FINALS: CMS VS AMHERST

ASouth: Well, well, well.  I know I said that I wouldn’t be back, but it looks like I’m back, filling in for D3West for an in-depth preview of the CMS/Amherst final.  I think I’ve absorbed enough from the live stream to do an in-depth preview so here goes nothing.  In terms of Northeast, I’m not sure if he’s absorbed enough of anything in his whole life, but hey the guy writes a mean preview.  Anyways, this is the match right here.  I said in my thoughts (you should really read that if you haven’t) that this was going to be similar to a pickup game.  Both teams pick up their rackets, step on the court, and let those things do the talking.  I personally think this is going to be a freakin thriller.  Let’s hope it lives up to my expectations.  Oh, and by the way, West provided us with his predictions as well.

West: I like turtles.

NE: Well I’ll be a yellow banana in a bushel of greenies, because today’s action was freakin ripe. I mean, holy hell in a handbasket that was some phenomenal tennis! I don’t know which team impressed me more today. Amherst overcame a doubles sweep in the National Semifinals over a team who has consistently brought the most energy this week. CMS exercised a few demons while actually winning a very tightly contested match. In fact, for the 1st time all year, there was a point today where I really thought the Stags were going to lose. Both Settles and Garner should be extremely proud of their squads, and I think the fans are going to get the type of final they want. With all the fireworks of the past couple days, how does anyone think this match won’t go down to the wire? I’m pumped, the writers are pumped, the fans are pumped, and I can’t even begin to imagine the players, who are hopefully all getting their beauty sleep right now. Enough of the mindless jibber-jabber! ASouth, always says to give the people what they want. While I can’t give you puppies with $100 bills attached to their collars, I can give you a preview. ENJOY!

 

#1 doubles: Dorn/Wood(CMS) vs. Fritz/Reindel (Amherst)

 

ASouth: So much backhand! So much pressure! Wood/Dorn have put on a clinic at the Elite 8, winning both of their matches with almost no problems.  They’ve been on the show court and it’s been a pleasure to watch.  This is honestly such a solid team that you probably need two breaks to get them.  I love Fritz/Reindel, but I don’t think their serves are strong enough to hold off breaks from a great returning team like Wood and Dorn.  I say Wood and Dorn get the early break and hold that thing out for an 8-6 victory.

West: There’s a snake in my boots.

NE: This one could and should be a battle. Honestly the Jeffs #1 dubs team has been off it’s game a little bit of late, taking back to back losses for the first time all season. However, Fritz/Reindel were up 8-7 vs Emory and up an early break against Trinity today. This Jeff combo will have to perform at their absolute best if they’re going to do something rare and beat CMS’s guys twice in the same year. The issue might not be holding a lead tomorrow, as Wood/Dorn have been playing lights out dubs so far this tournament. They have been fun to watch on the live stream, and I can’t wait to do it again tomorrow.

ASouth Prediction: CMS 8-6

West Prediction: CMS 8-5

NE Prediction: CMS 8-6

 

#2 doubles: Butts/Kotrappa (CMS) vs. Revzin/Yaraghi (Amherst)

ASouth: Butts and Kotrappa have had a tough go of things for a team that’s playing in nationals as a #2 team, but this is still a team with a lot of groundstrokes and a lot of doubles prowess.  The one they call the Brown Mamba will be playing in his last match and I think that’s a big deal.  The dude has been the ultimate teammate, the fans will be rallying around him, and they’re a damn solid doubles team.  Rezvin and Yaraghi are somewhat of a flashy team but I think the CMS team just has way too much substance for them.  That being said, this is the finals, and it’s not an easy match by any means.

West: Is mayonnaise an instrument?

NE: I think the move of Butts/Kotrappa to #2, while very warranted and a long time coming, might end up hurting the Stags tomorrow. CMS won 2&3 dubs the last time these two teams played, but I believe Amherst’s #3 team to be better than their #2 team. This, in my mind, is the biggest mismatch of the doubles, and if CMS doesn’t take this point they may be in some serious trouble.

ASouth Prediction: CMS 8-6

West Prediction: CMS 9-8

NE Prediction: CMS

 

#3 doubles: Marino/Pereverzin (CMS) vs. Dale/Solimano (Amherst)

ASouth: This right here is the match to watch.  Both teams have a senior who has been playing off the heezy, and both teams bring big serves and crafty volleys at the net.  Solmiano has been so clutch this tournament and personally I think the team that gets the break will hold out and win.  It is very rare that a third doubles team can hold out until the end of a match but both these teams are more than capable.  I am never ever going to pick a sweep in a final unless Coach Hansen comes back with the zombies of 2009 Cruz, so I have to pick an Amherst win here.  Dale will come up with enough big shots to get that break and Solmiano uses his big serve to put this one in the books for the Lord Jeffs.

West: Is Trinity in the final?

