Gather round children, and welcome to a rare NE Midweek Update in April. Now that Williams is finishing up their #SB15 (it’s about time to retire that hashtag), the NE will revert back to its somewhat boring normalcy of weekend matches. However, because there are two somewhat important NE matches later today, I figured I’d bang my hands on the typewriter until something happened. On your April Fools Day docket, we have Tufts traveling to Brandeis, and CMS playing host to Williams. Don’t worry all you skeptical readers, this post will not have any cruel April Fools jokes, though I cannot say the same for anything else posted later today. This past weekend was an eventful one, and given that our theme this week is Pool-C, I figured I would do a blurb here and there on some of the more eventful Pool-C matches from the weekend.
RECAPZ
CMS def. Midd 7-2: This one was close for a bit, but nothing like last year’s national semifinal. No one expected Midd to win this match, and losing to the #1 team in the country does not affect your Pool-C stock. CMS took #3 dubs easily, but #’s 1&2 were battles with one match going each way. A really nice win for Campbell/Heidrich over Dorn/Wood at #1. In singles, Midd had three first sets at 1-3, but just couldn’t get it going at the bottom of the lineup. Smolyar continued his brilliant singles week by taking the first set from Wood, but was destroyed after that, and Farrell surprised everyone by giving Butts a first set bagel, but eventually fell in 3. Dorn and his multitude of facial hair was too much for Frons, and Macey routined De Quant down at #6. Mountifield fought back to earn the split, but fell in a super with the match already decided. Palmer Campbell was the lone Panther singles point, taking down Marino in straight sets. Before this match, Marino hadn’t LOST A SET TO A DIII PLAYER THIS WHOLE DAMN SPRING. If the caps didn’t express my feelings, before Friday Marino’s only DIII loss dating back to last year came to teammate Glen Hull (who isn’t even starting for the Stags) in the finals of the ITA. Palmer Campbell, boys and girls.
Bowdoin def. Wesleyan 8-1: This was probably the match I was most excited about for the entire weekend. Bowdoin made a mockery of my 5-4 prediction, and absolutely rocked the Cards. Bowdoin looks ready to challenge for the NESCAC, and along with Amherst and Midd would be in if the NCAA tournament started today. The Polar Bears absolutely waxed the Cards in dubs, winning 8-2, 8-3, and 8-4 at the three spots. This is huge for Bowdoin as any production from their doubles would be considered an improvement. The Polar Bears are certainly deep, and if they can get a lead after dubs, it’s tough sledding for their opponents. Wes is supposed to be deep as well, but they certainly didn’t show it this weekend. Bowdoin won handily at #2, #3, #4, and #6 singles. #5 went to a super, with Tercek eventually beating Yadav, and Liu was the lone singles point for the Cards with a straight set win over Trinka. While Liu continues to prove he’s a top-5 player in the NE, the rest of the Cards will need to follow suit. Hint: they didn’t. See below.
Bates def. Brandeis 5-2: Not a ton to say here. Schwartz is back (see below) for the Cats and he accounted for two of Bates’ points in this match. Arguello/Cherkin continued their good season by taking #2 dubs, and Arguello knocked off Ellis at #2 singles as well. Planche momentarily came out of his slump with a straight set win over Granoff, but was beaten soundly the next day. Brandeis must have been heading home that evening, because this match was played to decision. You have to feel for the coaches. Both Lamanna and Gastonguay coach both programs, and the idea of back to back dual matches in an indoor facility is worthy of a stiff drink. Totally understand that decision. Brandeis’ Pool-C hopes died on their spring break trip, but the Judges are still a dangerous team. As for Bates…see below.
Williams def. Redlands 6-3: This match really confirmed what we had assumed about Williams. They play wonderful doubles, and are pretty deep. The Ephs became the first DIII team to take a 2-1 lead on Redlands after dubs, and did so by taking down one of the best teams in the country of Lipscomb and Cummins. This pair had only lost once all year. I liked the shift of Raventos/Shastri up to the top line, but nothing is written in stone at this point for the Ephs lineup. Apparently the Ephs have been dealing with a team stomach bug, which may or may not have contributed to the incessant lineup switching over the past week. Luckily for the Ephs, they have about 4 guys who can step up play decent #1 singles. So far this season, the top players in Williams’ lineup are kind of like the bottom players in Pomona’s. They switch around every match, none are infallible, but some of them will win every time. That theory will be put to the test vs. CMS later today. The story of this match was the play of the Eph’s freshmen. Sadowsky had been the only freshman getting any lineup time, but Raghavan and Grodecki slotted in at #3 dubs, #4 singles, and #6 singles, going 3-0 on the day. Williams seems like they have 8 or 9 guys who can play most positions in their lineup. To see further evidence, look below for the GAC recap.
