Springfield, MO - The Panther's inaugural Pickleball team made history this past weekend, earning a spot at the DUPR National Championships following a successful showing at the DUPR Texas Super Regional.

Two Panthers teams (Scarlet and Gray) competed at the Texas Super Regional in Spring, TX Oct. 12-13. Team Scarlet, made up of Tammy Eliasova, Kelsey Kuhl, Silas Drake & Miko Patterson, defeated teams from Baylor University and Texas A&M University before falling to the University of Texas and and the University of Houston.

Meanwhile, Drury's Gray team, comprised of Will Lieberman, Kyle Morris, Beth Matas Martin & Ewa Samberger, broke through to the semifinals, qualifying for the DUPR National Championships in Dallas, TX, Nov. 1-3.

"We learned a lot about ourselves and how we stack up against the best teams in the country," said head coach Jarrod Smith. "I like our chances with this squad at Nationals."  

You can see the highlights of Drury's semi-final here: www.youtube.com/live/zUwx5XvPNmY

Team Results:

Saturday, October 12
 
2:30 pm – Drury University (Team Scarlet) vs Baylor University
Drury wins 3-2
Women's Doubles – Launa Soto & Annie Wallace (BU) def Tammy Eliasova & Kelsey Kuhl (DU) 21-17
Men's Doubles – Silas Drake & Miko Patterson (DU) def Jesse Luce & Ryan Woods (BU) 23-21
Mixed Doubles – Miko Patterson & Tammy Eliasova (DU) def Jesse Luce & Launa Soto (BU) 21-17
Mixed Doubles – Ryan Woods & Annie Wallace (BU) def Silas Drake & Kelsey Kuhl (DU) 22-20
Dreambreaker – Drury def Baylor 22-20
 
2:30 pm – Drury University (Team Gray) vs University of Houston
Drury wins 4-0
Women's Doubles – Beth Matas Martin & Ewa Samberger (DU) def Merlova Johnson & Trina Nguyen (UH) 21-11
Men's Doubles – Will Lieberman & Kyle Morris (DU) def Connor Nguyen & Tommy Young (UH) 21-11
Mixed Doubles – Will Lieberman & Beth Matas Martin (DU) def Connor Nguyen & Trina Nguyen (UH) 21-11
Mixed Doubles – Kyle Morris & Ewa Samberger (DU) def Tommy Young & Merlova Johnson (UH) 21-12
 
4:00 pm - Drury University (Team Gray) vs Stephen F Austin University
Drury wins 4-0
Women's Doubles – Beth Matas Martin & Ewa Samberger (DU) def Sofia Orellana & Isabella Menegas (SFA) 21-16
Men's Doubles – Will Lieberman & Kyle Morris (DU) def Evan McDaniel & Brett Middlebrook (SFA) 21-17
Mixed Doubles – Will Lieberman & Beth Matas Martin (DU) def Brett Middlebrook & Isabella Menegas (SFA) 21-7
Mixed Doubles – Kyle Morris & Ewa Samberger (DU) def Evan McDaniel & Sofia Orellana (SFA) 21-14
 
5:30 pm - Drury University (Team Scarlet) vs University of Texas
University of Texas wins 3-1
Women's Doubles – Hannah Clark & Quinn Williford (UT) def Tammy Eliasova & Kelsey Kuhl (DU) 28-26
Men's Doubles – Silas Drake & Miko Patterson (DU) def Greg Arbet & David P (UT) 21-16
Mixed Doubles – David P & Quinn Williford (UT) def Miko Patterson & Tammy Eliasova (DU) 25-23
Mixed Doubles – Greg Arbet & Hannah Clark (UT) def Silas Drake & Kelsey Kuhl (DU) 21-16
 
5:30 pm - Drury University (Team Gray) vs Texas A&M
Drury wins 4-0
Women's Doubles – Beth Matas Martin & Ewa Samberger (DU) def Lacey Thorpe & Lanie Thorpe (TAM) 21-7
Men's Doubles – Will Lieberman & Kyle Morris (DU) def Benjamin Limsenben & Joshua Rodriguez (TAM) 21-9
Mixed Doubles – Will Lieberman & Beth Matas Martin (DU) def Benjamin Limsenben & Lacey Thorpe (TAM) 21-11
Mixed Doubles – Kyle Morris & Ewa Samberger (DU) def Joshua Rodriguez & Lanie Thorpe (TAM) 21-11
 
7:00 pm - Drury University (Team Scarlet) vs University of Houston
University of Houston wins 4-0
Women's Doubles – Natalie Kha & Anh Ngo (UH) def Tammy Eliasova & Kelsey Kuhl (DU) 21-10
Men's Doubles – Carlos Bonilla & James Ngo (UH) def Silas Drake & Miko Patterson (DU) 22-20
Mixed Doubles – Carlos Bonilla & Natalie Kha (UH) def Silas Drake & Kelsey Kuhl (DU) 21-5
Mixed Doubles – James Ngo & Anh Ngo (UH) def Miko Patterson & Tammy Eliasova (DU) 21-18
 
7:00 pm - Drury University (Team Gray) vs University of Texas
Drury wins 4-0
Women's Doubles – Beth Matas Martin & Ewa Samberger (DU) def Erin Johnson & Jasmine Jung (UT) 21-16
Men's Doubles – Will Lieberman & Kyle Morris (DU) def Alexander Hoang & Clay Watson (UT) 21-5
Mixed Doubles – Will Lieberman & Beth Matas Martin (DU) def Clay Watson & Erin Johnson (UT) 21-16
Mixed Doubles – Kyle Morris & Ewa Samberger (DU) def Alexander Hoang & Jasmine Jung (UT) 21-11
 
Sunday, October 13
 
Quarterfinals of Main Draw Bracket
11:30 am - Drury University (Team Gray) vs University of Texas – San Antonio
Drury wins 3-0
Women's Doubles – Beth Matas Martin & Ewa Samberger (DU) def Alana Brass & Natalie Perez (UTSA) 21-6
Men's Doubles – Will Lieberman & Kyle Morris (DU) def Michael Garcia & Josh Iturria (UTSA) 21-9
Mixed Doubles – Kyle Morris & Ewa Samberger (DU) def Josh Iturria & Natalie Perez (UTSA) 21-11
 
Quarterfinals of Consolation Bracket
1:00 pm - Drury University (Team Scarlet) vs University of Texas
University of Texas wins 3-1
Women's Doubles – Hannah Clark & Quinn Williford (UT) def Tammy Eliasova & Kelsey Kuhl (DU) 21-18
Men's Doubles – Silas Drake & Miko Patterson (DU) def Greg Arbet & David P (UT) 24-21
Mixed Doubles – David P & Quinn Williford (UT) def Miko Patterson & Tammy Eliasova (DU) 21-14
Mixed Doubles – Greg Arbet & Hannah Clark (UT) def Silas Drake & Kelsey Kuhl (DU) 22-10
 
Semi-Finals of Main Draw Bracket
1:00 pm - Drury University (Team Gray) vs Texas A&M
Texas A&M wins 3-0
Women's Doubles – Mallory Frank & Emiliana Marquez (TAM) def Beth Matas Martin & Ewa Samberger (DU) 21-14
Men's Doubles – Philip Crotts & Blake Goodman (TAM) def Will Lieberman & Kyle Morris (DU) 21-14
Mixed Doubles – Philip Crotts & Mallory Franke (TAM) def Will Lieberman & Beth Matas Martin (DU) 22-20