The Collegiate Pickleball Tour’s (CPT) inaugural showcase didn’t disappoint. Some of the top collegiate & junior players in the country got to showcase their skills on Pickleball TV’s Grandstand court at the Carvana PPA Mesa Cup, giving the pickleball world a taste of what the collegiate game has to offer.
No.14-ranked Grand Canyon University (GCU) took on No.25 Arizona State University (ASU). In a monumental moment for the game, the two schools displayed to the pickleball world what college pickleball is all about.
As part of the founding of the CPT in January, DUPR partnered with the PPA Tour to bring collegiate matches into the spotlight at PPA events. Showcase matches count as sanctioned dual matches for college teams, adding stakes to every point played.
Five different PPA Tour stops will host collegiate showcase events this season, allowing the pickleball world to see up-and-coming talent. Collegiate pickleball has flown under the radar for some time, but this initiative will help get more eyeballs on the collegiate game. Streaming for collegiate matches is sparse, so viewership on Pickleball TV will allow followers of the sport to watch it easily.
2025 Showcase Schedule
- February 22nd - Carvana Mesa Cup, Arizona Athletic Grounds (Mesa, AZ)
- March 8th - Veolia Cape Coral Open, Lake Kennedy Racquet Center (Cape Coral, FL)
- March 15th - Texas Open, The Courts at McKinney (McKinney, TX)
- March 26th - Red Rock Open, Little Valley (St. George, UT)
- April 5th - North Carolina Open, Cary Tennis Park (Cary, NC)
Results
GCU, led by Artur Fonseca (5.26 DUPR) battled it out against ASU. The Sun Devils' top player, Nathan Tang (5.75 DUPR), unfortunately couldn’t participate, due to an injury.
Women's Doubles
GCU - Aly Evanson and Sophia Gargiulo
ASU - Zoe Hugos and Hailie Kealoha
GCU wins 22-20
Men’s Doubles
GCU - Carter Eldridge and Artur Fonseca
ASU - Josh Leivas and Spencer Johnson
GCU wins 21-12
Mixed Doubles
GCU - Adam Jones and Aly Evanson
ASU - Josh Leivas and Hailie Kealoha
GCU wins 21-12
Following GCU’s 3-0 victory over ASU, the two schools teamed up to take on some of the top talent on the Junior PPA Tour.
The skills on display didn’t disappoint.
Hunter Aiono, collegiate pickleball director for the United Pickleball Association (UPA), had the full breakdown of the weekend:
Rivalry Renewed
The next collegiate showcase will take place at the PPA Veolia Cape Coral Open, where one of the fiercest rivalries in college sports will make its mark on the pickleball court
The University of Florida (UF) will take on Florida State University (FSU)
This classic rivalry will feature two of the top schools in the southeast. You can catch all the action on PickleballTV.
Jake Bower
Jake is studying journalism at the University of Florida. Pickleball junkie that enjoys coaching, watching & playing. Represents UF's competitive pickleball team at tournaments around the country.