Case def. Stevens 6-3: So close, and yet so far. This match ended 6-3 just like D3Regional and D3Central predicted it would, but the match was significantly closer than that score. After dubs it looked like Case was going to run away with the match. The Spartans were up 2-0 and two points away from the sweep. Henry/Foran fought back to take the breaker and keep the Ducks alive. The teams traded quick matches, as Drougas ran away at #2 for Case while Polk quickly took #5 for Stevens. Though Case led 3-2 and had the first set on #6, Stevens had the 3 other first sets. Komarev closed out #6 for Case, and the Spartans led 4-2. This is when the momentum shifted. Though Heinrich came up aces in his battle with Krimbill, taking down the country’s best player 5&5, Case won two tight sets at #3 and #4 to force a third set at each position. With Case leading 4-3 and only needing one of the two 3rd set matches, the Spartans took an early break in both and won both matches 6-3 in the 3rd to take home the W. Great fight from the Ducks, who have proven themselves again and again to be a top 25 team and likely a dangerous tournament team that no one will want as the #3 seed in their region. Case avoided the #blackhole (though Stevens barely qualifies for the #blackhole anymore), and stayed within screaming distance of the Pool-C frontrunners. The Spartans will have their last regular season opportunity for the big Pool-C win this weekend when they travel to CMU. Look for either D3Central or D3AS (or both) to give a big preview of that match.
Bates def. Wesleyan 5-4: Upset of the weekend! Bates was often talked for almost 6 weeks after their Pomona win kept looking better and better. Then, the Cats found out just how vulnerable they are without Schwartz in their lineup. Luckily for all you Bates fanatics, the one they call “Cado” was back in the lineup this weekend. Wes did something they rarely do, and jumped out to a doubles lead. Honestly, the only way I saw Bates winning this match was by taking a doubles lead. They didn’t, and still found a way to win this match. This is not your slightly older brother who used to play DIII tennis’ Bates team. The Cats flaunted their new depth over the weekend, with Schwartz and Rosen going a combine 4-1. Liu manhandled Planche to extend the Cards lead, and Yadav wasn’t far behind with a win over Feldman at #4. Ellis had a big time win for the Cats at #2 (and I think he tried, rather unsuccessfully, to talk to me on twitter today?) over the freshman phenom Chen, as did Schwartz over Roberts at #3. Where Bates really surprised me was at #5 and #6. Rosen has been playing well all year, and everyone says he hits a very clean ball, but 3&1 over Wes’ lone senior in Monk is impressive. But not nearly as impressive as closing out an upset bid on your home courts. “Fat” Pat Ordway earned an honorary mention for POTW solely from his clinching point on Saturday. The sophomore took down the speedy Wesleayn freshman in 3-sets and with it took home the upset. At this point in the season, it’s almost certain that neither Bates nor Wesleyan will be playing anywhere past the conference tournament. If Bates can finish 4th in the CAC and make a finals run at NESCACs, they may just creep back into the conversation, but even then I think their NCW loss would cost them a chance at the final Pool-C spot. Both these teams are very talented, and both have the potential to upset a top NESCAC team on the right day.
Williams def. Gustavus 7-2: D3Central was correct, and all the drama was taken out of this match early when the Ephs raced to the doubles sweep. Raventos was totally out of the lineup for this match, which makes the Ephs sweep all the more impressive. This time, Grodecki played above Raghavan in the singles lineup (seriously, they could play anyone at almost any spot and now it wouldn’t even look suspicious) and once again the freshmen came away with a 3-0 day. Shastri and Weiss also rolled to a couple of straight set wins at #3 and #6, and it’s good to see Lil Weiss is often back on the right side of the win column to start the spring. He could end up being a filthy #6, and provide something of a Reindel presence on this team. The Ephs did what they had to do on their spring break, and beat Redlands and GAC. Though the Pomona win would have been nice (and likely put them close to the top of the Pool-C frontrunners), the Ephs did not need that match. Likewise, while a win over CMS would be amazing (and D3West did technically predict it), a loss here does not hurt their at-large hopes. The Ephs will leave California with their NCAA hopes still very much alive, and if they finish in the top 4 of the NESCAC (with losses only to Bowdoin, Midd, and Amherst), they will have a strong argument for the final Pool-C spot. In that case, it will be very interesting to see who gets the bid, Williams, or whichever UAA team finishes 3rd (Case, CMU, or Chicago). I will expand upon this further in one of our many Pool C articles coming out this week, but if Williams beats Bowdoin and finishes 3rd in the conference, I think the CAC will have a very strong chance of nabbing 3 of the 5 Pool-C spots.