NE: This is a match that Amherst might need. As Central so boldly claimed, if CMS sweeps they’re going to win. The Jeffs do have chances to win at any spot, but #’s 1&3 should be their better chances. I like the Solimano/Dale team, even if they dropped a heartbreaker today. Both guys rebounded very well and came up with HUGE singles wins to help the Jeffs advance. Plus, did you see Trin’s #3 team? So much heart and emotion, both yesterday and today, how can they ever lose?

ASouth Prediction: Amherst 8-5

West Prediction: CMS 8-4

NE Prediction: Amherst 8-6

 

#1 singles: Wood (CMS) vs. Fritz (Amherst)

ASouth: The matchup of amazing backhands is set to be on center court, on the live stream, and subject to my commentary.  Look for this matchup to be determined by who keeps his head and fitness in long rallies between the two groundstrokers.  Look for this matchup to be determined by will and the willingness to go the extra mile.  Look for Joey Fritz to step up as a senior and take this one in straight sets.

West: Am I even alive right now?

NE: THE MAIN EVENT! I’ve been slobbering over the idea of this one for the past few days. Fritz is coming off a relatively routine win over Deuel, while Wood took a straight set loss to Johnston (quick side-note, Johno now has wins over both Wood and Fritz, how often do you have wins over both the #1 and #2 players in the country?) The backhands should be flying tomorrow and this is an absolute swing match. However, it’s a swing match that I believe the Jeffs will need to win. Wood won the last battle between these two in straight sets, but Fritz looked a hell of a lot better today. With everything on the line, ASowth has convinced me to go with the Senior.

ASouth Prediction: Fritz, 6-4, 7-6 (4)

West Prediction: Fritz, 7-5, 6-3

NE Prediction: 6-4, 6-4

 

#2 singles: Dorn (CMS) vs. Dale (Amherst)

ASouth: This is a huge swing match.  Dale, the senior (you know I get the happy shorts for seniors), has been playing lights out at the Elite 8.  I haven’t given the dude enough credit all year.  Dorn, on the other hand, played a really tough match today (so did Dale, but yea). For some reason Dorn seems to play a type of tightrope act, and this is where you definitely want to avoid that.  I think this one will be a close three setter and Dale will use that experience to hit an extra gear.  If these guys finish, I’m taking the senior.

West: *blankly stares into space*

NE: The last time Dale played Dorn was the beginning of his coming out party. No, not that coming out party. Dale had never been more than a bottom of the lineup guy, and he may have hit rock bottom when he was left of the Amherst fall trip to CMU and Hopkins. So when he took the court as the #2 against CMS after falling to Yasgoor in the days before, I didn’t give him much chance. Instead, the senior toppled Dorn in straight sets, and began his resurgence.  I don’t give much thought to the past match (clearly given how I’ve been picking most spots so far) seeing as this match will be a totally different cat to skin. This one has 3-sets

ASouth Prediction: Dale 4-6, 7-6, 6-3

West Prediction: Dale, 6-2, 7-5

NE Prediction: Dorn, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (THAT’S RIGHT, THE TROPHY DECIDED IN A 3RD SET BREAKER!!!)

 

#3 singles: Marino (CMS) vs. Solimano (Amherst)

ASouth: The question here has now become “Which Marino will show up?”  The reasoning is the kid with no losses on the season just put in a bleh effort against Tanner Brown and had a really tough match today against Campbell.  I assume he’s pretty fit considering his tennis player build, but can he handle the fireworks that Solmiano brings with his serve and nice volleys.  On the other hand, will Solmiano be able to handle the clearly superior ground strokes of the junior Stag?  It seems that CMS #3 and #4 have lost their aura but that doesn’t mean they aren’t amazing players.  I’m going Marino in this one.

West: West has to go potty!

NE: Yuck. I so badly want to stick with my region here, but picking against Marino always makes me queasy. Michael has been my guy all year, and this will hurt me, but I don’t think that the Jeff has the type of game to outlast Marino. Again, if Solimano can use his big shots and get into net (where he is totally dominant) he could find some success. However, I just don’t see it happening.

ASouth Prediction: Marino, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-3

West Prediction: Marino, 6-3, 4-6. 6-3

NE Prediction: Marino, 6-3, 7-6

 

#4 singles: Butts (CMS) vs. Zykov (Amherst)

ASouth: One would think that this is a mismatch, but Zykov showed us something today.  Butts had an extremely long match against Smolyar, and that might take its toll in the Final.  Zykov hasn’t dropped a set yet this Elite 8 and it looks like the CMS courts have fit his game as he hits his stride at the right time.  The lazy prediction would be to say Butts dominates this match, because I simply do not think that’s going to happen.  Butts’s conditioning will be in question here after a long one yesterday and if he gets tired then the fresh legs of Zykov will take advantage.  Straight sets is a must here because I’m taking the freshman if it goes 3.   That being said, Butts takes this one.

