Previews – NCDA

Cavalier Clash IV Recap

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The fourth Cavalier Clash lived up to its billing, delivering a weekend of statement victories, breakout performances, and reshuffled regional power dynamics. With the East Coast Dodgeball scene heating up, all three squads left Charlottesville with plenty to build on, though some left with more answers than others.

Rank: #8
Record: 5-2 (3-1 East Coast)

Cav Clash Results: 3-2 loss vs. UVA, 4-2 win vs. UMD

The Dukes came into Charlottesville riding high after dominant finishes in previous East Coast Competition, but found themselves on the wrong end of a thriller against host Virginia. JMU dropped a 3-2 heartbreaker in what was arguably the match of the tournament, snapping their early-season momentum. The Dukes rebounded strong, however, dispatching Maryland 4-2 behind standout play from captain Ryan Pendleton and power thrower Jackson Hannie. Both were instrumental in keeping JMU organized and composed after the UVA loss. While the weekend won’t faze the Dukes’ national outlook, it revealed that even the best teams on the East Coast can falter under pressure. JMU’s systems looked sharp, but moments of hesitation and a handful of missed counters against UVA cost them dearly. Expect this to serve more as fuel than setback; a reminder that the path to dominance still runs through execution, not just talent. JMU leaves Charlottesville still firmly ranked inside the top 10, and their strong performances still leave them atop the East Coast rankings as we head towards winter break.

UVA

Rank: #9
Record: 3-1 (3-1 East Coast)

Cav Clash Results: 3-2 win vs. JMU, 4-1 win vs. UMD

With their full roster finally back in action, Virginia delivered their most complete performance of the season. The Hoos stunned JMU 3-2 in a back-and-forth contest that swung on a string of catches from Landon Jones and key late-game kills from Ben Wu, who made a seamless return to the lineup. Wu was on fire this tournament, cementing himself as an early favorite for All-East Coast. That win marked one of the program’s biggest in recent memory (UVA is 3-2 against JMU since defeating the Dukes for the first time in program history in November 2024) and set the tone for a convincing 4-1 victory over Maryland later in the day. UVA looked poised and disciplined from start to finish, controlling tempo and forcing opponents into the kind of high-risk throws that play directly into their catching style. The addition of Wu as well as strong leadership from Jones and Holmes in his first tournament back brought balance and confidence to a roster that looked rejuvenated and dangerous. With new momentum and a top-10 national ranking to match, Virginia reminded the league that they’re not just a tough out—they’re a legitimate contender.

UMD

Rank: #24
Record: 0-7 (0-4 East Coast)

Cav Clash Results: 4-2 loss vs. JMU, 4-1 loss vs. UVA

On paper, Maryland leaves Charlottesville winless—but the record doesn’t fully capture their performance. The Terps once again played competitive dodgeball, but struggled to produce the standout showings they needed to steal points. Captain Nate Walls provided stability and leadership throughout the day, and Andrew Myers continued to be Maryland’s most reliable catcher. Adam Butz remained a threat, but opposing teams—especially UVA—successfully pressured him with coordinated counters and crosses, limiting his ability to take over games. Maryland hung tight in a 4–2 loss to JMU, pushing the Dukes deeper into points than expected. But against UVA, depth issues resurfaced. Without breakout performances from their usual stars, Maryland couldn’t match UVA’s wave of catches and suffered a 4–1 defeat. UMD retains the #24 ranking, and while they haven’t broken through yet, the formula for success is clear: they need more production from the supporting cast and more consistent protection of their top throwers. If Dan Rodriguez, Myers, and Julian Kim can take larger roles and take over points, Maryland will remain a dangerous spoiler as the season progresses.

Cavalier Clash IV

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The fourth edition of the Cavalier Clash comes to Charlottesville as three teams on much different trajectories will take the court. JMU enters as the favorite, riding momentum from a dominant start and a top-10 national ranking. UVA looks to make a statement with its full roster finally back in action, while Maryland aims to turn close losses into breakthrough wins. With every team eager to prove something, Charlottesville is set for a weekend of high-intensity, high-stakes dodgeball.

