March 6-9 Preview

Hey there, Spring season really picks up the pace this week, and there are a lot of matches on the slate that deserve some coverage. Unfortunately, I’m really short on time, so the best I can do is a short blurb on each of them. The regional writers will be picking up some of the slack, but I invite you to improve the coverage with your always-insightful comments.

March 6th (Tomorrow)

#12 Bates @ MIT

I’m not really sure why this one is on the schedule, but I guess MIT deserves at least one chance to prove they are for real this year. They already have victories over Vassar and Franklin & Marshall on their ledger, so clearly they know how to hit balls. They also added another impressive recruiting class this past year. They’ve been doing the recruiting thing well for a while, though, so that doesn’t necessarily indicate that they are actually going to be a good team this year. Against Vassar, they swept doubles, which has always been a bit of an Achilles heel for them, so that’s good news.

The bad news is that they’re playing Bates, not Vassar. The Bobcats are significantly better than anyone they’ve played this year, and I expect them to cruise through this one. Expect routine victories for Bates at 1 and 2 doubles, and at least three wins out of the top 4. I could see MIT winning #3 doubles and one or two of the bottom two singles, but the closest this match will be is 6-3. Unfortunately, this might be MIT’s best chance to beat a ranked team this year. Their remaining ranked opponents are Bowdoin and Amehrst. They can get solid wins over Stevens, Tufts, and Brandeis, but that might not be enough to put them in the top 30 at the end of the season.

#15 NWC at #16 Pomona-Pitzer

Conventional wisdom says that P-P is going to win this match (despite the lower ranking), but let me throw out a couple facts that might dispute that wisdom. NWC is going to be considerably more match-tough going into this one. The Bishops have already played Case, Mary Wash, and Indoors. Pomona has played one match against Bates, which they lost. Naysayers will point to this match being played on P-P’s courts. To that, I respond, NCW is an outdoor team. So far, they’ve only played indoor matches. Playing on P-P’s courts, which are very slow, should only improve the results that they’ve had this season. NCW really knows how to grind, and that’s what this match will end up being: one hell of a grind.

Pomona-Pitzer still has a lot going for them. They have a huge edge in experience, and the home court advantage isn’t worth absolutely nothing. I don’t see the Hens winning at #1 doubles, but they’ve always been strong in that portion of things, and I think they will win 2 and 3. P-P should also be deeper than the Bishops, but who knows? In the end, I think Pomona-Pitzer will pull this one out 5-4 with a couple clutch victories in looooong matches at the bottom of the lineup.

March 7th

#23 Mary Washington at #16 Pomona-Pitzer

I’m seriously running out of time now, so these blurbs are just going to get shorter. Simply put, P-P has Mary Washington’s number. The Hens upset the Eagles in 2010 and 2011 before throttling them in singles last year. After the performance the Eagles just issued against Cal Lu, I don’t see them having much of a chance against the Hens. Nichols must have gotten a lot better, but Blahkin should not be losing at #3, and Charles should not be losing 0 and 2 to anyone. This match will be Weichert and Sabel’s time to shine. 6-3 Hens.

#8 Trinity (TX) vs. #15 NCW

These two teams didn’t meet at Indoors, but their relative performances should give you a pretty good idea of which way this match is headed. Trinity is deep. NCW is not. End of story. There are a couple of very intriguing matches here at the top slots. NCW is probably the favorite at #1 doubles, and if they get that, they can really put the pressure on Trinity at #2 and #3. If Trinity can steal that one, the team match is over. Then, you have a rematch of the ITA Small College National final at the #1 position. We all know how that ended in the fall. Can Kjellberg flip the script this time around? In the end, I think Kjellberg wins at #1, but Trinity sweeps the dubs and rolls to a 7-2 victory.

March 8th

#15 NCW at #4 CMS

The Bishops have absolutely no shot. Kjellberg could potentially win at #1 singles, but Wood and Dorn essentially neutralize NCW’s only strong spot in doubles, and if Trinity is deeper than NCW, CMS is the freaking Marianas Trench. Individual Stags have been known to lay an egg on any given day, especially when the team match is decided, so I’m gonna stay away from picking a sweep. Regardless, 8-1 CMS.

#8 Trinity (TX) at #6 Cal Lutheran

The winner of the latter of a doubleheader usually gets the benefit of the doubt rankings-wise, all other things being equal, so, even though Cal Lu has already beaten Trinity this year, this match could be important at the end of the year. When they met a week and a half ago, a number of things happened that few would’ve expected: Trinity won #1 doubles, Cal Lu won #3 doubles, Ballou smoked Skinner, and Nichols beat DelaFuente. That Ballou won is not a surprise, but that it wasn’t even close is a little eye-opening.

I really don’t know how this match being played outdoors will affect things, but Cal Lu tends to enjoy a pretty significant advantage on their home courts. As far as predictions go, I’ll take Ballou/Worley at #1 this time, but Trinity at #3. Ballou and Worley at #1 and 2, but I think DelaFuente will avenge himself on a tired Nichols. Treacy wins at #4. Trinity wins again at #5 and 6, making #2 doubles the decider. Cal Lu has been money there all season, so I’m gonna go with the Kingsmen in a 5-4 win. Sorry if that didn’t make sense.

March 9th

D3central is covering the Whitewater-Gustavus match, and P-P vs. Santa Cruz and P-P vs. Whittier is happening on Sunday or Monday, I’m pretty sure (and d3West will get that quad), so let’s get to the others.

#8 Trinity (TX) at #4 CMS

Considering what CMS just did to Wash U, I’m not about to pick against them in this match, but a team like Trinity (TX) could potentially cause some problems for the Stags. They are strong in doubles, and aren’t intimidated by the sheer swath of talent and swagger CMS is going to throw at them. Moreno and Skinner need to play up to their full potential at #2 doubles here, because I really don’t see the Tigers winning at #1. Even with a 2-1 lead going into singles, Trinity would be in some pretty significant trouble. Obviously, Skinner could beat anyone at #1, as can Wood lose to just about anyone. Let’s say, for the sake of argument, Skinner wins that. There’s 3 wins for Trinity, and I just don’t see where they get the 4th or 5th. 6-3 CMS.

#23 Mary Washington at #17 Redlands

Ah, the battle of the head cases. To make this very easy for me, I’m just gonna fall back on what happened last year and say Redlands is going to thrash the Eagles on their home courts. If the Eagles get up in doubles, this could be a season-ending upset for Redlands, but I think the Bulldogs take a 2-1 lead in doubles at least and cruise to a 6-3 win. UMW just isn’t that strong at the moment.

There you have it, a very hastily and sloppily put together weekend preview. Please add your comments to substantiate this half-assed post! Happy Spring Season everybody!