ASouth’s Pitt Weekend (CMU/Hop/UMW)

Well, I just wrote my part of the Emory hits VT preview with D3Northeast on this flight, and it’s time to get an even more important article out regarding my region.  This weekend, three of my top four teams are playing in none other than Pittsburgh to battle it out on the Tartans home courts.  If you’re not following, that would be Mary Washington, Johns Hopkins, and Carnegie Mellon, in no particular order.  They will do battle against each other in a TRIANGLE format.  I caps locked triangle because I know that it has three sides.  Inside joke, right D3Central?

Anyways, the Guru and I were talking and this weekend is SUPER important in all DIII, especially in Pool C.  Here are some of the matches that are going to be happening this weekend, so you can all reference this article if you like.

#18 Mary Washington @ #10 Carnegie Mellon, Saturday 1PM

#11 Hopkins @ #10 Carnegie Mellon, Sunday 11AM

#3 Pomona vs. #1 CMS

#3 Pomona vs. #17 Redlands

#4 Amherst vs. #9 Bowdoin

#24 Stevens vs. #28 Skidmore

#5 Wash U vs. #14 Chicago

#14 Chicago vs. #20 UT-Tyler

#2 Emory vs. #6 Middlebury

#2 Emory vs. #28 Skidmore

#2 Emory vs. Tufts

WOAHHHHH that’s so many ranked matches! I’m sure Yeshiva would beat all these teams 1 out of 10 times though, so are these teams really that good?  Anyways, I’m going to preview those first two matches on there because they are some of my most favoritest teams.  Yes, I’m feeling spunky because I’m sitting next to a crazy lady on this flight who keeps elbowing me in her sleep.  Legit.

Mary Washington @ CMU

I’m trying to think of a way to preview this and I will absolutely go match by match.  But, I wanted to quickly give you an update on CMU’s Pool C life and what they need to do this weekend to stay in the hunt.  If none of you noticed, Bates pulled the upset on Bowdoin this evening and notched their second top 10 win as well as their second indirect over CMU.  At this time, it is not out of the question and might even be the answer that Bates is in over Carnegie right now.  However, CMU has the chance this weekend to notch not one, but TWO indirects over Bates and even the tables.  Both Mary Wash and Hopkins beat Bates and this would be huge for the Tartan resume.  I personally think if CMU goes 2-0 this weekend, which may or may not be a pipe dream, that CMU would step ahead of Bowdoin and actually become the #8 team in the country potentially.  Hopkins is right behind them at #11 and I will get into what this match means for them in that preview.  Let’s go match by match why don’t we?

#1 Doubles, Carey/Charles (UMW) vs. Heaney-Secord/Duncan (CMU)

Swing match right off the bat!  #1 doubles is CMU’s most consistent position, but UMW brings the goods with Carey/Charles at #1.  I believe these two teams played last year with the CMU duo coming out on top, but I am not 100% positive.  Can we get a fact checker?!  Carey/Charles are the definition of consistency, they play fundamental doubles with not much flash.  Both have great feel at the net but both don’t have overpowering serves.  On the other side, CMU brings the explosion like I’ve previously mentioned.  I think CMU’s #1 team will be pumped for a regional match and win this one by the score of 8-6.

#2 Doubles, Gilmore/Griffin (UMW) vs. Kasbeer/Zheng (CMU)

Welcome to the land of UMW’s most consistent team, Stratton Gilmore and Brandon Griffin.  I LOVE the play of both of these guys and I think they bring a lot of consistency to the table.  I always confuse myself as to which one of these guys is the transfer (yes, I know it’s Gilmore, right?!) and both have improved since joining UMW last year.  Kasbeer and Zheng on the other side of court have been the model of inconsistency and that will do them in once again.  I’m taking the steady play of UMW, 8-5.

#3 Doubles, Curtis/Hurwitz (UMW) vs. Beisswanger/Kumar (CMU)

Last week, the CMU #3 team finally broke out of their spring funk by taking out the Kenyon #3 team easily on their home courts.  Could this be the start of a great thing for the former ITA runners up?  The Tartans sure hope so.  I don’t know much about the UMW team of Curtis and Hurwitz but I’m not sure their results have been that great this year.  Curtis just recently started playing with Hurwitz at #3 against regional teams and they haven’t lost but for some reason this team doesn’t strike me as a team that can out-talent the Tartans.  I’m taking CMU here, 8-4.

#1 Singles, Tyler Carey (UMW) vs. Abhishek Alla (CMU)

I feel really nervous picking CMU to win two doubles points because they haven’t done that all year.  Anyways, this match is a rematch of an upset last year that I didn’t expect.  Carey has a great game for Alla because he doesn’t get rattled by weird flat shots and can hit them back with consistency.  Although, this match is being played on CMU’s home court where I think Alla really gets the advantage. He beat Krimbill on these same courts last week and I just can’t go against the momentum that he has right now.  Give me Alla, 6-4, 6-4.

