UNC Claims Victory at First DUPR Super Regional of 2025

The University of North Carolina (UNC) captured the title at the first Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR) Super Regional of 2025, marking the beginning of an exciting era for collegiate pickleball.

This tournament, held at Pickle and Social in Buford, Georgia, was the first of four Super Regionals leading up to the Collegiate National Championship at Lifetime Peachtree Corners in April.

The newly established United Pickleball Association (UPA) & DUPR Collegiate Pickleball Tour features 30 Campus Regionals, eight Super Regionals, and two major championships—the Collegiate National Championship and the Collegiate World Championship in Dallas this fall. This initiative promises to elevate collegiate pickleball, offering more structured competition, national recognition, and professional-level experience for young athletes.

Over 250 players and 50+ teams representing 25 schools participated in the Regional, showcasing the rapid growth and increasing competitiveness of collegiate pickleball. In addition to the championship title, teams were competing for four bids to the Collegiate National Championship, making every match even more significant.

Among the notable storylines, the University of Alabama competed in its first-ever collegiate pickleball tournament, marking an important milestone for the program. Meanwhile, teams from across the country made the trip to Georgia, with schools like Fresno State, Stanford, and Arizona State traveling from the West Coast. The tournament’s diverse field highlighted the growing national footprint of collegiate pickleball, as more schools from all regions invest in competitive teams.

One of the biggest surprises of the tournament came from the University of North Florida (UNF), which barely snuck into the elimination bracket as the #15 seed but made the most of their opportunity with a stunning run. In the Round of 16, UNF pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, taking down #2 seed, the University of Central Florida (UCF) in a hard-fought battle. Their Cinderella run came to an end against the eventual champions, UNC, who proved too strong in the semifinal matchup.

The University of Florida displayed impressive depth, with four teams advancing to the Round of 16. Three Florida teams made it to the quarterfinals, and two faced off in the semifinals, a rematch of last year’s intense battle. Ultimately, Florida’s top team (Christian Franke, Martine Sundsten, Zoe Routson, & Jake Bower) advanced to the championship match against UNC (Sarah Carpenter, Jayna Shah, Matthew Nesbitt, & Ian Hutter).

The final was a thrilling contest, with Florida dominating the gender doubles events, claiming victories in both the men’s and women’s doubles. However, UNC made a strong comeback in mixed doubles, securing victories in both matches. The match culminated in a Dreambreaker, where UNC narrowly edged out Florida with a 21-18 win, to capture the title.

You can catch the semifinals & finals action here

With the collegiate pickleball scene expanding through the newly launched tour, this Regional set the tone for an action-packed season ahead. The upcoming Super Regionals and the Collegiate National Championship promise even more intense competition and a closer look at the future of college pickleball.