NCAA MEN’S REGIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: May 4th-May 10th
With a fun weekend of NCAA Regionals behind us, we now have our NCAA quarterfinals set. Not to give us too much of a pat on the back, but the current quarterfinalists were the top-7 in our preseason power rankings, and Chicago whom we had all the way down at #11. Not too shabby. But enough love for us, it’s time for us to give some of that love back to the players, in the first of two NCAA themed POTWs!
A-SOUTH
Player: Jeremy Rubin
Team: Hopkins, bruh
Results: Wins at #1 doubles and #3 singles against Kenyon
Recap: We counted them out, and the Jays responded. With the help of Jeremy “Frankenstein” Dubin, Hopkins is on to the Elite 8! Dubin and his partner, Garcia, saved a couple of match points to deflate the Kenyon crowd and win a crucial swing match at #1 doubles. Jeremy then went on to beat Rob Turlington in straight sets, which was a surprise in itself. Those are two points I wasn’t sure Hopkins was going to win and Dubin went bigtime.
What’s next: Hopkins. CMS. Let’s do this thing.
Honorary Mention: Josh Goodman, Emory
Favorite part of the NCAA Regionals: People overreacting to teams matches against unranked AQ teams. (THEY LOST A POINT TO NICHOLS)
The time this weekend when you thought an upset might occur for an in-region team: When the Hopkins Men’s tennis account was actually pretty reliable about tweeting scores. That’s when you know momentum is high.
Moment from the weekend that proves your DIII Tennis Love/obsession: Tweeting at mother’s day brunch
Central
Player: Sven Kranz
Team: Chicago
Results: 2-0 at #2 singles
Recap: While I am sure many of you are thinking that a Wash U player should get this because their match was crazy, I think Mr. Kranz needs some love. He won both of his matches against one solid opponent (Galbraith from Coe) and one great one (Al-Houni from Gustavus). He also did so while only giving up a total of six games. The win over Coe was expected, but the convincing win over Gustavus certainly was not considering Mota beat him only two weeks ago. If Kranz brings his game and pull out some wins, this already dangerous team becomes unbeatable if it is a race to who can get three points. Doubles for them have been up and down so it will be fun to watch.
What’s next: See you in Cincy baby! Chicago takes on Amherst in a match between Goliath and Goliath in terms of talent. Amherst has the experience though so it should be interesting to see how the Maroons handle the pressure.
Honorary Mention: Tyler Kratky, Jason Haugen, Johnny Wu (Wash U)
Favorite part of the NCAA Regionals: Chicago! I have been hyping this team since last year so it’s time they get the love they deserve.
The time this weekend when you thought an upset might occur for an in-region team: Well Whitman about beat Wash U. I think that was pretty huge!
Moment from the weekend that proves your DIII Tennis Love/obsession: Having five tabs open at work refreshing every minute on Friday with the lesser known teams playing.
NE
Player: William De Quant
Team: Middlebury Panthers
Results: 1-0 at #4 singles, 1-0 at #5 singles, 1-1 #3 doubles.
Recap: You clinch a tight match, you get some props. You clinch a tight NCAA Tournament match, you get major props. You clinch a tight NCAA Tournament match as a freshmen, beating a senior to get your team to the NCAA quarterfinals, you get POTW. De Quant has already taken home a POTW award this season, but the freshman has been one of the best surprises of the spring. He moved up a spot to play #4 vs. Nichols, and quickly brought home an 0&1 win to help Midd advance to the Sweet 16. The next day, he rebounded from a tough doubles loss, to take a set off Wolstencroft, kept his composure through two rain delays, and battled back from 5-4 down to win three straight games, the set, and the match, and the NCAA Regional.
What’s next: Midd goes to Mason. The Panthers will take on Trinity TX in a rematch of last year’s 3rd Place Match. Should be a dandy.
Honorary Mention: Gil Roddy (Bowdoin), Kyle Wolfe (Bowdoin), Ari Smolyar (Middlebury), Kai Yuen Leung (Skidmore), Kit Green Sanderson (Skidmore).
Favorite part of the NCAA Regionals: The bloggers absolutely destroying the twitter game.
