The University of Alabama club pickleball team finished runners-up at the Georgia Super Regional in Alpharetta, securing qualification for the 2026 Collegiate Pickleball Tour National Championship.
Competing at the Atlanta National Pickleball Club, Alabama’s Team 1 – Walter Haakenson, Noah Holmes, Kiki Onyeagocha and Emma Roberts – won all three pool matches against Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the University of North Florida and Bryan College to earn the No. 2 seed.
“Our women were especially impressive, at times dominating with sheer force, but also showing the maturity to dial it back and play a controlled, soft game when needed,” head coach Brian Williams said. “Our men were equally impressive in a different way, consistently outthinking opponents, making the right decisions, and executing with discipline in key moments.”
Alabama beat Louisiana State University 3-1 in the Round of 16, edged the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga 3-2 in the quarterfinals, and swept Auburn 3-0 in the semifinals.
They fell to top-seeded Florida Atlantic University in the final.
“To finish second at that level and earn a nationals bid is something we’re very proud of,” Williams said.
The team now turns to the national championship.
“Going into nationals, there’s room to improve our mixed doubles strategy,” Haakenson said. “Things such as switching up the third-shot selection or calling a timeout to switch sides on the return could be the difference-maker in a lot of the closer matches.”