2026 Utah Roundnet Championships Preview

4.5 Elite / 5.0 Pro 

With eleven teams currently signed up, the Championships Elite/Pro Bracket may be on the smaller side, but is regardless packed with both ability and ambition. With a solid mix of experienced, long-term players alongside newer talent, you’d be hard pressed to find a more competitive collection of roundnet players–particularly with such a large prize pool on the line. While the majority of Utah’s top players are in attendance, two noticeable exceptions include Chandler Hertzler and Matt Barlow, currently ranked 3 and 4 respectively. These absences–combined with some atypical matchups–result in a fairly level playing field, with the podium being closer than ever for most players. The real question this Saturday will be who will rise to the challenge. 

BLACKOUT 

One exception to the atypical matchups mentioned above is BLACKOUT, (Josh Balmforth and Kody Price), who have been running this season as partners. Since a strong opener performance placing 2nd at Free The Spike, we’ve seen Josh and Kody do nothing but improve, with both players putting in countless efforts to enhance their game. Despite this, BLACKOUT’s tournament results have only fallen since Free The Spike. Will Championships be BLACKOUT’s chance to show who they are, and how hard they have worked? 

Bond

Cousins Brian Hansen and Spencer Hansen team up as Bond for the 2026 Championships. With Brian's spinny serves and the counsins' awesome team chemistry, Bond is a team to look out for! Expect good vibes all round.

Cook / Cordingley

Back once again, Luke Cook and Konnor Cordingley are eager for another high placement this Championships. So far this year Luke and Konnor have played together thrice, with two of the three being podiums, including a first place finish at Free The Spike. With both being top Utah players, their performance will depend primarily on consistency, alongside playing their best on Premier Spike equipment. This will definitely be a team to watch. 

Daddy & Father

Garret Carver and Taylor Church team up again under a new team name. These guys are the clear tournament favorites, and an obvious exception to the fairly level playing field mentioned above. With a combined 9 tournaments between them, not a single time has either failed to podium. Additionally, Garrett and Taylor took 1st place at the 2025 Championships, which may play a significant role in both theirs' and opponents’ mental game this Championships.

DAW you belive in MOracles

An up and coming player Zeb Daw pairs up with longtime veteran Mo Beard for the 2026 Championships. Newly 4.5, Zeb has shown substantial growth throughout this year, with consistent pickup attendance playing an evident role. It will be interesting to see the level at which he is able to play this tournament with Mo, and even more interesting to see what is yet to come in his game. Mo is obviously a solid player, and despite perhaps being overlooked from time to time is still capable of a very high ceiling–particularly with serving. Expect these guys to surprise some teams, and maybe, just maybe, pull off some miracles. 

Focus 

Ultramarathon runner Zachary Frisch reunites with top player Xande Plaisted, looking for another chance after their 3rd place Championships finish last year. Results for this team will depend chiefly on Zach’s ability to play at a high level, alongside both players’ capacity to keep a good mindset and bounce back from errors or lost points. Do not underestimate these guys. 

META Reverse 

Two top players, Charlie Bratsman and Trevor Zaleski are hungry for results. After placing second at last years’ Championships, and podiuming three of three times this season, Trevor is ready for a win. Alongside Charlie’s eager attitude, these two will be a tough team to matchup against. The questions for them reside principally around their ability to consistently land serves on the net. 

Netflicks and Kill 

Austin Squires and Gabe Gerber team up for the 2026 Championships as Netflicks and Kill. After massive improvement this season, the main barriers holding Austin back appear to be mental, in contrast to Gabe who is playing better than ever. Their combined team athleticism and defense / hitting combo makes them a formidable opponent, provided they can remain in the right headspace. Not allowing mistakes to go to their heads will be key for this team. 

Perry / Cote 

An unexpected pairing, top player Kyler Cote teams up with the lesser known Anderson Perry. An obviously effective server, expect Kyler to be racking up aces all day. Additionally, Anderson is eager to prove his abilities and will potentially play much stronger than many opponents will expect. This team will be very volatile, with some low floors at times. However, Kyler and Anderson also have an extremely high ceiling capable of beating many top teams. Trust between them will be essential for victories.

Spike Alcoholics

With respective 1st and 2nd place finishes in 4.0 Challenger, Joshua Smith and Dylan Ison decide to take on the 4.5 Elite/Pro Bracket. Whatever their expectations going in, the Championships will not be a forgiving environment for lesser-experienced players. However, if this duo can maintain a good attitude, the Championships could prove to be a formative experience ready to slingshot their game. 

Voltage 

A newer paring, Chris Marcusen and Lazarus Shettell team up as Voltage for both this Championship, and the up and coming National Championships next weekend. Both of these guys have been on the grind, and its beginning to show. However, just like a power line, this team is typically either on or off. Be wary of getting shocked. 

4.0 Challenger

A smaller division of just 5 teams, Challenger includes teams “Mom and Dad” (Kylie and Jesse Rowley), “Plaisted/Anderson” (Justin Anderson and Anne Marie Plaisted), “Scrappy Pappies” (Ryan Kartchner and Luke Shettell), “Feller / Greding” (Isaac Greding and Becca Feller), and “Brim Breakers” (Miles Egbert and Devin Perkins). Expect strong showings from multiple of the teams, with the majority of players being veterans of several tournaments. Excited to see the awesome rallies and highlights that come out of this division. 

2.0-3.0 Recreational

Another small division, all four teams in Recreational are guaranteed a semifinals in the 2026 Championships! Expect some solid looks from all the teams, with fun gameplay from the rising generation.