The University of Rhode Island club pickleball team finished its only home match of the year on a high note on Sunday, defeating Providence College in the first match of the fall semester.
Rhode Island won seven matches on the day, with the Friars only taking two victories at home as three matches ended in a draw. This result provided an encouraging start to the season for club pickleball, looking to build their roster and find as many competitive opportunities as possible.
For Club President Maya Brausch, the success of the team goes further than the scoreboard reflects. As pickleball continues to gain traction across college campuses in the United States, Brausch is most proud of the sport’s accessibility to all sorts of athletes.
“I think one of the big factors is that it’s something active and fun you can do outside, but it’s also about meeting new people,” Brausch said.
Brausch added that a short learning curve makes it easy for students with no prior experience. While some might have a tennis or pickleball background, many, like Brausch, started playing when they got to URI.
“It’s a sport that you don’t need to have much background in,” said Brausch. “People can pick it up pretty quickly.”
That accessibility has created an environment where players can learn on the club team or by playing intramurally while also connecting with like-minded people. Brausch noted that many new students join the team to meet people and establish friendships while adjusting to college.
First-year player Blake Mello exemplifies this philosophy. Mello used to play pickleball with family and friends back home, and now uses the sport to connect with other campus newcomers while learning the more competitive side of the game.
“I’m learning how everything works right now,” said Mello. “It’s a lot of fun getting to meet new people and build chemistry with teammates.”
Brausch was proud of the team’s performance on Sunday, especially the team’s sportsmanship and positivity. Being the first match of the season, it was the first time for many players in the club facing opponents outside of team practices and facing different playing styles.
“It’s been really cool to see people on our team actually play against other people,” said Brausch. “It’s cool to see how playing against different people is challenging our individual players.”
The club has already made strides in expanding its schedule compared to last season. Looking to the future, Brausch hopes to continue adding more tournaments to the schedule and creating opportunities for players to face different opponents.
Another goal is to continue to grow membership and participants of club pickleball while still maintaining the welcoming atmosphere that draws new students into the club.
Students interested in becoming part of club pickleball in the future can look for information regarding tryouts at the beginning of the fall semester. Brausch noted that the club plans to hold informational meetings and promote the club using posters.
With a season-opening win, club pickleball is looking to build on that momentum to hopefully secure more tournaments to play in while still building the community around the growing sport.
