10 Questions: Joint Preview of Amherst@CMS

10 Questions about Amherst@CMS (Friday 1pm)

 

#2 @ #1. How could it get any better than that (based on our power rankings)? This matchup between two of the best teams in the country will certainly be one of the few tests CMS will get this season. In fact, if Amherst cannot push the Stags, we might as well stop watching CMS until tournament time (just kidding, DQ!). Speaking of Mr. Q, here is the link where you can find live streams of Friday’s matchup, http://www.cmsathletics.org/livestats/landing. Hopefully it lives up to its billing! If you weren’t already “wet sheets” excited, here’s a 10-question joint preview from our resident experts with coastal biases that’ll be sure to help you get all the way there…who’s up for a smoke?

 

1) Just as an initial reaction, does Amherst have any business being in the same conversation as CMS?

NE: My heart says yes, but my brain says that my heart is stupid and easily overcome by emotion. Amherst should be one of the most talented teams in the country, and could provide as good a challenge for CMS as anyone. HOWEVER, until Amherst, or any other team in the country for that matter, can take 3 points off this vaunted CMS lineup, no one belongs in the same conversation as the #Stagsonaquest.

W: I’m gonna disagree with you there. My heart says no, but comparative scores say yes. Neither CMS nor Amherst played their full lineup against Vangaurd, but they both won narrow victories against the NAIA powerhouse with an A/B squad. I have no idea what Amherst’s full lineup will look like, but I think this one could be closer than people are giving it credit for.

2) What have you thought of Amherst so far on their Spring Break extravaganza?

NE: It’s really hard to say because we clearly do not have a definitive answer. After playing Pomona and Whittier (two top 20 teams) we still have no idea about Amherst’s lineups. Their doubles have seemed decent so far, but they have played two teams who lack doubles strength/depth. I have no idea about Yaraghi or Fife, both of whom have been used sparingly on this trip so far, but Amherst is beating almost every team they play, which can’t be a bad sign, right??

W: Amherst is infuriating to cover. Fife has played like one match, and you just have no idea who is where on their ladder. I wonder what it’s like being a player for that team. Either way, I’m impressed by the organizational capacity of that team, if nothing else. Unfortunately, I still have no idea how good they are other than to know that they are, in fact, good.

3) Is there any sort of road map that teams should follow to try and beat CMS?

W: In a word, no. The only positions that are even remotely vulnerable right now are 2 doubles and 5 singles. That #2 team is lights out most of the time, but they can get down on themselves and play pretty mediocre. Morkovine is still working through some freshman growing pains, as evidenced by his results against Whitman and Swarthmore. The only other thing you could hope for is to catch that streaky #1 team on a bad day where they don’t just pull it together at will, and maybe have someone so good that he can just hit Wood off the court? I’m really grasping at straws here.

NE: Totally agree with you. As for any match, doubles is always going to set the tone. In order to beat CMS, team X (let’s call them Amherst) will have to play a very strong match at both #1 and #2 doubles. I don’t care how strong this “Amherst’s” #3 team is, they’re likely going to have trouble with Butts/Kotrappa. CMS hasn’t really shown weakness at any of its singles spots. Wood, Marino, Butts, and Pereverzin all have not lost to a DIII opponent this spring. Dorn has lost once (to WashU’s Carswell at the Stag-Hen) and Morkovine lost twice up at SBWW. So I guess #2 and #5 are their “vulnerable points”? So in order for CMS to lose, some team will have to play crazy-good top dubs, and win at 2, 5, and ruin an undefeated season. Tough one…

4) Will Garner even throw out his full lineup for this match?

NE: I really hope so, but I cannot in good conscience promise my faithful readers something over which I have no control. If we look back at the last time these two programs met in a regular season matchup, we see that both teams played their full lineups. However, that was an Amherst team fresh off a national championship, and a CMS team without the proper motivation. My guess is that Amherst throws out the closest thing to a full lineup that we see this week

W: I would think so, but when they only had one big match over spring break (against Cal Lu) last year, they didn’t.

5) Will Settles throw out his full lineup?

