I only have like 45 minutes to get this preview done because I was unable to keep my momentum going yesterday after like 3PM. It’s tough. The Guru has already gone through Wash U and Emory’s history, so it’s just up to me to get you a match by match preview. Let’s do it.
#1 Dubs – Putterman/Bush (WU) vs. Ruderman/Wagner (EU)
Swing match numero uno right here. Last time out, this match was the last doubles match on at UAAs and it went to 8-6 in the favor of Wash U. It will again be a close one here and whoever wins this one will get a huge leg up on the singles play. These two teams are so even in terms of play, chemistry, and everything, so this will come down to who plays better today. I can’t predict that, but I have faith in the #FIGHT. Emory, 9-7.
#2 Dubs – Haugen/Chu (WU) vs. Mosetick/Omsky (EU)
Another swing match here and the boys from Emory took this one last time, 8-5. This will not be a blowout in either favor based on how these two teams play. Chu and Haugen had a couple of uncharacteristically bad service games last time out, and I doubt that happens again. This one could go down to a breaker and I can’t even begin to predict that. Mosetick and Omsky have been lights out recently. Let’s go with them. Emory, 9-8 (4)
#3 Dubs – Kratky/Cogan (WU) vs. Halpern/Rubenstein (EU)
Another day, another teammate for Halpern here. The #3 team of EU has not been consistent at all this year but they have the talent to keep this close. The WU team has a lot of firepower and GREAT groundstrokes. I really like this Wash U doubles team and I think they take this one fairly routinely. Wash U 8-5
#1 Singles – Carswell (WU) vs. Ruderman (EU)
Carswell has taken so much heat this year and it may or may not be well-deserved. With a losing record at #1, I have no faith that John can up his game at NCAAs to beat the senior Ruderman. It may be close as Carswell has been pulling out sets recently against a lot of tough players, including Alex, but it would be against my genetics to against the Emory senior here. Emory, 6-4, 7-6 (2)
#2 Singles – Putterman (WU) vs. Halpern (EU)
Marquee matchup right here. Last time, this went 3. This time, it will go 3. The two seniors will do battle in one of their final matches and it is going to be a TREAT to see these two go at it. A perfect world would give us this match as the decider, but I may be asking for too much. Putterman’s big serve and solid ground strokes against the great returning and backhand of Halpern. Loud benches. It’s amazing! Despite the win last time from Halpern, I’m going Ross in a revenge type match. Wash U 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.
#3 Singles – Bush (WU) vs. Mosetick (EU)
Despite being potentially hobbled with some type of injury, Bush will be doing battle with his old junior mate Rafe Mosetick. This is going to be my deciding match, because yea, I do that. The last time Wash U played Emory in UAAs, Mosetick took out Kratky in 3 sets. This time around, Bush and Mosetick will re-kindle their rivalry from Indoors where… Mosetick won in 3 sets. I’m not going to go against an undefeated player. Emory 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 (DECIDING MATCH)
#4 Singles – Kratky (WU) vs. Wagner (EU)
If Wagner wins this match, I will 100% guarantee that Emory wins at the end of the day. That’s how important I think Wagner is to the Emory goal. He has been up and down this whole season and Kratky has mostly been straight fire. We saw signs of life from Ian against Johnny Wu, but Kratky is a different beast. I’ll take the very solid player in Tyler for a semi routine win. Wash U 6-4, 6-3.
#5 Singles – Wu (WU) vs. Goodman (EU)
We all live in the world of Josh Goodman right now. The dude has been great since potentially calling me out via twitter, and hey if you got the goods, no reason you can’t have a little bravado. Goodman has a big game and the game that could defintiely beat Wu considering Johnny is a straight grinder. I like the firepower and I think Josh comes fired up and takes it to Johnny. It’s 45 degrees in St. Louis. Emory 6-3, 7-5.
#6 Singles – Haugen (WU) vs. Manji (EU)
It’s great that we finally get to see Manji in the lineup, not only for talent purposes but also because he has a great name. However, he got bested by Haugen the last time these two played and it was fairly routine. This is a tough matchup for him and he will remember some of the things that got him beat last time, so maybe he keeps it a bit closer this time around. I don’t go against results, though. Wash U 6-3, 6-3.
Overall Prediction – Mosetick clinches, 5-4 in another Wash U/Emory epic.
Okay! Here’s my conclusion. This is going to be a sick match and it starts in 45 minutes. ASouth, OUT.