POTW: 02/27-03/05

REGIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: 02/27 – 03/05

Our 2nd POTW of the spring and already we’re getting to the hard-hitting journalistic questions for our bloggers. Congrats to all of this weeks winners, and if you have a particular theme suggestion for future POTW’s feel free to send them my way. D3Regional thanks you.

A-SOUTH

Player: Avery Schober

Team: Sewanee

Results: 6-0 this week at #2 doubles and #1 singles

Recap: Schober went beast mode this week in a very surprising and enlightening performance from my perspective.  I’ve always been a little down on Schober, whether that’s fair to him or not, because of his lack of wins against top talent.  This week, he took out Mark Fallati in straights, Jordan Krasner in straights, and also swept everyone at #2 doubles (Stevens, Swarthmore, W&L).  Schober has started this season off like a new Future song on Hot New Hop Hop.  HOT HOT HOTTTTTTTTTTT.

What’s next: A matchup against the hard hitting Chase Lipscomb of Redlands on Spring Break

Honorary Mention: Andres Carro, Sewanee

Favorite animal: This week I will make it the Tigers, because it’s all about Sewanee right now

Least favorite animal: The Garnet

Cat person or dog person and why: I’m an animal person – I am allergic to cats no doubt, but it’s nice that you don’t have to take care of them and they just do their own thing. Dogs bring the playfulness, but man, they are sometimes pretty damn hard to take care of.  I’ve had a dog for about 5 years now (since I graduated) and I’ve been through about 5000 pee pads and 3 couches.  At the end of the day, let’s still go with…. DOGS.

MIDWEST

Player: Mohanad Alhouni

Team: Gustavus Adolphus

Results: 2-0 at #1 doubles and 2-0 at #1 Singles

Recap: This was another typical weekend for Mohanad, as he cruised his way to doubles and singles wins over Whitewater and Macalaster. The main reason he earns POTW honors is because he avenged last year’s loss to Macalaster’s Josh Doyle. In 2016, Alhouni unexpectedly fell to the Scot 6-2, 6-2, but he was up big — 6-2 — this time around before Doyle retired. Young Houni has casually taken care of business thus far, and from the few games I watched online versus Whitewater, he’s seems to have a good attitude. Keep it up!

What’s next: The Gusties host a tripleheader this Saturday against St. Olaf, Saint Mary’s, and Luther. Their biggest upcoming match will be on St. Patrick’s day, when the Gusties take on a tough Coe squad.

Honorary Mention: Branden Metzler (Kalamazoo), Brady Anderson (Coe)

Favorite animal: Orangutan

Least favorite animal: My Brother-in-law

Cat person or dog person and why: Neither. I’m an Orangutan person.

NE

Player: Bryan Lilley

Team: MIT

Results: 1-0 at #1 doubles and 1-0 at #6 singles.

Recap: The #6 spot for MIT is up in the air between seniors Kenny Gea and Bryan Lilley, but Lilley may have taken a step towards securing that spot when he beat Bates freshman Nick Glover on Saturday. Glover hadn’t been starting for Bates, so I may be blowing this slightly out of proportion, but it would be hard for me to believe that Lilley won’t be playing #6 when MIT’s schedule ramps up again next month. The doubles win was equally as important. Bates’ #1 team had beaten PP and CMS while on the West Coast, and MIT’s top team was 1-2 so far this spring. There’s obviously a ton of season to go, but that could be a helpful win come Individuals ranking time later this spring.

What’s next: The Engineers take on Colby Sawyer on Wednesday, and then have matches against Bryant and Southern Maine later this month.

Honorary Mention: Tyler Barr (MIT), Michael Arguello (Brandeis), Brian Granoff (Brandeis),

Favorite animal: Fat penguins. Great topic for an awkward situation. Really helps break the ice.

Least favorite animal: Spiders. Bad topic for any situation.

Cat person or dog person and why: Dog person. Because dogs are friendly, and cats are evil.

WEST

Player: Parker Wilson and Tom Suchodoslki

Team: Redlands

Results: Both went 2-0 against Pomona-Pitzer in a thrilling 5-4 victory

Recap: It was so difficult to separate the contributions of these two seniors that I decided to just give the honor to both of them! The pair kept the Bulldogs in the match with an 8-6 victory at #3 doubles over Chadalavada/Bicks. After a pair of quick singles wins put the Hens up 4-1, Suchodoski started the comeback by handing Marko Mandic his first loss of the season at #5 singles by a score of 6-0, 6-4. Wilson eventually tied the match at 4-4 by winning the last four games against Graham Maassen in a 6-3, 7-5 victory. Dulle also came back from down a break in the second (saving three set points in the process) before finally sealing Redlands 5-4 victory 7-6, 7-5 at #3 singles. All told, the Bulldogs have their seniors to thank for keeping them in prime Pool C position, but they have a lot of work ahead of them.

What’s next: While the rest of the best of the West will be preparing for the Stag-Hen, the Dawgs will be hosting a trio of ranked A. South opponents (Mary Washington, Swarthmore, and Christopher Newport), all must-win matches.

Honorary Mention: Jake Yasgoor (Pomona-Pitzer), Paul Settles (CMS)

Favorite animal: Dog

Least favorite animal: Spider

Cat person or dog person and why: See above. Unconditional love. Wagging tails. Fluffiness. Ability to run. Boops on snoots.