The time this weekend when you thought an upset might occur for an in-region team: I believed in Bowdoin for a moment after the doubles, and then again for just a split-second when Wolstencroft went up 5-4, and Wolfe was back at 3-3.
Moment from the weekend that proves your DIII Tennis Love/obsession: Trying to explain to my mom that CMS has a history of underperforming at NCAAs, and continually getting the response “they’re too talented to lose this year.” You know what mom, as always, you’re probably right.
WEST
Player(s): Colton Malesovas and Zach Hewlin
Team: Whitman
Results: 6-0 in against Wash U and Sewanee combined
Recap: While there were many POTW-worthy performances from my West-region players this NCAA regional weekend, I have to give the nod to a pair of Squirrels made their match against Wash U the best Sweet Sixteen match of the year. Against Wash U, Malesovas and fellow-senior Rivers came back from a 2-6 deficit at #1 doubles to give Whitman a 2-1 doubles lead before beating Carswell in a second set tiebreaker (finishing his career undefeated in NCAA tournament play despite probably a 30% winning percentage against ranked teams in the regular season). While his team’s season is over, Hewlin’s future prospects are very bright. The Whitman freshman teamed with Hoeger for a dominant performance at #2 doubles before trouncing Ross Putterman (an NCAA qualifier and one of the best #2’s in the country) 6-0, 6-3. The loss is a tough pill to swallow, but these guys both have a lot to be proud of.
What’s next: Malesovas has the individual singles tournament to look forward to (while he and Rivers are the alternates in dubs). Hewlin is headed to the offseason, where he could turn himself into one of the best players in the country if he stays anywhere near his improvement trajectory.
Honorary Mention: Chris Wootton (UT-Tyler), Nik Marino (CMS), Glenn Hull (CMS), Adam Krull (Trinity), Aaron Skinner (Trinity)
Favorite part of the NCAA Regionals: Watching the tiebreak between Tyler and P-P at #1 dubs.
The time this weekend when you thought an upset might occur for an in-region team: When Hewlin stormed out of the gate after Whitman got that HUGE momentum doubles win at #1, I thought Whitman had a chance to make their first Elite Eight. When Friedman was up 2-1 in the second after winning the first, I really started to believe. Alas, it was not to be.
Moment from the weekend that proves your DIII Tennis Love/obsession: When I caused my girlfriend to drop a bagel by shouting “let’s go!” when Whitman took #1 dubs while I was supposedly studying.
REGIONAL
Player: Sebastian Sikh
Team: NC Wesleyan
Results: 1-1 at #2 singles, 2-0 at #1 doubles in NCAAs
Recap: Although NC Wesleyan lost in the third round of NCAAs to Emory, Sikh had an excellent tournament, as he and Kjellberg notched two great wins in doubles over Washington & Lee and Emory. Sikh was no slouch on the singles court either, as he was up a set and 4-3 on Eric Halpern of Emory when the match was decided. Although Sikh did lose to Chris Hu of W&L, he had a terrific freshman year, notching wins over Chris Ellis (Bates), Michael Feldman (Stevens), and Stratton Gilmore (Mary Washington). Sikh is a big guy, at 6’4 and 220 lbs, and I expect even bigger things from him as he looks to fill the shoes of another guy from Sweden, Robert Kjellberg.
What’s next: NCAA doubles! Sikh and Kjellberg had a great year at #1 doubles, losing only three matches and winning 13 in a row to close out the season, so it is great to see the Bishops get rewarded with a trip to Cincy. Also, Sikh is only a freshman, so much more to come from him.
Honorary Mention: Kevin Wang (MIT)
Favorite part of the NCAA Regionals: Watching the Jonathan Kim vs. Chris Wootton match on the live stream. Epic stuff! How crazy would it have been if it came down to that third set?
The time this weekend when you thought an upset might occur for an in-region team: Ehhh none of my teams were all that close to pulling any upsets unfortunately.
Moment from the weekend that proves your DIII Tennis Love/obsession: Watching Pomona vs. Tyler on my computer and CMS vs. UCSC on my phone at the same time!