Women’s West & Northwest Regional Previews
Hello Hello! So yes, this is my second article of the day, but I didn’t write the other one today so my brain isn’t fried yet……Nevertheless, welcome to the ITA West & Northwest Regional Previews!! The regionals begin today, so I am just making the cut on this one
Questions surrounding ITAs this year:
- Loss of many star players to graduation – who will fill the void?
- Which teams will unveil their new freshman and make an impact?
- Will new teams make a big push this fall?
- Why is this tournament a week later this year?
West
Location: Pomona-Pitzer & CMS, Claremont, California
Last season, the West regional saw the introduction of Caroline Casper and Joy Kim to the NCAA world. While the latter won the title, it was the former who could push past injury to have a standout first year. This time, both Sagehens return as the 1st and 3rd seeds in a seed-heavy draw. By seed-heavy, we are talking players with the most experience, a lot of the unseeded players are younger, still looking to get their feet wet in NCAA play or are in their first action as a college player.
Quarterfinals: (1) Casper – PP v. (9) Salaway – PP; (4) Scott – CMS v. (5) Brown – CMS; (6) Hruska – PP v. (3) Joy Kim (PP); (7) Allen – CMS v. (2) Kuosman – CMS
Semifinals: (1) Casper – PP v. (4) Scott – CMS; (3) Joy Kim – PP v. (2) Kuosman (CMS) (rematch from 2015 Final!)
Final: (2) Kuosman – CMS v. (1) Casper – PP
Champion: (2) Kuosman – CMS
Dangerous Floaters: (9) Chen – PP (Scott’s R16); (9) Kuo – PP (Kuosman’s R16)
Needs to prove me wrong with a big result: (9) Murnin – RED; (9) Cruz – CMS
Watch for: Reisler – TECH; Jay Kim – PP
Rationale: I picked an entire seeded Quarterfinal, mostly because I have NO idea about the freshman Pomona is bringing in, as always, so usually I will get one or two of these wrong because one of these freshman bust my bracket….which I love to see…just kind of hurts the pride a little bit….but I should be used to that by now….The Semis are a 1-4 seeded prediction, which I usually hate doing, but I can’t pick against Kuzy or Casper…Joy Kim hasn’t played since the early Spring so I think she will be fit and ready to go…I think the upset alert is definitely in Kyla Scott’s R16 with Chen of Pomona.
DOUBLES
There is some major hardware to be snagged in doubles this season, as nearly every pair from last season that had success, has graduated, been split up or is abroad. For this year’s ITA, I think we will see a lot more of the veterans scramble to play with new partners.
Quarterfinals: (1) Kuosman/Scott – CMS v. Heard/Kuo (PP); (3) Casper/Chen – PP v. (8) Ikioka/Pagat – RED (total guess here); (7) Johnson/Murnin – RED v. (4) Brown/Tan – CMS; (5) Allen/Cruz – CMS v. (2) Hruska/Joy Kim – PP
Semifinals: (1) Kuosman/Scott – CMS v. (3) Casper/Chen – PP; (7) Johnson/Murnin – RED v. (2) Hruska/Joy Kim – PP
Finals: (3) Casper/Chen – PP v. (2) Hruska/Joy Kim – PP
Champion: (2) Hruska/Joy Kim – PP
Dangerous Floaters: Gordon/Jay Kim – PP
Needs to prove me wrong with a big result: Martin/Yamagami – CMS
Watch for: Any PP doubles team
Rationale: Doubles is more straightforward in part of the draw, but then gets messy when you get to the Semis, as each team has a standout player in it. I think Grace Hruska with Joy Kim is a brilliant move and thus, why I have them winning.
Northwest
Location: Whitman College, Walla Walla, Washington
With the absence of Summer Garrison and a few of the higher ranked players this year, the Northwest Regional is quite open for a new queen. Ella Riddle of Linfield has been the runner up the last two seasons and I think this is truly her best shot at a title. I think she is by far, the most underrated player in the nation right now because she has been just on the cusp of NCAAs in both disciplines, ranked in the top part of her region over the last two seasons and battles in her dual matches. Summer Garrison has been her kryptonite over the last two years and with her not playing, this is her time to shine.
Quarterfinals: (1) Riddle – LIN v. (5) Hill – WHIT; (9) Eliazo – L&C v. (9) Brodeck – WHIT; (7) Lomartire –Pacific v. (4) Plawska – L&C; (8) Harris – LIN v. (2) Gu – WHIT
Semifinals: (1) Riddle – LIN v. (9) Eliazo – L&C; (7) Lomartire – PAC v. (2) Gu – WHIT
Finals: (1) Riddle – LIN v. (2) Gu – WHIT
Champion: (1) Riddle – LIN
Dangerous Floaters: (9) Incerpi – L&C; (9) Wallin – WHIT
Need to prove me wrong: (9) Wallin – WHIT; Greenberg – WHIT
Watch for: WHIT Freshman
Rationale: I got a little more daring this time and decided to pick a lot of lower seeds into the Semis. I think Teenie of L&C has a good chance at making a run, but I am not sure of Tuemmler’s potential yet, who is seeded third. I also think it is time for Kaitlyn Lomartire of Pacific to make a big move, I allllmoooost picked her to make the finals but I think Gu is a new face to Whitman that will provide some big results if she can keep it together. Ella Riddle finally ascends to a title nonetheless.
Doubles
Same as with the West regional, the Northwest has a large gap in the Doubles field with pairs being split. I think this time there will be many new faces earning some wins and perhaps, a new duo to watch for as we head into the Spring!!
Quarterfinals: (1) Riddle/Harris – LIN v. (8) Tuemmler/Barnes – GF; (3) Plawska/Incerpi – L&C v. (5) Wallin/Gu – WHIT; (7) Clayeux/Kopecka – LIN v. Fox/Jones – L&C; (6) Legarza/Eliazo – L&C v. (2) Greenberg/Hill – WHIT
Semifinals: (1) Riddle/Harris – LIN v. (3) Plawska/Incerpi – L&C; (7) Clayeux/Kopecka v. (2) Greenberg/Hill – WHIT
Finals: (1) Riddle/Harris – WHIT v. (2) Greenberg/Hill – WHIT
Champions: (2) Greenberg/Hill – WHIT
Dangerous Floaters: Lomartire/Kobayashi – PAC (first up for Plawska/Incerpi); Brodeck/Sheng – WHIT (2R for Riddle/Harris)
Needs to prove me wrong: (4) Hoyos/Adams – WHITWORTH
Watch for: L&C Pairings
This doubles event will be quite fun to watch, I think we have a few pairs who can cause some damage and history is not on anyone’s side. The two teams predicted to make the finals this year, split their results last season and the teams in the Semis have had good doubles results. Cant wait to see how it pans out!!
Alrighty tennis fans, this is all I have for you today. Good luck to all those competing!
D3WW