Hello again all. I hope everyone had a great weekend and maybe even got in some outdoor tennis with all the warm weather. I wanted to do a quick write-up recapping a couple big 5-4 matches from the weekend, both of which I didn’t even realize were happening. I really need to get on my game and realize that the spring season has in fact started. After this, I came to the realization that Brandeis was headed out to California in about a day, so I wanted to organize a quick preview of their trip. This should be short and sweet, or at least as short and sweet as I can possibly be. Let’s get right into it.
#32 Lewis & Clark def. #31 Pacific 5-4: I failed in knowing that this match was even happening and boy, did D3West let me know it in the blogger text chat. This match, held at Pacific, was absolutely terrific, and L&C got out to a quick 2-1 doubles lead. The singles was ultimately a split, but was much more in favor of the Pios. The Pios won quickly at #3, #5, and #6 to clinch the match. Pacific won two third sets at #2 and #4, but it was the Pios with the depth at 5 and 6 that ultimately got them the singles split, and therefore, the match. The Pios can take a stranglehold on the #2 NWC spot this coming weekend, where they will face Linfield and then George Fox. Pacific will take on Whitman next weekend, and will get a rematch against L&C in early April. I find it so interesting that most NWC teams play each other twice. It’s like college basketball. I imagine it also makes seeding and selections for their conference tournament that much more difficult.
Caltech def. Cal Lu 5-4: This match finished about 10 mins before me writing this so I have absolutely no idea of a box score. I do know through Twitter that this came down to the very
last match, and one of Caltech’s wins was in a singles match where they were down 1-6, 0-5! That’s a crazy amount of fight from the Beavers and a solid start to their season. They will start right up again tomorrow against the Brandeis Judges, while Cal Lu will take on UCSC next Saturday.
Given that this article took a lot longer for me to write than I thought it would, the box score is actually alive and well, at the link above. Caltech won three three-setters, including the 1-6 0-5 comeback at #5 singles from freshman Miha Valencic. Tech was also down 1-4 and ultimately needed to win all three of those three setters to win the match, and came through for the win. As D3Central noted in our group text, this has to be a nomination for match of the year given the scale of the comeback.
Brandeis Spring Break Preview:
One of my regional squads, the Brandeis Judges, are headed west for a week out in sunny California. They have five matches on their schedule, and I’ll leave Glendale CC out of this preview since I would have absolutely no idea what I was talking about. The Judges start with two matches where they should be favored, one which should be quite even, and one against a top ten team. That’s the makings of a good schedule if I’ve ever seen one, so let’s get right into some match previews.
Monday 2/20: #30 Brandeis @ Caltech: Caltech is coming off an emotional victory over Cal Lu, so exhaustion, both physical and mental, might come into play for the Beavers. Brandeis, on the other hand, should be nice and fresh, though the first match out in Cali can always be a little tricky after suddenly transitioning from strange indoor courts without wind or sun out to the great outdoors. Brandeis has the stronger power 6 rating by about 6 points, meaning they should be pegged as the big favorites. If Caltech is to pull the upset, it will have to be with depth and doubles. Brandeis is less experienced at #4-6 in their lineup, so if the Beavers can get out to a doubles lead, it’s definitely possible that the lower spots in the Judges lineup could get a little tight. I’m going to predict a 7-2 win for the Judges, with Caltech getting wins at #3 doubles and #5 singles.
Wednesday 2/22: #30 Brandeis @ Whittier: This match honestly seems like it should be pretty similar to the Caltech match. Brandeis might be a little sharper in match #2. As with the match before, Whittier desperately needs to get out to a doubles lead. They aren’t as strong in the middle of the lineup as Brandeis is, but a doubles lead can make any opposition a little tight. After a doubles lead, Whittier would have to snag 2 or 3 singles points. Andrew You at #1 has gotten some good wins at #1 in his career, and if he could upset Michael Arguello at #1, an upset could definitely be in the making. Ultimately, I think Brandeis gets it done with an 8-1 win, with Whittier grabbing a doubles match.
Friday 2/24: #30 Brandeis @ #18 Redlands: Link to last year’s box score
Last year, Brandeis jumped on the Bulldogs in doubles with a big sweep, only to see the Bulldogs dominate the Judges in 4 singles matches, along with one 3 set win to grab the 5-4
victory. This year, both teams come in with the exact same power 6 rating (at 70), and I’m predicting (not too difficult a prediction) that this will be the closest match of the Judges’ spring break. Michael Arguello vs. Chase Lipscomb at #1 should be a doozy, along with either Brian Granoff or Ryan Bunis vs. Joey Dulle and the other one vs. Parker Wilson. At #4, I think Tyler Ng (most likely #4) from Brandeis has the slight advantage over Tom Suchodolkski, and I would give Redlands the advantage at #5 with Jake Ly (and not just because he’s on my fantasy team), but Brandeis the advantage at #6. I’m going to pick the upset here and go with a 5-4 Brandeis win. I’ll go with Brandeis grabbing 2 of 3 doubles, and winning at #1, #3, and #4 singles.
Saturday 2/25: #30 Brandeis @ #6 CMS: One day after what is sure to be a physical match, Brandeis will turn around and face the Stags. CMS will be facing Bates earlier in the day, so they might be doing some type of a split squad, at least in singles, depending on how the earlier match goes. Last year, the Judges fell 9-0, though the Judges were missing Brian Granoff and two of the singles matches did go three sets, so take that for what it’s worth. Basically the opposite of the earlier matches for Brandeis in their spring break, they will have to jump out to a doubles lead. Even at Brandeis’ best spots (likely #2-3 singles), CMS will likely be stronger with Dan Morkovine and Nikolai Parodi. I do think we’ll see a couple three set singles matches, but the Judges will be worn out from the day before. I’ll go with an 8-1 CMS victory, with the Judges grabbing one of the doubles matches.
All right, that’s all I have. Bates is also out in Cali and D3Northeast should be coming out with a Bobcats preview soon. We also have Indoors, so keep your eye out for Draft Kings info coming out in the next day or so! Lots happening on the blog, don’t miss it!