NESCACs Preview Part II
Well that was somewhat anit-climactic! I don’t know if the Jumbos and Bantams just went out there and laid an egg, or the more traditional NESCAC powers decided it was time to step their games up, but either way there was no black hole sighting today. I’m not going to waste my time recapping the quarters, because they went exactly as I predicted (can someone pat me on the damn back or something?) Bowdoin took advantage of Trinity’s weak doubles (which is saying something) and cruised through their singles strength. Williams put the hammer down early with a doubles sweep, and finished off the Jumbos (who were without some key starters) in fairly routine fashion. Now we’re into the good, ole-fashioned, down and dirty tennis with the nitty-gritty semis (What’s that? These were the exact matchups that I predicted at the beginning of the season? Honestly, I don’t want a medal, a freakin cookie would suffice). I’ll do a quick preview (it is Friday night after all) of tomorrow afternoon’s matchups, and hopefully do a more in depth look at the finals tomorrow after the 2nd match. These four teams should have all locked up their bids to Nationals, but they are still certainly playing for seeding. If either Williams or Bowdoin throws in an upset, chaos will ensue for the seeding committee. However, the committee seems to function on chaos. Perhaps it is also their ladder?
SEMIFINALS
#3 Williams vs. #2 Amherst 1pm
What a great semifinal matchup. As I’ve said before (http://www.division3tennis.com/amherstwilliams-83rd-edition/) these two teams always gear up to play one another. Williams pushed Amherst to the brink earlier this season, and I think they have the potential to do it again. Last time, Williams took the lead after doubles, and Amherst had to scratch and claw their way back into the match. Here is the box score from April 20th http://www.itatennis.com/AwardsAndRankings/Results_Entry/LatestResults.htm. Look for Williams to follow a similar recipe, as they will need at least 2 doubles points if they are to have any shot at moving on. Micheli/Harron took down Fritz/Reindell last time, and they certainly have the capability of doing it again. This is a 50/50 match in my eyes, but I’m looking for the senior team to take some revenge. 2 dubs pits Yaraghi/Revzin against Raventos/Shastri. This is another match that Williams MUST have if they’re going to beat the Jeffs, as it is another toss up match. Williams needs 1&2 because I believe they have no shot at winning 3 dubs. Astrachan and Schidlovsky do not have any big wins on the year, and Amherst’s #3 dubs of Solimano/Zykov is a strength. Overall I like Amherst to take a 2-1 lead heading into singles.
Don’t expect Williams to just lay down and die in the singles, they have moved their lineup around recently, and I think this is currently the best Ephs team we’ve seen all year. Every match should be a dog fight, though I obviously give the edge to Reindel at 6. Interesting that Howie Weiss has moved all the way down from #2 to #5. Interesting that he now matches up with Yaraghi. Interesting that he beat Yaraghi at the fall ITA. Interesting? NAHHHHHH. Yaraghi should be the heavy favorite at #5 tomorrow. Zykov at #4 is the Jeff’s weakest spot, but he’ll be going against the Eph’s weakest spot in Schidlovsky. I think the freshman takes it, although this match will likely end unfinished.
The top ½ of the lineup should be very fun to watch. Local Ro Shastri has come back into the singles lineup, and in the nick of time too. However he will have a tough matchup in Solimano who took Schidlovsky to church last time these two teams met. I like Solimano here, though much closer than last time. At #2 we have a matchup with big NCAA implications in Harron and Dale. Dale will need a win here to possibly cement his status, or at least allow him to stay in the conversation. Harron likely has too far to climb, but a win over Dale is good place to start. This match has 3 sets written all over it, and I actually like Harron to exact his revenge this time around. Finally we have the pièce de résistance, and a possible NCAA matchup further down the road in Micheli and Fritz. These two California boys have been battling since the Juniors, and both have had superb college careers. If Micheli’s forehand and Fritz’s backhand lay down by the fire and made sweet passionate love, the stork might bring the best DIII player of all time (sorry Seeberger). I HIGHLY doubt that this match will finish unless the team match goes 5-4, but because I’m just that wonderful of a person I’ll pick Fritz to win in 3 sets. Overall, I see Amherst pulling this match out at a 5-1 or 5-2 clip, but I would love nothing more than to see another epic duel between these two storied programs.
#4 Bowdoin vs. #1 Middlebury 3:30 pm
Does anyone think it’s weird that Bowdoin is hosting NESCACs? They only have 8 outdoor courts, and therefore the 4 matches (2 men’s + 2 women’s) are staggered by a couple of hours. It didn’t seem to matter today, as all four matches seemed to finish without large delay, and the home team advancing to the semis (both men’s and women’s). Tomorrow the male Polar Bears will host the regular season champs, the Middlebury Panthers. Midd cruised past Bowdoin when they played earlier in the year (you can find that box-score here: http://itarankings.itatennis.com/TeamMatch.aspx?scseId=282265&page=lr). Since their last meeting, Midd swapped their 2&3 (PC and BJ), while Bowdoin seems to have a new 6 (Mo over Savage). I believe Midd’s moves makes them stronger while Bowdoin’s does not give them much more of an advantage.
Unfortunately, I don’t see this match staying close. Midd has the doubles prowess that Bowdoin lacks, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them Panthers sweep their hosts. Middlebury’s #3 team seems to always play close matches, but they also seem to eek most of them out. Bowdoin has chances at #’s 1&3, but will likely need both if this match is to go their way. I’m feeling generous, so I’ll give the Polar Bears a doubles point and say that Midd takes a 2-1 lead going into singles. One quick NCAA note, Midd’s #1 team needs to beat King/Trinka to keep their lead over the #1 teams from Williams, Colby, and possibly even this Bowdoin team. In singles, Middlebury should be heavily favored at #6, but the rest are all closer. I give Johnston, a slight edge over Bragg, Trinka a slight edge over Jones (who could be playing for his tournament life), Campbell a slight edge over King, Smolyar a slight edge over Lord, and Wolstencraft the edge over Mountifield. Overall, I see this match, like the last one, ending around 5-2, but if Bowdoin can take a doubles lead they can absolutely push the Panthers (or any team for that matter) in the singles. Personally, I’m just waiting to see what goldfish joke the Middlebury Twitter feed throws out tomorrow morning. Don’t repeat yourselves, you’re better than that…
FINALS
I will be back to preview the finals tomorrow after the 2nd match has come to completion. Good luck to all 4 remaining squads! To the 2 eliminated squads teams, just remember that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel, if there isn’t, it’s not a tunnel…