John Betters Bobcat Bonanza IV Preview

Ten of the collegiate dodgeball’s finest will converge in southeast Ohio this Saturday in what is billed as the tournament of the season to this point. Eight of the nation’s top-ten teams will be in attendance, and the schedule is lined with juggernauts squaring off for the first time this season. Four regions will be represented in Athens, offering fans a rare first-semester preview of matchups typically reserved for nationals. Let’s take a look at the programs and bouts that will invade Ohio University and put on a first-class show.

Pioneer Classic Preview

On November 8th, 2025, UW-Platteville will be hosting one of their two home tournaments, the Pioneer Classic and it will be the sixth iteration. This tournament will be bigger than past years with University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) University of Wisconsin-Stout (UWS) and University of Eau Claire (UWEC) joining the alumni team. In addition to the NCDA games, there will be an official Women’s No-Sting game between UWP A and the UIUC women as well as an unofficial match between UWP B and a mixed team. Below is the schedule for the event followed by what can be expected.

Pink Out X Preview

As the temperature starts to drop outside, NCDA Dodgeball is heating up with multiple marquee tournaments still on the docket for the first semester. Four regions will be represented this weekend as some of the nation’s best converge in Akron, Ohio, for the 10th edition of the Pink Out tournament, hosted by the University of Akron. An array of teams, some looking to make statements, and some trying to break into the win column, will bring their best and look to continue the exciting start to the 2025-26 campaign.

South Oak Showdown Preview

The 2025–2026 National Collegiate Dodgeball Association season is in full swing, with many teams gearing up for their second tournament of the young campaign. Four of the league’s strongest programs will meet in Oxford, Ohio, for the South Oak Showdown on Saturday, October 18. The event promises plenty of fireworks and storylines to follow, including yet another rematch of last year’s national championship game. Let’s take a look at each team making the trip to southwest Ohio and their thoughts on the matches ahead.

Cornhusker Clash VIII Preview

In the wake of NDA Nationals, the Central Region looks forward to Nebraska’s home tournament, the Cornhusker Clash! In this tournament, University of Nebraska Lincoln (UNL) and University of Wisconsin Platteville (UWP) will go head-to-head in a double-header in the eighth iteration of the tournament. The rivalry between the two schools has always been intense, and UNL has always come out on top at the Clash. Will the pattern repeat this year? Let’s take a look at what each team is bringing to the table this weekend!

Clifton Heights Classic IV Preview

On Saturday, September 27th, the University of Cincinnati will be hosting the Clifton Heights Classic IV. The six teams that will be in attendance will be Bowling Green State University (BGSU), Miami University (Miami), Northern Kentucky University (NKU), Ohio University (Ohio), THE Ohio State University (OSU), and the hosts, the University of Cincinnati (UC). With over half of the Ohio teams in attendance plus the Southern Dodgeball Cup Champs, we should be in for a fantastic weekend of matchups to see where these teams stand in the early stages of the 2025/2026 season.

Eau Claire Brawl Preview

Mark September 20th on your calendars ’cause UW-Eau Claire (UWEC) will be hosting the second annual Eau Claire Brawl tournament. This year the schools expected to attend are UW-Platteville (UWP) and UW-Stout (UWS) as well as several alumni players. Below is the schedule and a brief breakdown of each team who will be in attendance.

Maryland Madness VI Preview

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – East Coast Dodgeball is finally back. This Saturday, September 20th, Maryland (UMD) will host Virginia (UVA) and James Madison (JMU) in the first East Coast action of the season. After a competitive finish to last year’s East Coast season (including an overtime thriller in the East Coast Dodgeball Cup championship game), the stage is set for an electric first tournament. Let’s take a look at the schedule and teams:

Maryland

Maryland opens the season at 19th in the NCDA standings. They’ll start off by facing JMU in the first match of the tournament, and it should be a good one. UMD’s defensive style, anchored by the arm of Senior All-East Coast corner Adam Butz, makes them a tough matchup for any team in the association. After the first-ever win against JMU last year in program history, as well as competitive games against UVA throughout the season, UMD is prepared to come out of the gate hot. Should the Terps play mistake-free and stay composed, they have a huge opportunity to upset both of their Saturday opponents.

