.066.
Key Matches:
In women’s doubles, Utah Tech’s Mary Monson and Dylan Ciampini continued their unbeaten streak, defeating Zoe Hugos and Halie Kealoha 21-14. The men’s doubles final became the highlight of the weekend, as Utah Tech’s Liam Duffin and Benson Parry faced off against ASU’s Josh Leivas and Nathan Tang.
ASU mounted a remarkable comeback, forcing extra points after trailing 16-20, but ultimately, Utah Tech clinched the victory 26-24. Dylan Ciampini and Liam Duffin’s undefeated run in mixed doubles sealed the championship for Utah Tech.
Standout Players
Liam Duffin:
Liam Duffin was the standout player of the tournament. His elite defense and dominance in men’s and mixed doubles solidified his top-10 DUPR ranking in collegiate pickleball.
Benson Parry:
Benson Parry’s versatility was on full display, shifting seamlessly between right-side play in men’s doubles and left-side play in mixed doubles. His calm composure and strategic play were key assets in Utah Tech’s success.
Nathan Tang:
Nathan Tang, another top-10 DUPR player, showed his exceptional movement and shot variety, making him one of the top players in this pickleball tournament. His experience and momentum will be crucial for ASU in the upcoming Team Nationals.
Joshua Leivas:
Joshua Leivas, with a modest 3.7 DUPR, exceeded expectations by holding his own against much higher-ranked opponents. His performance, particularly in the semifinals and finals, suggests he is playing at a much higher level and will be a force in Team Nationals.
News in Brief: Arizona Super Regional Showdown
The DUPR Collegiate Arizona Super Regional Tournament saw teams from universities across the West compete in Glendale, Arizona. Utah Tech #1 emerged victorious, sweeping Arizona State University in the finals. Saturday featured pool play, while Sunday’s semifinals saw Utah Tech and two teams from GCU advance.
Key players like Liam Duffin and Benson Parry dominated the weekend, with Utah Tech winning the men’s and women’s doubles in the finals. With their second Super Regional win, Utah Tech looks assured of success at the DUPR Collegiate Team Nationals in two weeks.
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