#2 Singles, Gilmore (UMW) vs. Heaney-Secord (CMU)

Bad Christian has shown up the past two times out against top opponents and Gilmore is not the guy you want to play getting out of a slump.  Stratton is streaking right now and he seems to really have built some confidence in his consistent game.  Can CHS break out of his mini slump?  Maybe, but maybe not.  My coin flip said tails, so it looks like I’m going with Gilmore, 7-6 (5), 6-2.

#3 Singles, Lunding-Johannson (UMW) vs. Duncan? (CMU)

I put a question mark next to Duncan because I have no idea who is going to be playing where this weekend.  I assume Duncan will be playing at #3 but Zheng played #3 against Kenyon and proceeded to get routined.  I think CMU goes back to the senior at the top spot where he will play someone very similar to him in game style in L-J.  Both have the balls to attack the net on almost any approach and can pull out spectacular shots up there.  I like the mix that both these guys bring and this will be a tough close match for sure.  It’s tough to pick against Duncan on his home courts and he did go 0-2 last weekend.  Both are seniors as well.  This is going to be a swing match and I have Duncan taking this one, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

#4 Singles, Griffin (UMW) vs. Zheng? (CMU)

Again, no idea who is playing for CMU and that will make a big difference as to what the final score is.  I think Wadwani is the way to go here but I am not familiar with the makings of the team.  Griffin has steadily moved up from #6 last year to become a really good #4 this year and this will test whoever CMU throws out at the spot.  Let’s say it’s Zheng because I am usually wrong.  Zheng seems to excel when he’s simply better than the player he’s playing and doesn’t need to gut out any wins or come up with those big, clutch, shots.  Griffin is not that type of player.  He will make you beat him and I think Zheng runs into trouble here.  Griffin takes it, 6-3, 6-3.

#5 Singles, Charles (UMW) vs. Wadwani (CMU)

Evan Charles used to be one of my favorite players to watch in the ASouth and definitely root for, but he is a long ways away from that status today.  He has steadily moved down the lineup to #5 and you would think that would make the Eagles very strong at the bottom.  He’s lost against every top #4 that he’s played and even some average ones.  Wadwani is more than a top #4 and I think this guy is in the average #3 range.  Wadwani is more consistent from the baseline and will figure out how to beat the sometimes shaky Charles.  Wadwani, 6-1, 6-2.

#6 Singles, Hurwitz (UMW) vs. Kirkov (CMU)

I’m pretty sure that Kirkov has not lost since returning from injury with his forced one handed backhand.  Hurwitz has done an admirable job at #6 singles for the Eagles, but I don’t think he has the goods to beat Kirkov while he’s on a roll.  Given that this one is at home as well, I have to go Kirkov, 6-1, 6-3.

Overall, I have UMW taking 1 doubles match and 2 singles matches to make this a pretty competitive 6-3 win for CMU.  Now, I have a three setter for Duncan at #3 singles, so this could get even tighter.  UMW absolutely has a chance in this one depending on how Carey and L-J play.  Both are upperclassmen (seniors, actually) and will be relied on to keep the Eagles in this match.  They can do it, but it would definitely be a task.

Johns Hopkins @ CMU, 11AM Sunday

This is the match that my region is looking forward to for sure, because it’s a matchup of the #10 and #11 teams in the nation, both in my region!  I almost never get battles like this one because Hopkins and CMU are really the only ones that battle every year.  What a disappointment for the ASouth.  Again, with the Bates win over Bowdoin yesterday, CMU is in a precarious position in regards to Pool C.  Again, they have a chance to get an indirect win over Bates with a win over Hopkins.  Luckily for them, this match is at home, where I believe they play a lot better.  If CMU goes 2-0 over the weekend, they can definitely continue to stake their claim to the last Pool C spot over either Bowdoin or Bates.  Who knows, they can even jump into a #1 seed if they play their cards right.  I don’t have much time, so let’s jump right into the match by match previews.

#1 Doubles – Buxbaum/Walsh (Hop) vs. Duncan/Heaney-Secord (CMU)

Marquee matchup #1 in doubles of course starts with none other than #1 doubles.  Buxbaum/Walsh haven’t had the year they experienced last year but that does not mean they are not a good team.  The team they call Peaches N Cream has only beaten W&L and Amherst in dual match play this year.  They’ve lost to Case, Trinity TX, Wash U, and CMS.  Despite these losses, I am not sure who I want to pick here.  I have to go with the resume and go with the CMU team that has beaten Trinity TX, Case and Pomona.  CMU, 8-6

#2 Doubles – Brown/Lim (Hop) vs. Kasbeer/Zheng (CMU)

This will be a true battle of on-court performers sans Zheng.  All three of Brown, Lim and Kasbeer definitely love the spotlight of a high-profile match, so expect the volume on this court to be high and the crowd (if there is any) to be watching.  Despite the intensity, I don’t see this one being a close match as Lim/Brown have already notched wins over Pomona, UMW, and W&L.  It’s more about the perceived weakness of the CMU team than the strength of the Hopkins team.  Hopkins 8-3.