PREVIEWZ
Tufts @ Brandeis, Wednesday at 1pm: We haven’t seen much from the Jumbos since their spring break, but they’ll need to be careful today when they travel to Brandeis in the next couple of hours. This match doesn’t really qualify as a “trap” match, because in reality Tufts is closer to Brandeis than they are to Amherst, but the Jumbos are certainly looking ahead to their weekend match with the Jeffs with the belief that they can win. As far as doubles goes, Tufts usually ranks somewhere in the middle of the NESCAC. You know how much I like 2014 Ojai Bracket Champion Brian Tan, and while he and Telkedzhiev are certainly not an elite #1 team, the duo will stay close in almost every match. The lower doubles have been Tufts’ strength so far this year, though with only three DIII matches under their belts it’s hard to qualify strengths and weaknesses yet. Deis has a strong #2 team, so I think that’s where they’ll get their doubles point. I like Tufts close at #1, Brandeis close at #2, and Tufts not so close at #3. In singles, Telkedzhiev and Granoff should be a battle (as will every #1 match in the NE this season), but I like the Bulgarian to come out on top. Battle was up and down during spring break, and Arguello is coming off a nice win over Ellis, so I’ll go Deis at #2 in a close match, call it a super. This is where Tufts’ advantage really kicks in. If the Bo’s lineup is Jacobson, Cary, Gupte, Ali, I like Tufts to win at least three of those 4 spots, and I see Gupte and Ali as the strongest spots on this Tufts team. Who knows, maybe another young guy like Brockman or a vet like Glickman sees the lineup today. In any case, I like Tufts’ depth more than Deis’, so I’ll take Tufts to a relatively easy 7-2 win.
Williams @ CMS, Wednesday at 7pm : I want to pick it! Of course I do. And while Williams matches up better with the Stags than Midd did, I promised their would be no April Fools jokes here. The Ephs have the chops to play dubs with CMS, and even though I love the Raventos/Shastri pair, it’s tough to take anyone over Mork/Butts. Wood and Dorn just took an L vs. Midd, but I think they handle their business against Schidlovksy and Sadowsky. The freshman pair of Grodecki and Raghavan have been very solid too, and they can certainly win at #3, but I don’t even know if they’ll be playing. Harron should be somewhere in that doubles lineup, and don’t forget about Astrachan. Considering the similarities in talent level and the team stomach bug, the Ephs lineup is bordering on impossible to predict. Ill take CMS to go up 2-1 after dubs, but think that Williams will have a shot to go up 2-1 themselves. In singles, I can’t pick against any of the Stags top 4. They all do lose, albeit rarely, and Shastri might be one of Dorn’s tougher matches at #4 all season, but I’ll take CMS at 1-4. Mork has established himself as one of the better 5’s in the country. In fact, the sophomore’s only loss this year came back in the fall to Yasgoor at the ITA. He’s played some close-ish matches with Feldman (Bates), Lim (Hop), Maassen (Pomona), and most recently with Mountifield (Midd), but I’ll take Morkovine over whomever Coach Greenberg starts today. At #6 you should have a matchup between Macey and Weiss. Weiss has been the closest thing to Williams consistency by playing almost all of the Ephs’ matches at #6, and while Macey has had a good year by most standards, he’s not nearly as dominant as the rest of the Stag’s lineup. I’ll go with Lil Weiss, for old times sake, and throw the Ephs a singles point. Prediction: CMS 7-2.
Wow, that escalated from Blurbs to #WallOfText rather quickly didn’t it? I mean that really got out of hand fast. Check back for D3AS’ historical Pool-C article, which has been promised for the better part of a month now, and will HOPEFULLY be dropping later today. Tufts and Brandeis should be starting within the hour, and @Tuftsmenstennis has been more reliable with the updates so far this year. As for CMS vs. Williams, live stats can be found here: https://webapps.cmc.edu/livescore/, and as the one and only Quaz just confirmed, the live stream can be found here: http://firstteambroadcasting.com/event/mens-tennis-cms-v-williams. Enjoy!