Monday
#5 NCW vs. #27 Chicago
Everyone knows that Chicago is capable of winning any match, but this year has been tumultuous for them, and I don’t think it’s getting better today. NCW plays with a lot of heart, and they’re too confident to get intimidated by Chicago. They also need to bounce back from the Hopkins loss. This match is happening right now, so I could be wrong already, but I’ll take NCW in a routine 7-2 win.
#19 Trinity (CT) vs. #25 Kalamazoo
If we go by comparative scores against Whitman, this match is going to be really close. The X-factor here is how Zoo will respond to California weather. The Hornets have played really well at home, but they didn’t play great when they traveled to Mary Washington. I think Trinity is better at doubles, but Kalamazoo is probably a little deeper, so I’ll take Kalamazoo in a 5-4 win. I think Kalamazoo wins 1 doubles, 1, 3, 4, and 6 singles.
Tuesday
#1 Amherst vs. #14 Bowdoin
This is Amherst’s first match, and I’m eager to see what they do with their lineup. They could be a little rusty, and I’m guessing they will play a couple bad matches and lose one or two, but it should be a routine win for the Lord Jeffs. I’ll take Amherst in a 7-2 victory, though it could be 9-0 pretty easily.
#27 Chicago vs. Carleton
This is a classic trap match for Chicago, and Carleton is much improved. There have been many crazier upsets this year already, and I would like to see what Chicago does today against NCW (and what Carleton does against Tufts) before I make a prediction, but I’m not going to. I think Chicago will find a way to win this one 5-4.
#19 Trinity (CT) vs. #9 Cal Lutheran
Cal Lu has found their 2010 form. Though they lost to Mary Washington, they will be well-rested for this one, and they have learned what can happen to them when they come out flat. The Kingsmen are better in doubles, stronger at the top, and probably deeper. I think Cal Lu comes out fast and takes care of business 7-2.
Wednesday
#1 Amherst vs. #9 Cal Lutheran
Last year when Amherst played the #9 team in the country (Trinity), they sat their top two singles players and still won 7-2. Cal Lu is extremely confident, but I think the Jeffs will assert their dominance and bring them back down to earth in this one. Cal Lu’s best chances to win are at #1 doubles and #3 singles. I think they will win one of those, but Amherst will win 8-1.
#19 Trinity (CT) vs. #18 CMS
CMS has bounced back very nicely from their losses to Swarthmore and Cruz, but I’ll be paying attention to this one to see if they actually put in a full team effort. Even though they beat Hopkins and Bowdoing, they depended too much on doubles. They have top 3 talent, but they’re playing like a 7-10 team (even in their Stag-Hens win). They’re going to win this match, but they need to win some matches deep in their lineup. I’ll take the Stags in a 7-2 win.
Thursday
#27 Chicago vs. Tufts
Tufts fell out of the rankings without ever losing a match to a similarly ranked team. The match against Chicago gives them the opportunity to get it back, but Tufts was hit pretty hard by graduation, and I don’t think they got enough back in recruiting to have a good season. As flaky as Chicago is, I don’t think they can lose this one. 6-3 Maroons.
#4 Johns Hopkins vs. #2 Emory
This is one of D3’s matches to watch, and it is definitely the match of the week. Hopkins has shown that they can beat almost anyone in singles, and they played the Eagles extremely tightly last year. The Jays need to find a way to win at least two doubles matches, though, because I don’t remember the last time either Goodwin or Pottish lost a regular season singles match. Fortunately for them, the Eagles aren’t unstoppable in doubles. They lost 2 out of 3 to both Gustavus and Kenyon. Regardless, I think the Eagles will take two out of three doubles and four singles matches for a 6-3 victory.
#1 Amherst vs. #17 Whittier
This isn’t really a contest. Amherst should win 9-0. They might drop a match.
Friday
#5 NCW vs. #16 Mary Washington
Given Mary Washington’s recent struggles, there’s no reason to think they will pull off the upset in this one. I’ll take NCW in a routine 7-2.