West: Are we theeeeeeeeeeeere yet?

NE: Did Butts just toy with us today? What the hell happened out there? Not only was he down 1-6, 4-5, 15-40, TWO MATCH POINTS, but after he somehow came back to win the 2nd, he didn’t run away with the 3rd set as I expected him to. Maybe I’m not giving Smolyar enough credit, but Butts has been arguably the best #4 in the history of DIII. The idea that he was down early match points was unfathomable. Moving to the purple side of the tennis ball, Zykov really stepped up big time today. He was down 5-2 to Skinner, an ITA and Small College Nationals winner, and his team was in dire peril. He fought back to 5-5 and won the set in a breaker, launching both him and his team to victory. Butts should present a different challenge than Skinner, but this is almost a match that Amherst is expecting to lose (obviously that’s not true, but c’mon). Anything the Jeffs get here would simply be gravy.

ASouth Prediction: Butts 7-6 (5), 6-2

West Prediction: Butts, 7-6, 3-6, 7-6

NE Prediction: Butts, 6-1, 6-4

 

#5 singles: Morkovine (CMS) vs. Yaraghi (Amherst)

ASouth: This match is soooooooooo key.  Yaraghi is known as one of the best #5s in the country and the freshman Morkovine has gotten tagged as “the guy after Butts” in the CMS lineup.  Mork was on his way to a tough loss today being down 3-0 in the third to Mountfield, and one has to wonder about his confidence right now considering his loss to Lim the day before.  AY is not the guy you want to be thinking about your game against.  Yaraghi’s consistent game style and crafty play will catch Mork off guard for a bit and things start to snowball after a tough week so far.  AY in two straight.

West: Sometimes, I sit and think what my life could have been.

NE: FINALLY! I loved what I saw from Yaraghi in the final two sets today. Overlooking his lost opportunity to close out the 1st set, he rebounded well and took total control of his match vs. Mayer. Mountifield was up on Morkovine in the 3rd set when the match was called today, and I think this is a match that clearly swings in the Jeff’s favor. If he can hold an early lead tomorrow, I think this one could be quick work.

ASouth Prediction: Yaraghi, 6-4, 6-2

West Prediction: Yaraghi, 6-3, 6-3

NE Prediction: Yaraghi, 6-4, 6-3

 

#6 singles: Pereverzin (CMS) vs. Reindel (Amherst)

ASouth: If you count the rest of the matches, that means it’s 4-4 going into this one.  It might not play out that way, which is why I picked CMS 5-3 in my final thoughts article.  I’m starting to get a bit nervous about that prediction now, but this match is going to be awesome.  A lot of you are counting Big Z out and that’s all well and good.  The guy has not truly proven himself amongst the best #6s in the game.  Thing is, there’s this vibe I get from Zhenya that he is the one true player on this team that really, really wants this.  I never discount that when it comes to an NCAA final, and while I think Reindel is a mighty fine player, I think Zhenya will bring his best game to date this year.  He will not get broken in this match and he will do just enough to break the lefty’s tricky serve once per set to take this one, and send the Stags to the championship.  If he does not, I’m picking Amherst 5-4.  Good thing I’m picking him.

West: I hate D3AtlanticSouth.

NE: Another swing match that well could end up deciding who hoists the trophy. Reindel won the last time these two played, and while I usually wouldn’t put too much stock in April, Justin absolutely smoked Big Z the last time out (I think it was 2&1). Both seniors got gritty wins today that were absolutely necessary to continue their careers. Both men should be plenty tired, but we all know their aint no rest for the wicked and both will absolutely give everything they have. I like Reindel because I think he has a bit of a mental edge from the last time these two did battle.

ASouth Prediction: Big Z. 7-5, 4-6, 6-2

West Prediction: Reindel, 7-5, 7-5

NE Prediction: 7-6, 3-6, 6-2

 

ASouth Overall: 5-3 CMS, and your national champions

West Overall: 5-4 CMS

NE Overall: 5-4 CMS

 

 

4 thoughts on “FINALS: CMS VS AMHERST

  1. Tom

    For the record: I’m not sure about Butts’ alleged second set match points, but in the third he was also down 4-5, 15-40 and came up with 2 huge serves and went all the way to 7-5 from there. This guy is clutch.

  2. Anonymous

    Rumors floating around that CMS might insert Kotrappa into the singles lineup for Morkovine or Zhenya. Can anyone confirm this?

    1. D3AtlanticSouth

      can’t confirm until lineups posted 🙂

      but i’d highly expect morkovine to be pulled, and kotrappa to be put in at 6… playing Reindel, who he shellacked just last year.

  3. Nate

    I found it very interesting that you guys seem to always (by always I mean throughout this specific post, not always) favor the team that ISNT from the regionn you represent. Speaks to how un-biased you are.

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