Another week, another Regional Roundup. I know I’m a little late this week, but my goal was to get this out before the Lewis & Clark and Pacific spring breaks began tomorrow. Mission accomplished. I have no time to dilly-dally so let’s get right into it. First, let’s start with a Colby Mules spring break recap.
#37 Colby def. St. Lawrence 8-1
#37 Colby def. Occidental 7-2
Colby had a solid spring break and essentially won all of the matches that they should and lost the ones that they should lose. Carl Reid and Vlad Murad both had very solid spring breaks, especially in singles, where they both won in three against Tufts, both won against Chapman and Caltech, and both lost in three-setters against Chicago, with Reid’s lost to Nick Chua being 7-6 in the third. The match against Caltech was certainly a danger match, after playing five other matches during the break and getting down 2-1 after doubles. However, the Mules responded very well in singles, winning very easily at #1 (Reid with a good win over Ruthwick Pathireddy), #2, #3, and #6, as well as taking #4 in three sets.
The Tufts match was the one match where Colby definitely had some chances to get a big upset. Reid/Murad lost 9-7 to Griffin Brockman and Rohan Gupte of Tufts, and a win there would’ve given Colby a 2-1 doubles lead. Scott Altmeyer at #3 singles lost 4 and 6 to Dan Coran of Tufts, and Cameron Hillier lost 6-3 in the third to Ethan Chen at #6. Tufts was the deeper team overall, winning in straights at #4 and #5, along with #3, but Colby should be excited about this match and use it as a building block for their next match, which is in ten days against their rivals, the good old Bates Bobcats.
Lewis & Clark Spring Break:
Instead of traveling to sunny California, the Pios will be doing something a little different, traveling to Gambier, Ohio for five really good matches. Frankly, I love it. Let’s go right to the previews.
Sunday 3/26: #31 L&C vs. #11 Case Western (@ Kenyon)
The Pios start their spring break taking on Case Western in Gambier. This match along with CMU at the end of their break is clearly one of the Pios’ toughest matches this week, and for L&C, it certainly starts with their doubles. If L&C can take 2 or 3 doubles matches, I think the singles could be pretty interesting. The key for the Pios in singles is the middle of their lineup, and Michael Brewer, Gordon Barrows, and Jackson Powell to be more specific. I do think Case is deeper and probably has the advantage at #1 with James Fojtasek vs. Raed Attia, but the middle of the Pios’ singles lineup is pretty darn good, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see a three-setter or two in there. Overall, I have to favor the Spartans, but I think L&C will take a doubles match, maybe #1 where the Barrows’ brothers have been solid, and then at least one of #2-4 singles. I’ll go with Case Western 7-2.
Monday 3/27: #31 L&C @ #34 Denison
L&C will take on the Big Red the next day in what has the makings of a pretty epic match. They have an identical Power 6 rating at 66, but I think the Pios are slightly stronger in singles and I’d peg them as the favorite. Both teams are pretty solid at #2-4, but I also think L&C, with Brenden Barrows (10.97) and Ben Deluca (11.29), is a little stronger at #5-6 than Denison is with Blake Burstein (10.54) and Costas Alevizopoulos (10.37 and an amazing name to boot!). I’m predicting a match pretty similar to the Denison v. Kalamazoo match a couple of weeks ago where Kalamazoo won 6-3. I’ll go with the same score, 2 doubles for L&C and 4 singles. 6-3 Pios
Wednesday 3/29: #31 L&C @ #25 Kenyon
This match is definitely the Pios’ best chance at an upset this week, as Kenyon has been reeling a bit after recent losses to Trinity (TX), UT-Tyler, and Amherst, though they did recently get back on track with a 6-3 win against Stevens. The tough thing for L&C here is that even though I think every singles match has the chance to go three sets, I’m having trouble naming one where I would favor the Pios. I think the best chances are at #3-5, with Jackson Powell vs. Weston Noall at #4 probably being the one that L&C will be most likely to take. I do think Kenyon will be fired up on their home courts and they will be determined to not let their ranking slip any further. Stevens did split singles matches with Kenyon, so while I wouldn’t be surprised to see an upset, I think Kenyon is playing good doubles and will ride that to victory. 6-3 Kenyon
Friday 3/31: #31 L&C @ Oberlin
This match is one of Oberlin’s best chances this season to get a ranked win, so I’m sure they are going to be fired up on their home courts to take on the Pios. The Pios have the inside track to a win with a stronger top of their lineup, especially at #1-4. Raed Attia at #1 is going to be taking on some really good #1s this week, but this is a match where I do have him as the favorite. Oberlin is a tricky team, and did push Christopher Newport to 5-4 earlier this year (and by earlier I mean in October), but L&C is pretty battle-tested this year and will have a day to rest in between Kenyon and this match. Coach Dreves did a great job with this spring break schedule at building in days off and not burning his guys out, and I think this will pay off here. 6-3 Pios
Saturday 4/1: #31 L&C vs. #7 Carnegie Mellon (@ Kenyon)
The Pios will close out their spring break with their toughest match, taking on CMU in Gambier. CMU will be favored at every spot in this match, and while L&C is pretty strong in the middle of their lineup, Michael Rozenvassar, Kenny Zheng, and Chaz Downing are likely to be stronger. I think L&C could take one singles match, but I can’t really see them taking any more than that. 7-2 CMU
Pacific (OR) Spring Break:
Another NWC squad, the Pacific Boxers, will be doing something a little outside the box, traveling to the ASouth for three matches, with the best one being their first against NC Wesleyan. Here’s a preview!
Sunday 3/26: #32 Pacific vs. NC Wesleyan
I’m going to spend the bulk of my preview on this match as I think it will be the closest. NC Wesleyan has been overlooked by us this year, but made a statement last week with a 5-4 win over Christopher Newport, coming back from a doubles sweep. NC Wesleyan really dominated at #1-4 singles, and this should put them in a good place against Pacific, who is also solid at those spots. Clark Wininger against Sebastian Sikh is going to be a great match at #1, but so will Oscar Wight against Ioannis Brokakis at #2. I think NC Wesleyan has better depth, so I think it’s really important for the Boxers to get it done up at the top of the lineup. Who knows how NC Wesleyan will look in doubles, so the Boxers could jump on them right from the beginning. I think NC Wesleyan is just a little stronger though, and that they are getting better as the year goes along. 5-4 NC Wesleyan
Monday 3/27: #32 Pacific vs. VA Wesleyan
VA Wesleyan has lost to Washington & Lee (9-0), Salisbury (8-1), Goucher (8-1), Oberlin (8-1), and Earlham (9-0) this year, and I expect more of the same in this match. I’m running out of time and have some life things to do today, so I don’t really have much more to offer than that. 8-1 Pacific
Tuesday 3/28: #32 Pacific vs. Salisbury
Salisbury is no pushover, with wins over Occidental, St. Lawrence, and Goucher, and a 6-3 loss to Whittier this year. Colt Williamson of Salisbury had a great match with Andrew You of Whittier just a couple of days ago, falling 6-3 in the third, so I think this could be closer than I initially thought, especially home to Salisbury. I think Pacific is stronger at just about every spot though, and their doubles should carry them through. 6-3 Pacific