#1 Amherst vs. #13 Pomona-Pitzer
The only interesting part of this match is how close Pomona-Pitzer will be able to keep the doubles matches. P-P is probably one of the top 7 or 8 doubles teams in the country. I’ll take Amherst for an 8-1.
#3 Williams vs. #18 CMS
Williams has already beaten D1 Colgate, and they are playing a match in California today, so they will be well-acclimated by the time they play CMS, but playing CMS on their home courts is still a tough way to start your D3 season. If CMS can’t get pumped up to play Williams on the same courts where the Ephs ended their season in heartbreaking fashion, then they have absolutely no heart. Still, I think the Stags have started to play with more passion since their losses, and this match will be really close. I don’t even know what Williams’ lineup looks like this year, but I’m going to take CMS in a 5-4 victory just for the hell of it.
#17 Whittier vs. #25 Kalamazoo
The Hornets will be acclimated by the time they play Whittier on Friday, so that shouldn’t be a factor. Based on comparative scores again, this one will also be extremely close, but you would have to take Zoo. I’m going to take Whittier anyways. I think they win two doubles matches, 1, 4, and 6 singles. 5-4
Cal Lutheran is looking good. I’m calling a win for sure against Trinity but a possibly closer match with amherst. They will have to play out of their minds to beat amherst but I will call a 5-4 or 6-3 loss to them. If anything is to go Cal Lu’s way it would have to be 2-1 after doubles and a win from #1 #3 and a win from a match #4-#6. Depends on the line up that amherst puts out there.
Yea who knows Amherst could just roll out their B squad. I think Cal Lu’s win over Trin Ct today is impressive but I also think Trin Ct is an overrated team this year. They are still very raw and capable of playing with people but nowhere to what they’ve been in the past.
It is tough for east coast teams to come west to play a bunch of tough matches on the road to start their seasons. So Cal teams have a clear advantage playing at home against tired teams that travel.
It is an advantage, but it’s tough the other way around as well. Teams traveling east have to deal with the time change. That’s kind of the deal. There are advantages and disadvantages that go with each team. Where do you draw the line? Some of the west coast schools have been playing tough matches since February and don’t have the same ability to focus on a few important matches and peak the same way some other teams do. So it goes.
can you guys start a blog for division 3 WOMEN’S tennis too?
I was actually hoping to have that happen, but we need different writers. As bad as I am at making predictions, I at least have a little familiarity with most of the D3 men’s teams. I know absolutely nothing about the women’s teams. So, if you or anyone you know is interested in writing, send me an e-mail. I wanted to have the two blogs be connected but separate because most people who want to read about the women’s side aren’t as interested in the men’s and vice verse. If you don’t want connected blogs, you could always just start a blog yourself. It’s not like you need a degree, and you don’t even have to be a good writer (yeah…) just sayin’
Doesn’t matter d3tennisguy your doing a great job on the site! It’s great
Agreed
No way Trinity Ct is losing to K-Zoo. I also would be interested to hear why you think Anson McCook will lose…he was really strong last year and would be shocked to hear him lose. 6-3 win for Trinity is what I’m thinking.
Good call. I wasn’t really betting against McCook as much as I was betting on Eddy. A little Midwest bias, I guess. Also, I don’t really put a ton of thought into these predictions (obviously), and I definitely don’t have any more expertise than any other casual observer (but I do have more time).
Is CMS a train-wreck? Do they have passion? What’s going on out there in Claremont? America wants to know! Follow the Stags (or their opponents) as they take on Trinity Connecticut today at 2:30 Pacific Time: (You need JAVA for this computer application) http://webapps.cmc.edu/livescore/ OR check out the new streaming broadcasts launching Friday 3/23 for CMS vs. Williams at 2:00 Pacific Time and Saturday 3/24 for CMS vs. Amherst at 1:00 Pacific Time: http://www.firstteambroadcasting.com/organizations/claremont-mudd-scripps-athletics/