#3 Doubles – Joachim/Garcia (Hop) vs. Beisswanger/Kumar (CMU)

I truly believe this is the biggest match of the match right here and that’s before I get into the singles matchups.  This is going to be a swing match and we shall see how the two senior/junior teams fare against each other.  It’s like CMU was prepping for this match when they moved Beisswanger/Kumar down to #3, and the coaches could look smart if they pull this one out.  I have this one going to a tiebreaker or at least 9-7.  I really want to choose CMU here due to the home court, but I have to go with the always solid team of Hopkins, 9-7.

#1 Singles – Buxbaum (Hop) vs. Alla (CMU)

Buxbaum hasn’t gotten the nickname “MVP” for nothing.  The dude is flat out ballin this year and I don’t believe that will stop against Alla.  Abhishek is playing some great tennis right now and can definitely make this a super interesting match.  I just believe Buxbaum has been gearing up for this one and will come out firing with his best 1-2 punch.  Let’s say Buxbaum takes the first set but then gets trapped into the Alla “Sleepy Tennis” as Central would call it.  In what will be a battle of tough groundstrokes, Buxbaum takes it, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.

#2 Singles – Dubin (Hop) vs. Heaney-Secord (CMU)

I haven’t seen Dubin in the lineup for the Jays for a while and that might be because I wasn’t paying attention.  Yep, he played against CNU a few weeks ago so we’re good.  I predicted a loss for Heaney-Secord above against Stratton Gilmore, and he would really need this win against Dubin to make nationals.  Even though these two have similar body types, the game styles are very different. Heaney-Secord is a senior and simply more proven.  Christian breaks his slump by the score of 6-3, 6-2.

#3 Singles – Hwang (Hop) vs. Duncan (CMU)

I used to be really high on Ben Hwang, but the fact of the matter is the past few matches he has been anything but stellar.  He only has two wins on the year, coming against Kratky of Wash U and Krasner of W&L.  Recently, he’s lost to a ton of regional opponents while playing up a spot or two.  I would expect the Hwang of ages past to take these matches, but he’s not getting that job done right now.  Duncan will sense blood in this one and continue with his attacking style.  Let me take the player that’s not in a slump for this one and choose Duncan, 6-3, 6-3.

#4 Singles – Joachim (Hop) vs. Zheng (CMU)

Again, I don’t know who’s playing here for CMU but I am going to guess it’s going to be Zheng.  Joachim has cooled off since his hot start where he beat Einbinder, Stuerke, Neiss, and Holt in the beginning of the year.  That being said, he’s still a player that has come out of nowhere to notch a spot in the Hopkins lineup. I like CMU’s bottom of the lineup, but I don’t believe that they are going to cleansweep the bottom of the lineup like I usually predict.  However, Joachim is not the spot that I’m going to predict they lost.  I take Zheng, 7-5, 7-6 (4).

#5 Singles – Lim (Hop) vs. Wadwani (CMU)

This matchup puts two players who couldn’t be more different against each other.  Lim is a fiery player who uses a lot of gamesmanship and explosion to try and beat his opponents into the ground.  Wadwani is a calm and collected player who doesn’t let things get to him.  Lim will certainly bring his A Gamesman game to this match, and if it affects Wadwani he will potentially win.  In the end, I don’t believe that’s going to happen and Wadwani will make too many balls to lose to Lim, who has not been the Lim of old this year.  Wadwani, 6-4, 7-5

#6 Singles – Brown (Hop) vs. Kirkov (CMU)

This is a battle of two players who have been injured or somewhat injured for most of the year.  Both of these guys are really strong #6 players and they are well over-qualified for their positions.  Brown has really stepped it up as of late and I point to his win over Rosen of Bates at #4 as a nice win for him.  With the ever changing lineup of Hopkins, I am not sure if Brown will be down here at 6, but if he is, he’s one of the only players who can take advantage of the currently one handed backhand of Kirkov.  I got confirmation that the one-hander is still the case.  That makes the difference and I take Brown, 6-4, 6-4.

Overall – Count that all up and I actually have CMU winning this match by the power of their middle of the lineup.  This is going to be a 5-4 battle and a ton of the matches are going to be swing matches.  I’ve got my eye on #2, #3, and #6 singles as potential matches that could swing the other way I predicted.  This means that this one is a toss-up.  I’m not sure who I want to win this one, but it would be nice to get CMU into the tournament considering Hopkins should be already in.  Unless they send a bunch of non-starters to their conference tournament… wink wink.  Anyways, it looks like I have CMU eeking out a 2-0 weekend but I have 0 confidence in that prediction.  Especially after last week’s performance against Kenyon.  CMU needs to come into this weekend desperate and ready to defend their home court, or things could get bad for them real quick.  Let’s just see what happens.  ASouth, OUT.

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