Week Preview: March 5th-9th

The D3 season really picks up this week, with several ranking borderline teams making California swings. There are so many matches that I can’t really give all of them their due, so some of these previews will be very, very short:

Monday

#19 Mary Washington @ #20 Cal Lutheran

The rankings don’t show it, but I think we all know who the real favorite is in this match: the Kingsmen are coming off a huge win over Pomona-Pitzer, and they are playing on their home courts. Mary Washington is playing its first match one the West coast, and they probably won’t be very used to high temperatures and outdoor tennis. Mary Washington has really struggled in California in the last couple years, especially in their first couple matches. I think this match will be close, but the Kingsmen will emerge with a 6-3 win.

Tuesday

#6 Kenyon vs. Christopher Newport

CNU probably couldn’t beat Kenyon on their best day. The Lords just have too many good tennis players; whereas, Christopher Newport has two: 8-1 Kenyon.

Vassar @ #30 Occidental

Occidental is improving, but I think their inability to test Pomona-Pitzer after their tough loss to CLU shows that they aren’t for real this year. Fortunately for them, Vassar doesn’t appear to be very deep either. I think Vassar pulls this one out, 5-4.

Swarthmore @ Whittier

These two teams could easily be ranked, but Swarthmore has had trouble converting on their opportunities in the last couple of years. I think there will be more of the same in this one, as the Garnet will have a tough time adjusting to the conditions: Whittier wins 6-3.

#6 Kenyon @ #20 Cal Lutheran

This could be a trap match for the Lords, as it is only their second match in California, and they might be tired from their morning match. Last year, Kenyon narrowly escaped Thousand Oaks with the win, despite winning two of three doubles. If they don’t win doubles this year, there could be an upset, but I don’t think the Kingsmen have the depth to hang with the Lords. I’ll go with a repeat of last year, 5-4 Kenyon.

Wednesday

Christopher Newport @ #20 Cal Lutheran

There could be a few riveting singles matches in this one, but I don’t think the outcome of the team match will ever be in question. 7-2 Cal Lu.

Swarthmore @ #15 Redlands

The Bulldogs have given us no reason to think that they will be upset, and Swarthmore definitely isn’t as strong as the Bates team Redlands just beat handily. 8-1 Redlands.

Thursday

#11 Trinity (TX) @ #20 Cal Lutheran

I’m going to make this prediction now, but I might remake it after the Kenyon/Cal Lu match. Unlike Kenyon, Trinity probably won’t have much trouble adjusting to the conditions in California, but Thousand Oaks is still a tough place to play. Trinity has shown so far that they still are one of the best doubles teams in the country, so I think they will take at least a 2-1 lead. After that, Trinity is clearly deeper than Pomona, and unless they are seriously sick, they have to be favored at the bottom three positions. Also, Cal Lu is likely to be a little stale after a tough week of matches. I think Trinity to win this one 6-3.

Vassar @ #4 CMS

Still waiting to see Claremont in a serious match: 9-0 CMS.

#19 Mary Washington @ #12 Pomona-Pitzer

I think if these two teams met on a neutral court, Mary Washington would win, but all of the intangibles are stacked in P-P’s favor. They are playing on their home court, and they are absolutely desperate for the win. Mary Washington is playing in California, and the will still make the tournament with a loss. Also, Mary Washington has lost to P-P two years in a row. 5-4 Pomona-Pitzer.

Swarthmore @ #4 CMS

9-0 CMS

Friday

Swarthmore @ #12 Pomona-Pitzer

Pomona-Pitzer could be tired, and Swarthmore could be a wounded bear, but that will never be enough to bridge the gap between these two teams. 7-2 Pomona-Pitzer.

#6 Kenyon @ #9 Santa Cruz

This is the Indoors match that never was. I wonder why the Lords are playing a couple matches in Thousand Oaks, then going up to Cruz, then going back down for the Stag-Hen. It’s a long trip from Southern California to Santa Cruz, and the Lords might be tired from their earlier matches. Kenyon looked way stronger that Cruz in singles at Indoors, but the Slugs are always capable of pulling off a doubles sweep. I think Kenyon will have fixed their doubles woes enough to get one match by the time they get up to Cruz, and, unless the Slugs have Larsen back by that time, the Lords should be able to win at least four singles matches. As tempted as I am to go with the upset, I have to pick Kenyon, 6-3.

#11 Trinity (TX) @ #15 Redlands

These two teams are very similar. Both are West-region, hot-weather teams that play solid doubles. They both thrive on high-energy matches and are extremely difficult to beat at home. They also don’t like each other very much. Unfortunately for Trinity, this match will be played at Redlands, where the Bulldogs have been playing very well. The experience of Indoors might pay off for Trinity, but Redlands will have played plenty of tough matches by the time these two meet. I think this match is the most likely mini-upset of the week, so I’m taking it. Redlands takes two out of three doubles matches and wins in a 5-4 thriller.

Christopher Newport @ #30 Occidental

Admittedly, I don’t know much about either of these two teams, but I’m not a believer in Oxy. The only thing I really know about this match is that CNU has two players that can win a match when they need to, and I think that will make the difference in this one. 5-4 CNU.