The short answer: Ava Ignatowich, one of the few UPA Tour pros with both college and professional experience, played club pickleball at the University of Miami. She did not win a match in her first eight pro tournaments. Her advice to college players is to start, sign up for qualifiers, keep drilling and watch plenty of pro pickleball.
What’s the score?
Ava Ignatowich, a unique figure in pickleball as one of the few UPA Tour pros with experience in both collegiate and professional ranks, has shared her journey and valuable advice for college players aspiring to go pro. A member of the University of Miami club pickleball team who turned professional in 2024 while still an undergraduate, Ignatowich highlights the significant differences in the style of play between the two levels. Despite the challenges of alternating between these levels, she offers encouraging advice, urging college players to “just sign up for qualifiers and see how you do”.
Hit it deeper!
Ava Ignatowich’s experience provides a rare perspective on the transition from college to professional pickleball. While pursuing her degree at the University of Miami and competing for their club team, she simultaneously ventured into the professional circuit in 2024. This dual experience has given her firsthand knowledge of the distinct characteristics of each level. Ignatowich notes that college pickleball features less stacking and shorter points compared to the pro game. The shift in pace and intensity requires her to “really have to change gears” when moving between the two.
Despite the presence of talented players in college pickleball, Ignatowich acknowledges the broader range of skill levels, including many beginners. This contrasts with the consistently faster pace and higher level of competition she encounters with the pros. As one of the few pros with a college pickleball background, Ignatowich has naturally taken on a mentorship role with her University of Miami teammates. She willingly assists them with tactical and strategic questions, fostering a team environment focused on improvement. This leadership role has been a unique learning experience for her, especially considering her self-described less strong personality.
For college players harbouring professional aspirations, Ignatowich offers practical and encouraging advice:
Just start: Don’t overthink it, take the first step and compete.
Sign up for qualifiers: This is a direct way to gauge your current skill level against professional players.
Results are a good indicator: Use your performance in qualifiers as a benchmark of your progress.
Keep drilling: Consistent practice is fundamental to improvement.
Watch a lot of pro pickleball: Observe the strategies and habits of top players.
Adopt pro habits: Emulate the training and playing styles you see at the professional level.
Give it your all: Dedication and effort are crucial for success.
Ignatowich shares her own initial struggles on the pro tour, revealing that she didn’t win a match in her first eight tournaments, experiencing doubt along the way. However, her perseverance paid off, and she now has wins under her belt and continues to improve. Looking ahead, Ignatowich is optimistic about the future of collegiate pickleball, noting its rapid growth in terms of players, teams, and funding. She praises DUPR’s role in creating opportunities for scholarship money, which she believes is driving increased competitiveness at the college level. While pickleball is not currently an NCAA Division I sport, Ignatowich hopes to see it reach that level in the future.