REGIONAL

Player: Ruthwick Pathireddy, senior

Team: Caltech

Results: 1-1 at #1 singles against CMS and Mary Wash, 3-1 on the year

Recap: I’m giving Pathireddy POTW honors based on his superb season thus far on the singles court.  The Beavers have taken on three ranked teams in Brandeis, CMS, and Mary Wash, along with Cal Lutheran, and Pathireddy has come away with three wins in four matches, along with a super breaker loss to CMS.  Pathireddy has been a four-year starter for the Beavers and has seen them go from a team that could barely win a SCIAC match to a team that is now recruiting three-stars and is challenging for a national ranking.  He dropped down to #2/3 singles last year behind Andre Liu and Rushikesh Joshi, but Pathireddy now looks to be playing the best tennis of his career and competing with some of the better players in the country.  He has wins over Ransom Braaten (Cal Lu), Michael Arguello (Brandeis), and Brandon Griffin (Mary Wash), and a super-breaker loss to Max Macey of CMS.  Caltech has some matches coming up against a bunch of quality #1 guys in Nick Litsky (Vassar), Carl Reid (Colby) and Avery Schober (Sewanee), so Pathireddy will get his fill of quality competition in the next few weeks.

What’s next: Caltech takes on Hardin-Simmons (part of UT-Tyler’s conference) on Saturday, and will then take on Vassar, Colby, and Sewanee a week later, with more SCIAC completion coming up in late March/early April

Honorary Mention: Clark Wininger (Pacific), 4-0 at #1 singles/doubles in wins over Linfield and Whitworth

Favorite animal: Meerkat or Kiwi Bird or Koala (don’t make me decide)

Least favorite animal: Probably a mosquito or one of those dumb birds that flies into windows repeatedly

Cat person or dog person and why: DOG.  In fact I absolutely love when D3AtlanticSouth texts picture of his dog to our blogger group text.  It’s one of my favorite things.  As to why I prefer dogs, well they are just the best companions!  I can’t wait to get a dog when I’m a more responsible human being and can actually take care of myself.

REGIONAL AS

Player: Jordan Krasner

Team: Washington and Lee

Results: 7-1 at 1 Singles and mainly 3 Doubles against a couple random schools + Sewanee and Swarthmore

Recap: The Generals have had a pretty good year thus far only losing to Hopkins and an up and coming Sewanee team. A big part of their success has been because of Mr. Krasner, who’s only singles losses have come against MVP Buxbaum (UTR 13.02) and Schober (UTR 12.27), both of whom will probably be vying for Atlantic South NCAA spots. If Krasner can keep winning the matches he should win and pick up a “signature” win somewhere along the way, we could be throwing the senior’s name into a hat of realistic individual national competitors. Fortunately for the Generals, their conference seems to pretty much be a lock, but if they want to make any kind of a run at NCAAs, look for Krasner or Bannister (see below) to be the guy with the coat tails that everyone rides.

What’s next: W&L has a couple matches against conference foes that they should dispatch pretty easily before heading into an ASouth heavy weekend against Mary Washington and CNU March 18th and 19th. I am very much looking forward to Krasner’s matches against BG and Reed, both of whom have had strong starts to this season. If the Generals are going to take these matches, Krasner is going to most likely have to go 3-1 if not 4-0 on the weekend.

Honorary Mention: Will Bannister (Washington and Lee), Phil Lauture (Rhodes)

Favorite animal: Cougar (You know what I’m sayin’)

Least favorite animal: The goose, because all they’re good for is leaving shit in grassy fields for you to step on.

Cat person or dog person and why: Dogs, because cats are the devil. You pet and feed a dog, they think you’re master; you pet and feed a cat, they think that they themselves are master. Little entitled bastards.

REGIONAL NE/C

Player: Mitchell Sanders

Team: TCNJ

Results: 3-0 at #1 singles, 1-2 at #1 doubles in matches vs Chestnut Hill (D2), Haverford, and Vassar

Recap: Sanders is faced with the unenviable task of replacing Pierce Cooper at the top of the TCNJ lineup this year, and while he has big shoes to fill, so far he appears up to the task.  The highlight of his week has to be his 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 win over Nick Litsky (Vassar) on Sunday, an impressive win over an experienced senior with a UTR of 11.98 compared to Sanders’ 11.23. While his 1-2 doubles record is obviously not ideal, I expect the lefty and his new partner Mike Stanley to pick it up as the season progresses.

What’s next: This weekend TCNJ hosts Colby in what should be an excellent match. Sanders will likely face Carl Reid, where he’ll obviously need to continue his good form to get the win. After that, easier matches against Goucher and Muhlenberg await before finishing off March with several tougher opponents.

Honorary Mention: Branden Metzler (Kalamazoo), Chris Conley (Carthage), Jack August (TCNJ)

Favorite animal: Bears

Least favorite animal: Completely agree with RegAS—it’s geese, specifically Canadian geese. The poop issue is obvious, but they are also become aggressive, mean, and borderline possessed during nesting season. I want them to all disappear.

Cat person or dog person and why: Bucking the trend here, but it’s definitely cats. If I want to go away for a weekend or am going to be out all day, I don’t want to have to worry about making sure my pet gets a walk. Don’t get me wrong, I like dogs too, but I’d rather just hang out with other people’s dogs. Much less work.