James Madison

The Dukes open their 2025 campaign at 10th in the overall standings, for the first time in recent history opening the season not the undisputed favorite to win the East Coast. That doesn’t mean this team still isn’t dangerous, though – the reigning ECDC champs still possess the best arm talent in the region, returning the talented arms of All-East Coast selections Jaxson Hannie, Preston Anderson, and Ryan Pendleton, among others. To start their ECDC defense off on the right foot, the Dukes need to stay composed and take advantage of their arms, and rely on clutch catching as they have in the past. JMU is elite at exploiting their opponents’ mistakes, and should they capitalize as they have in the past, they’ll start the season off 2-0.

UVA

After a program-best season in 2024, UVA sits atop the East Coast at #9 in the overall NCDA standings. The Cavaliers believe their catch-first, ask questions later game plan sets them up very well against the rest of the East Coast, and the NCDA in general. However, UVA will be without 2024 All-East Coast and Third-team All-American Grady Holmes for Maryland Madness, and a lackluster Virginia performance in College Park could raise questions about the Hoos’ depth as we progress further into the season, especially after losing Second-team AA selection Kenji McCartney and All-East Coast selection Joseph Beauchamp in the offseason. Nevertheless, when UVA is on their game, focused, and communicating, they might just be the best catching team in the league.

Other thoughts: During the tournament, there will be a scrimmage for freshmen and rookies, and a potential inclusion for a new team in the league: UMBC. This way, new players can get some tournament experience to get them amped up for league games later in the season. We should be in for some really competitive games – there was at least one overtime period at every regional event last season, and all signs point to renewed competition this year. Games will be streamed starting at 10:00 AM.

East Region Preview 2025-2026

No region in the NCDA brings more tension and bad blood than the East Coast. Every matchup feels personal, every rivalry runs deep. Yet for all the passion, the East hasn’t had a team make the national title game since the now-defunct Towson Tigers claimed the title in 2019. This season, the landscape shifts: Virginia has stormed into the #1 spot, overtaking perennial powerhouse JMU and putting the entire East Coast on notice. With bragging rights, bitter rivalries, and national respect at stake, the East enters the year starving for redemption. The hunger is real — the only question is, who will rise from the fire and carry the this region back to glory?

2025 Buckeye Opener Tournament Preview

Dodgeball is finally back in the Buckeye State, and Columbus, the site of this years nationals, will also be hosting the inaugural event of the 2025-26 season. This years Buckeye Opener promises to be filled with drama, as 5 Ohio region teams go head-to-head, with plenty of storylines and rivalries at play. Every team comes in with something to prove, but there isn’t room for everyone to make a statement, meaning someone has to go home disappointed. Every game matters in the incredibly contentious Ohio region, meaning there will be fireworks from the jump in Columbus.

Central Region Preview 2025-2026

The Central Region is shaping up to be one of the most exciting landscapes in college dodgeball. Illinois is quickly rising into contention, signaling a shift in power as fellow Big Ten program Nebraska-Lincoln comes down from its reign of dominance. With several prospective schools showing interest and momentum building across the board, the region is expanding at a rapid pace—rivaling even the South as the fastest-growing hotspot in the league.

Michigan Region Preview 2025-2026

For two decades, the Michigan Region has been the gold standard of collegiate dodgeball, producing powerhouse programs and setting the bar for national success. From the inaugural season in 2005 until just last year, at least one Michigan team had always battled its way to the NCDA Championship game. That remarkable streak came to an end in 2025, marking the first time in league history that the region was absent from the title match. Now, as a new season is about to unfold, all eyes are on Michigan to see if its teams can reclaim their place at the top.

Ohio Region Preview 2025-2026

As summer draws to a close and the air turns crisp with the first hints of fall, one unmistakable truth rises with the changing winds—dodgeball is back.

Across the country, players are lacing up and teams are retooling. But in one region, the energy feels different. Sharper. Hungrier. More storied. This is Ohio—the beating heart of collegiate dodgeball, where tradition meets talent, and rivalries run deep. Without further ado, here is the 2025-2026 season preview for the Ohio region.