National Handball Center, St. Louis, MO, WPH Press, 2/22/26
The USHA was proud to present the 2026 USHA National Collegiate Handball Championships at the National Handball Center in St. Louis, featuring 178 players from North America and Ireland.
Men’s Open Singles
Top-seeded Mark Doyle and second-seeded Kyle Jordan entered the 2026 USHA National Collegiate Handball Championships as two of the hottest players in the game, with Doyle defeating R48 #1 Martin Mulkerrins at the National Handball Center three weeks ago en route to his second consecutive R48 semifinal (HERE) and Jordan winning his first GAA Senior title at the Southern Ace in late January (HERE).
Doyle and Jordan both advanced to the final without dropping a game, setting up a clash between two of the brightest stars in the game.
Jordan took a close first game in the final, but Doyle roared back to dominate the next two to win his second USHA National Collegiate title.
“It’s was a very tough game,” Doyle would later say after winning his second collegiate singles title. “Kyle has some of the best hands I’ve ever faced. It feels really, really good. As good as feeling as there is in handball. It was disappointing to sit out last Collegiates, so come back this year and win I couldn’t be any happier.”
Quarterfinals
Doyle (MNSU) def Horan (UCD) 21-6, 21-5
Grace (UL) def Finn (DCU) 21-15, 20-21, 11-6
Trejo (MNSU) def Schmitt (INDEP) 21-12, 21-14
Jordan (SETU) def Coughlan (UL) 21-12, 21-15
Semifinals
Doyle def Grace 21-5, 21-5
Jordan def Trejo 21-9, 21-10
Final: Doyle def Jordan 19-21, 21-10, 11-2
Women’s Open Singles
Clodagh Munroe entered the 2026 USHA National Collegiate Handball Championships as the top-seed and two-time defending champion and faced a strong field that included Ireland’s Carmel Kelleher, Una Brophy, and Noelle Dowling. Munroe was dominant throughout the event, earning her collegiate hat trick without dropping a game.
“In the first game (in the final), it was back and forth,” Munroe would later say. “Carmel was killing the ball well with both hands, but I think my ceiling shots were working well and is something she was struggling with. I believe that’s what won the game. In the second, I got off to a good start. I knew my body was getting sore from the long week of playing, so didn’t want to go to a tiebreaker. I kept a big lead from there. I felt my kill shots were working well when I was set up and my ceiling shot was still something she struggled with. Overall, it was a very tough game and Carmel never gave up. Carmel is a great player who still has three more years left, so she will be there again no doubt!
It feels amazing to win three in a row. I believe I am one of very few women to do that, so to be in the history books is a big privilege and proud achievement for me. I wanted to end my last collegiates with a win, so to get that was very exciting for me! Also, I want to give a huge thanks to my coaches at Minnesota State University Mankato without them none of this would have been possible!”
Quarterfinals
Munroe (MNSU) def Treacy (MIC) 21-6, 21-9
Dowling (TCD) def Kinane (LFC) 21-4, 18-21, 11-9
Brophy UL) def Keeling (WCFET) 21-11, 19-21, 11-8
Kelleher (TCD) def Grace (MNSU) 21-8, 21-0
Semifinals
Munroe def Dowling 21-11, 21-11
Kelleher def Brophy 21-5, 21-7
Final: Munroe def Kelleher 21-16, 21-7
Doyle and Munroe’s win propelled Minnesota State University Mankato to the Men’s, Women’s, and overall collegiate national team titles.
Watch the matches from the 2026 USHA National Collegiate Handball Championships on the USHA YouTube channel HERE
Follow all of the brackets from the 2026 USHA National Collegiate Handball Championships HERE
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer