March 18-22nd Preview

If Whittier can join Tyler as an emerging competitor this week, I think we can all agree which region is the best.
If Whittier can join Tyler as an emerging competitor this week, I think we can all agree which region is the best.

Monday the 18th

#13 Whitman vs. #26 Whittier

We can call this one the “Battle of Whits” if we’re feeling punny. Normally, I’m against D3TG on the Whitman bashing, but I have to agree with him on this one. Whitman is on the back end of a long trip, something that normally causes teams to underperform. On the other side of the net is a team that could be their nightmare. The Squirrels are really reeling in doubles, and their most consistent team will be going against a juggernaut in Konstantinov and Seneviratne. Riggs and Tesmond haven’t won yet, so it seems like Whitman is looking at a 1-2 deficit at best. I think Whittier is due and they will come away with a 5-4 victory here.

Tuesday the 19th

#5 Bowdoin vs. #28 Trinity (CT)

This is a total mismatch. Bowdoin might be at the end of a long road trip, but I would be surprised if this is close. Look for Bowdoin to come away with their first doubles lead of their young season. Trinity should be stronger this year, even without McCook, but they won’t be able to hang with Bowdoin in singles. We saw what happened to them against the NESCAC elite last year. 8-1 Bowdoin.

#4 (#1) CMS vs. #13 Whitman

9-0 for CMS until otherwise proven.

#3 Williams at #22 Pomona-Pitzer

Williams could not have scheduled a better first match of the season. Pomona-Pitzer will test the Purple Cows in doubles, but they aren’t a serious threat in singles. I’m excited to see what the Ephs come out with as far as the lineup goes, but for now, we’ll go with an 7-2 victory for the Cows because of some rustiness.

#10 Texas Tyler vs. #8 Johns Hopkins

You gotta love these two coaches for being willing to schedule on the fly. Thanks to them, we get a dream matchup between and up-and-comer looking to prove they can compete for a national championship, and a team reeling from a poor Indoors performance looking to prove they belong in the DIII elite. Anyways, here’s a very intriguing matchup. You bank on Hopkins at 5 and 6 singles, but the rest of the matches are difficult to predict. Tyler is not strong at #3 doubles, but neither is Hopkins. I’ll go with the DI transfers at #1 doubles and #1 and 2 singles for Tyler. I lean towards the Blue Jays at #2 and #4 singles, but lean towards the Pats at #3 on some hot outdoor courts. That leaves #3 doubles to be the decider, and if Karsten has a good day, the Patriots will win. I’ll take the Patriots in more familiar conditions, as the Blue Jays continue to disappoint. If Hersh or Brown can neutralize Tyler’s strength at the top of the singles lineup, they could honestly roll, but the Patriots are gonna be tough to beat this year, and I have a hard time believing Hopkins can show up in Texas after practicing in Baltimore win against a very legitimate top 10 team.

#19 Amherst vs. #6 Cal Lu

Worley says, "Hey! Cal Lu isn't all Ballou"
Worley says, “Hey! Cal Lu isn’t all Ballou”

Here’s the marquee matchup of the day. Amherst is seriously underranked after a disappointing and brief fall season, but they are easily a top 10 team. Cal Lu pushed the Jeffs to the brink last year, and they appear to be stronger this season. Amherst appears to be weaker, and all signs are pointing to a Cal Lu victory. Since the Kingsmen are in my region, there’s really no way I’m going against them here. They should definitely go “Ballou for two” against the rusty Jeffs, but they’re pretty much conceding 6 singles at this point. Cal Lu’s #2 doubles seems to be strong this season and Worley can beat just about anyone at #2. There’s a slight concern with Treacy pulling out from #4 singles last match, and without him, there’s basically no way Cal Lu wins. I’m assuming he’ll play. With Fritz back and six more months of practice, I really have no guess as to what Amherst will come up with for a lineup, but I’m taking the Kingsmen anyways. Don’t be surprised if Amherst pulls of the “upset,” but you gotta go with the experienced Kingsmen on their home courts, 5-4.

Wednesday the 20th

#5 Bowdoin at #11 Redlands

Here’s another recipe for an upset. Bowdoin will have been on the road for more than a week, and they will be playing on possibly the hardest courts the play on in all of DIII (at least as far as outdoor courts go). Redlands is strong in doubles, which could match up well with Bowdoin’s relative weakness. Bowdoin should be too strong in singles, but Lipscomb could definitely take out Bragg at #1, and the Bulldogs always seem to win some singles match deep in the lineup. I’ll take Redlands at 1 and 3 doubles, 1 and 5 singles. Ultimately, I think the Polar Bears will take #2 doubles, dominate the middle of the singles lineup, and win the decider at #6 to win a 5-4 thriller to send them back to Maine.

Redlands has a huge opportunity to lock down a Pool C spot right now, and this one could honestly go either way. Sorry for the lack of respect Bulldogs.

#8 Johns Hopkins vs. #7 Trinity (TX)

If things go the way I think they will, Hop will be coming off a tough loss to Tyler, but they will be appropriately experienced for a team like the Tigers. That being said, Trinity is extremely tough to play on their home courts, and they’ve been known to attract a rowdy (read: drunk) crowd. This is definitely a match up of contrasting styles, as Trinity’s doubles prowess will go against the relentless consistency of the Blue Jays. If the Jays can steal a doubles match, I think they will win, but let’s get into it:

Trinity should definitely win #2 and 3 doubles. No guarantees, but they should win. Lim and Brown will need to regain the form that brought them to the brink of the ITA Finals and saw them beat Amherst’s #1’s if they want to win. After that, the Jays are favorites in the middle of the lineup, but Trinity has the depth to hang. In the end, I think Hopkins will win 2-4 and the teams will split 5 and 6. The match will be decided by #1 doubles and #1 singles, and I think the Jays will nut up and take one of those for a 5-4 victory.

#3 Williams at #6 Cal Lu

Once again, the marquee matchup of the day will involve the Kingsmen. These two played a barnburner last year, and I see this match playing out very similarly. The Williams #1 doubles team can definitely hang with Ballou and Worley, but since the Kingsmen rolled last year and everything, it’s not unreasonable to say the Cal Lu will be able to beat Micheli and Meyer this time. I think the complexion of this match will be very different from that of the Amherst match because Williams is as strong at #2 as they are at #1. The Ephs should definitely win there and at #3 to take the lead heading into singles. After that it’s pretty much all over. The Cows are definite favorites at 3, 5 and 6. They should take those for their 3rd, 4th and 5th points. Williams could also win at 2 and 4 pretty easily. In the end, I’m going with Williams 6-3. The Kingsmen would be a lock for the Elite Eight this year if they weren’t in California, but they can’t win em all. I think they drop this one.

Thursday the 21st

#8 Johns Hopkins at #2 Emory

I’m not really sure how this match is going to work travel-wise for the Blue Jays. They’re supposed to play Trinity at Trinity one day then play in Atlanta the next? Something seems a little off, so I’m just gonna let D3ASouth do it if he’s not too hung over. The top two teams in his region are playing, so hopefully he can get excited about that one. All I can say is: Halpern is out #upsetalert

#28 Trinity (CT) at #6 Cal Lu

Umm… we all remember what happened in this match last year, right? Cal Lu’s top guys are far superior to Trinity’s, and Trinity just frankly doesn’t have the depth to hang. Moreover, they’re playing in unfamiliar conditions in a hostile environment. If the Bantams can win a match, it will be at #6 singles. 8-1 Kingsmen.

Friday the 22nd

#22 Pomona-Pitzer at #26 Whittier

All aboard! The Whittier bandwagon is leaving the station, and I’m on it. I think the Poets have what it takes to contend for a Pool C spot this year, and it all starts with a win over Pomona-Pitzer. They already have the indirect win via Swarthmore. Now it’s time for them to go for the real thing. Neither team is spectacularly deep, but Whittier has some definite strengths that should win out. Konstantinov at #2 should definitely win over either Sabel or the weakened Weichert. Shimizu at #6 could also be a lock for the Poets. Schommer and Herron are definitely extremely streaky at 3 and 4 for Whitter, but I expect them to get one of those over Hudson and Allinson. #1 and 5 could go either way. Wei has been playing great for P-P, and Farmer is untested, but who knows? In the end, I think Whittier will find a way to win at least one doubles and charge back for a 5-4 victory.

That’s it for this week, and what a week it is. Get at me fellas.

 

9 thoughts on “March 18-22nd Preview

  1. Anonymous

    Not when they win…you can not put any stock in doubles rankings or a doubles ita…its an 8 game pro-set

    1. Anonymous

      Garcia-Joachim are 1-4 in doubles. 1-2 at #1
      Brown-Lim are 10-5 in doubles. 3-0 at #2

      Garcia-Joachim have losses to W&L’s #1, a team from VA Wesleyan, and the two most recent losses to Tyler and Bates. A win over Trinity TX.

      Brown-Lim have one rough weekend on indoor courts losing to two very strong doubles team who are probably top 5-10 in the nation or higher (Gustavus and Cal Lu) and one dangerous one in NC Wesleyan and they get dropped? Other two losses were in the winners bracket of ITA Nationals. Wins over Amherst at #1, Mary Washington #1 team, Whitewater’s #1 team. And the Atlantic South ITA Championship.

      The resumes are not even CLOSE.

      If you can’t put any stock into an 8-game pro-set, you can’t put any stock into the ONE win over Trinity TX.

  2. Anonymous

    Trying out something new is okay, but putting an 0-2 doubles team made of two players that have barely been seeing time in the doubles lineup in at #1 over two teams that made the ITA championship in doubles is questionable.

  3. Anonymous

    I believe that Hopkins was smart and tried a new doubles team. They needed to try something. That team won the next day against Trinity. Defuente goes from #2 to #4 after sitting out a match?????

    Twitter guy says Cal Lu takes advantage of Amherst split squad and Williams first match, Incorrect first of all and give Cal Lu credit for beating two teams without Treacy. CLU is only 5 players deep and then you take Treacy out and they are 4 players deep. Damn good job by them.

    1. Nicholas Ballou

      Thank you for the positive and encouraging words. Treacy WILL be back for CMS (our next match). The Kingsmen are suited up and ready to give CMS their biggest challenge of the year. This should be a good good match.

  4. Anonymous

    Um…did anyone else notice the Johns Hopkins doubles lineup vs UT-Tyler?

  5. Anonymous

    Given its really the first time we have seen Williams, but I think it was a good result for Pomona. They are a different team with a healthy Weichart. If they can get a good win under their belt (Whittier?)and stay healthy they have a good shot at taking out the likes of Gustavus, Redlands, Whitewater, and maybe even an upset special of Hansen and Middlebury.

  6. Anonymous

    Hopkins is not playing Emory.

  7. anonymous

    The Hopkins/Emory match was removed from the schedule a while ago.

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