W: Settles doesn’t fuck around for big matches. He wants the guys who are going to be there in the Spring to have as much experience as possible. The only thing stopping him from playing one of his starters is an injury (or maybe if they have a senior thesis or something due).

NE: While Settles has been known to rest its guys, I don’t believe he’ll sit anyone for this big of a match. Maybe they flip Dorn and Wood again (which might be to try and get both into nationals), or tweak a little something in their doubles, but my guess is that Settles sticks with his guys. Winning this match, especially if they blow Amherst out of the water, will prove that CMS is clearly the #1 team in the country, and should go into the GOAT discussion (regular season).

6) Are there any spots where you see Amherst being favored? If not favored, how about 50/50?

W: I would have to know the lineup to know that. The only thing I can think to say is that Fritz has a definite shot at #1. Fritz’ down-the-line backhand could definitely frustrate his fellow 5-star. I don’t think Wood has seen anyone like Fritz yet this year.

NE: After seeing the absurd hodgepodge of lineups thrown out over the past couple days, I’m gonna have to agree that Amherst’s best shot will actually be at #1 singles. Fritz has looked incredible so far this week, but other than that it’s tough to predict without knowing the Jeff’s lineup. My guess is that Fife and Yaraghi will give whoever they play a run for their money, but I certainly think that CMS will be favored at every doubles spot.

7) Who is your “X-factor” for each team?

W: For CMS, it’s Warren Wood. He’ll be the guy responsible for neutralizing Amherst’s ace in the hole. For Amherst, I’m gonna go with Fife, just because he hasn’t been in the lineup much this break, and I’m wondering what he’s been doing.

NE: I’m gonna disagree just because I can. I think Morkovine actually has some pressure on his shoulders here. This is one of the rare teams who have at least ½ of CMS’s embarrassment of depth, and Danny Boy had to play two supers in the Stag-Hen (one against Swarthmore). Combine that with the losses at SBWW and there’s always a chance he could get replaced in that talented lineup. As for the Jeffs, I believe it’s the team of Yaraghi/Fife. Amherst’s heralded sophomores were somewhat MIA this fall, and they’ll need them to be at their best if the “Poxers” hope to stick with CMS.

8) How can Amherst win this match?

NE: It’s gotta come from the doubles. Amherst has a couple of very capable teams, but the return of Yaraghi/Fife could mean competition at all 3 spots. I think a CMS sweep is more likely than anything else, but if Herst can come out firing and take a lead after doubles, their job will be significantly easier. I’m not sure Amherst can stick with the Stags come singles team, but they’ll have a better shot with a lead.

W: I think that the Jeffs can hang with CMS in singles, but I just don’t see how their doubles could possibly match up. If they can get hot in the first 45 minutes, a win is a possibility.

9) How will CMS win this match?

W: I just think that CMS has three #1 doubles teams, and that there’s no coming back against that depth once they put you in a hole. I think they take #2 and #3 doubles at the very least, probably sweep.

NE: I’m gonna have to totally agree with my brother from a western mother here. CMS dubs should simply be too strong. The team of Revzin/Solimano can get hot, but I don’t see Fritz/Reindell sticking with Dorn/Wood. CMS sweeps the doubles and skates to a comfortable win.

10) Prediction time! Who wins and how?

NE: I wish I had some shocking upset pick for the NE faithful, but sadly, I just don’t. I think CMS takes at least 2 out of the 3 doubles, and wins at 2, 3, 4, and 6. I wouldn’t be surprised if a couple of those CMS wins were close, but I would be surprised to see the majority of them go 3-sets. I’m going CMS with a fairly routine 6-3 win.

W: I’ll take CMS with a doubles sweep followed by a singles split. Amherst gets wins at #1, #3, and #5, but Dorn and Butts dominate to give them the early clinch.

2 thoughts on “10 Questions: Joint Preview of Amherst@CMS

  1. dq

    Here’s the link for tomorrow’s match: http://www.firstteambroadcasting.com/channels/cms2/

    If for some reason that doesn’t work, it’s probably because CMS changed it at the last minute to this one: http://www.firstteambroadcasting.com/channels/cms1/

    I’ll be watching–should be a doozy.

    1. D3 Northeast

      As always, DQ’s the man

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