🏆 Tournament Overview
- Date & Location: February 27– March 1, 2026 | Arch Pickleball & Badminton, Bridgeton, Missouri
- Teams: 50 colleges/Universities and over 450 players competed!
- Where to Watch: Watch PickleTV Free Online – Plex , NCPA Youtube, CollegiatePBTV
- Follow the Social: National Collegiate Pickleball Association (@ncpapickleball)
đź’° Total Prize Money at 2026 NCPA Nationals
- Division 1 prize pool: $17,500
Bounties
- Additional $10,000 (in paddles/cash) distributed based on performance (after pool play)
🏅Final Result
Nationals Fired on All Cylinders đź’Ą
Over 450 players? ✔️
Around 50 colleges represented? ✔️
Packed bleachers and standing-room-only crowds? ✔️
A high-quality broadcast proving collegiate pickleball is the fastest-growing sector of the sport? ✔️
From first serve to championship point, Nationals delivered. The depth of talent, strategic matchups, and emotional swings made one thing clear: collegiate pickleball isn’t emerging anymore — it has arrived.
🏅 Final Standings
- FAU
- UCSD
- Utah Tech 1
- FAU 2
- Wisconsin
- FSU 1
- Utah Tech 2
- Liberty 1
🔥 Semifinals
(1) Utah Tech 1 vs (4) FAU 1
Top-seeded Utah Tech 1 — Clayton Boydston, Ella Boydston, Liam Duffin, and Mary Monson — entered as one of the favorites to win it all.
Across the net stood FAU 1 (4 seed) — Ava Cavataio, Isabella Nelson, Jayden Broderick, and Alec Lamacchio — a lineup stacked with APP Next Gen experience and rising pro-level talent.
What many expected to be a heavyweight battle turned into a decisive statement.
FAU made a bold move by playing singles early — and it paid off. They captured both singles matches, seized momentum, and never let it go. Utah Tech fell 4–0 in a result that surprised many in attendance.
With players like Broderick and Cavataio leading the charge, perhaps it shouldn’t have been shocking — but the dominance was undeniable. FAU looked composed, strategic, and fully in control.
Semi 2: (7) UCSD vs (11) FAU 2
On the other side of the bracket, the underdog story was unfolding.
UCSD (7 seed) — Matthew Zou, Alyssa Duran, Lesa Ritchie, and Ray Heinonen — faced off against a fiery FAU 2 (11 seed) DJ Zeiler, Ben Slive, Gianna Jarman, and Layla Segelnick.
After six matches, the teams were tied 3–3. Everything came down to a Tie Breaker.
Two players had been difference-makers throughout the battle:
• Lesa Ritchie (UCSD)
• Ben Slive (FAU 2)
Both stepped into the spotlight again in the tiebreak, trading momentum point for point in a pressure-packed finish. Ultimately, it was Ritchie’s steady singles play that made the difference, capturing the victory and sending UCSD to the finals.
It was grit versus grit — and UCSD survived.
🏆 Championship: UCSD vs FAU 1
The finals showcased two distinct identities.
FAU 1 — polished, battle-tested, and filled with rising pro talent. Ava Cavataio was recently drafted to the Texas Ranchers for the upcoming MLP season, and the team’s collective experience showed in their composure.
Across the net, UCSD represented something equally powerful: cohesion, chemistry, and resilience. Full-time students balancing academics with elite competition, they played with nothing to lose and everything to prove.
One of the defining moments of the championship came when Ray Heinonen and Lesa Ritchie faced the formidable duo of Jayden Broderick and Isabella Nelson. Down several points, Heinonen and Ritchie clawed their way back, flipping momentum and igniting belief on the UCSD sideline.
For a moment, it felt like the tide might turn.
But FAU’s star power ultimately proved too much to overcome. They closed out the dual and claimed the National Championship title.
FAU 1 leaves as NCPA National Champions — but UCSD leaves with massive respect.
🎯 Key Takeaways
Collegiate Pickleball Is Hitting Its Stride
The heart. The grit. The energy.
This age group competes differently — with authenticity and passion that’s contagious for students and fans of all ages. The talent level is growing every single year, and the gap between “college” and “pro-ready” continues to narrow.
Not every athlete wants to go pro. But many still want elite competition. Collegiate pickleball is becoming that pathway.
The “Top 15 Bounty” Added Fuel
The bounty added real incentive across the draw. For teams outside the title hunt, it created meaningful targets. For top seeds, it added pressure.
It brought energy — and it elevated the tournament experience.
Eligibility Conversations Are Evolving
With updated eligibility standards announced for next season, discussions around alignment and maintaining the integrity of college competition will likely continue across tours.
As the sport grows, so does the responsibility to protect what makes collegiate pickleball unique.
Final Word
The NCPA Collegiate National Championships didn’t just crown a champion — it showcased the future of the sport.
From stacked rosters and strategic depth to packed stands and high-level broadcasts, this weekend proved that collegiate pickleball is no longer a side story in the pickleball world.
It’s a main event.
And if this year was any indication, the best is still ahead.
🔝 Change In CollegiatePB Leaderboard
See the MASSIVE shake-ups – CollegiatePB Leaderboard. 👉
đź“… Next Up
The NCPA 25-26 Season is finished. Stay tuned for next year’s schedule. All upcoming tournaments – Tournament Hub – Collegiate Pickleball