April 6th- #30 Chicago at #29 Whitewater:
You may recall from my “state of the region address” these two teams are 5 and 6 in the Central currently. Both teams have beaten the teams they should, and lost to the teams you’d expect. Whitewater has played a better schedule and comes in with more experience. Chicago comes in on quite a hot streak, but really hasn’t been challenged since their match with Kenyon. The Warhawks will finally get to play a match on their home courts against a good opponent and it will be interesting to see how that affects their doubles play specifically.
As for the actual positions, these teams will go blow for blow. Whitewater has struggled in doubles thus far and is still waiting to click. The same can be said for the Maroons. Shklyar and Osborne have been playing well and 1 doubles has been the biggest question mark for the Roons. I like the Warhawks at 1 and 2 doubles. Crawford and Zhang have looked good at 3 and at this point it’s the weakest spot for the Hawks, so I like Chicago here. 2-1 Hawks into singles.
I think it’s pretty clear where each team wins based on recent results and current mindsets of players. Barghava has the edge over Balkin at 2, Crawford has the edge over McGlashen at 3, and I like Zhang to take out a frustrated Bayliss at 5. Humphreys has the advantage at 4 singles, and Osborne has to be the favorite at 6. To me it comes down to 1 singles between Sabada and Shklyar. This is where Shklyar’s match experience should give him the edge and I like him to be the clincher for the Warhawks 5-4. I can’t understate the importance of the doubles lead in this one because momentum will be huge heading into singles. Ultimately, I think Whitewater is just a touch stronger and they will pull it out, but this is sure to be a great match.
April 6th- #13 Case Western at #2 Kenyon:
After Case beat Wash U I got really excited for this match. I felt this could have been Case’s chance to take over as the best team in the region. However, each team has headed in the opposite direction, Kenyon has looked really tough other than the CMS match, and Case has shown signs of mortality. I have to figure Kenyon playing on their home courts will help them out and give them the energy they need, but if Case puts it together they have the capability to pull off the upset. Another factor could be that Case hasn’t played a match since mid-March. You know the Lords will be ready.
I would love to do an in-depth analysis of the doubles lineups but unfortunately neither team has had a stable lineup all year. What I find funny is the fact both Case and Kenyon had their 1 doubles at 2 and 3 in the region and proceeded to change the pairings (Healey/Howe of Case and Williams/Raz of Kenyon). I understand trying to find your best 3 combos but it can’t be easy to continuously change partners (not that kind of partners…). Seriously though it has to be affecting Case because I cannot even begin to guess what the 3 teams will be this weekend. Based purely on speculation I’m going with Case at 1, Kenyon at 2 and 3. 2-1 Kenyon into singles.
Singles has some interesting match ups but ultimately Kenyon’s lineup is the more solid and should clean up pretty well. Burgin has been playing too good to lose to either Krimball or Drougas (whoever the dice lands on to play 1 here), and as long as Raz finds a chunk of himself from last year I gotta figure he takes care of the other Spartan. Case has been a little weak at 3 and Heerboth has been basically unbeatable so I will continue to stay faithful there. I should have said I honestly don’t know who will play where after Case’s top 2 because its been a revolving door as far as players and positions are concerned. Williams has been nails at 4 and I have trouble seeing him lose here. The only guy who’s been consistently performing well has been Healey and he wasn’t even in singles to start the year. If he plays 5 he could have a good shot against Rosensteel, and if he plays 6 it will be the same story against Ye. With so many question marks it’s hard for me to predict a score in this match, much less an upset. I’m going with Kenyon 6-3 just cuz Case might surprise me at a position. Really Kenyon is the better team and should win this match, but I’m hoping Buffalo Wild Wings has some magic left…
Bonus: April 10th Denison at #2 Kenyon:
I’m just doing this one because I feel like I never have many matches to write about, and I’m basically doing the same teams every time. Obviously Denison is struggling as seen by their loss to Earlham who proceeded to lose to Chicago and Depauw… Kenyon beat Chicago 9-0… Not a good sign for the Big Red, but don’t be too quick to chalk this up to a 9-0 win for Kenyon. Somehow Denison always seems to get super jacked for this match and finds a way to squeak out a point or two especially in doubles. The reason I want to point this out is it will be important for Kenyon to send a message in this match that their doubles is a strength. If they come out with good energy and sweep doubles they SHOULD win this match 9-0. The Lords singles is way too good to drop a point here, but they may be susceptible in doubles. I will predict 8-1 with a loss somewhere in doubles. Realistically Kenyon shouldn’t drop a match, but I’m bored and want to make something out of nothing…
You can write about some of my matches, bro. Sometimes the celeb shot works.