D3C’s Big Fat Huge Weekend Recap: April 12-14 (and Kenyon v W&L)

It was another great weekend of tennis and there was so much going on I forgot to preview the Denison v Depauw match (which I apologize for, that one was more important than the Coe v Carleton match). When all was said and done, however, we had no upsets and I finally had a weekend where I didn’t get a single match wrong. Nobody’s perfect though, I missed on some of the match breakdowns so I guess I can’t boast quite as much as my colleagues. To the recaps!

I’m not even going to go in depth on the Kenyon v Kzoo match. Kenyon won 9-0 and showed why they are far superior. Kzoo showed that they are nowhere near competing with good teams. I thought maybe Kenyon had found their doubles, but see D3AS’s recap of the CMU/Kenyon match for more on that.

#14 Wash U –6 def. #28 Chicago –3:
Well I called the scoreline right, which is always a nice feeling. Wash U had so much to prove this weekend and being at home must have been a huge advantage. All weekend Wash U came out on top in the tight matches and showed they are ready to make a run. This is why you should never underestimate a program like Wash U. Great coaching, lots of talent, and a sense of pride that is nearly impossible to match.

Doubles was closer than I expected, but that has been Chicago’s forte against the Bears lately. But I did say if Chicago couldn’t win 2 out of 3 they were in deep trouble for pulling off the upset. The Bears took 1 and 3 doubles 8-6. Great win by the Putt’s at 1, and equally impressive win at 3. In hindsight I probably should have picked Chicago at 2: ‘Roons win that one in a breaker.

As I anticipated, Putterman (Adam) and Parizher made quick work at 1 and 5 respectively. Other than that, this match was very close. Chicago was able to show some impressive resilience taking 2, 4, and 6 singles to three sets. Golovin had a solid win over Noack at three 7-5, 7-5 which gave the Roons some much needed hope. Unfortunately, they needed to win all the coin flip matches and came out on the wrong end twice. Crawford pulled out one of the most impressive match scores you’ll see against Kratky in 3 straight breakers (Super for the 3rd, 10-8). The most surprising matches to me were at 2 and 6. I was stunned to see Abrams go three sets in both matches this weekend and I have to give him a golf clap for that, but ultimately he came up short to Farah. Finally, the big swing match for the Bears had to come at 2 singles. I picked Bhargava to win because he’s looked great to this point and I haven’t been too impressed with R Putterman. Well, color me impressed. A massive 3-set win at 2 is what really squandered any hope Chicago could upset the Bears on their home courts.

This match must have been a blast to watch. I’m impressed with both teams as they both stepped up to the plate and played well where they needed. In the end, Wash U is just a bit more talented and better coached. They were well prepared and their toughness and class helped pull them through the close matches. For Chicago, things are not looking good at this point but they have a small chance at redemption later against GAC. I’ll wait to give my full thoughts on these teams til later.

#18 Gustavus –7 def. #29 Chicago –2:
I really thought this match would have been closer but I think fatigue played a major role here. The effort Chicago put forth in their match against Wash U earlier in the day had to have taken its toll on the guys. Sabada didn’t even play doubles (unless it’s a typo), which means he was exhausted or worried about injury.

One doubles was closer than one would have thought especially considering Abrams was filling in for Sabada and Abrams hasn’t been in the doubles the past few matches. Good effort taking Smith-Dennis/Donkena to 9-7 though. Leisner/Johnson looked sharp en route to the easy win at 2 (who had just had the barn-burner win over Wash U). The freshman got the Roons on board and back on track heading into singles against an ever changing 3 team that GAC has been using.

If there was any worry that Sabada was injured that went out the window when I looked at singles scores. He made quick work of Donkena (who has struggled since moving to 1). On the other hand, Mya destroyed Bhargava but I have to attribute much of that to Bhargava’s grueling match against R Putts earlier. You can sense the fatigue in scores at 2, 3 (where Chu finally gets back on track with a win), and 5 (MaGibbon takes out Zhang in a tight first set followed by a blowout). Very impressed with the effort from Crawford who lost to Leisner in 3 sets after his crazy match earlier. I was also surprised that Abrams took another good 6 in Entwistle to a tight 7-5 third set, only to fall.

As D3TG put it, “So much for Chicago being in control of their own destiny.” Chicago looked promising out of the gates in ITA’s, a shalacking by Kenyon followed by a barrage of mediocre wins and they had a shot to make a move…Three matches and three losses later their season looks all but over (barring a miracle run at UAA’s, yeah right). For Gustavus this was a nice win coming off their disappointing Cali trip. I’m sure it was a much needed boost heading into their match with Wash U…

#14 Wash U – 7 def. #18 Gustavus – 2:
You really would have thought after each teams results against Chicago that this match was going to be a great one. Not so much the case. At least I picked the right team to win this one because my match-by-match analysis was a ways off. I know this match was played outdoors (as we’d hope considering its mid-April), which I think really hindered the Gusties. They played some great indoor tennis this year, as evidenced by their indoor results, but when it’s come to outdoor tennis they have really struggled (see: Redlands and P-P matches). The Bears really needed this one for their Pool C bid and they came out and got some key swing matches to really tilt this affair to their favor.

Doubles went exactly how I didn’t expect it to. These scores are exactly why doubles 8-game pro sets are nearly impossible to predict. After losing to Chicago the day before Farah/Kratky destroyed Leisner/Johnson who have been playing terrific doubles all semester. The complete opposite happened at 3 where the day before GAC lost at 3 to Chicago only to beat Parizher/Hirsh 8-4…But the one that really killed the Gusties was 1 doubles. The Putterman’s capped off their huge weekend with the win over the #1 team in the region, and in the process killed any momentum the Gusties hoped to have heading into singles.

As I predicted, 1 singles easily went to A Putt’s and 2 singles easily went to Smith-Dennis. That was the end of it for GAC as they could find no other points. Noack handed Chu his 9th loss to a ranked team opponent this semester (his only 2 wins are against McGlashen of WW and Golovin of Chicago). At 4, Kratky rebounded nicely against Leisner to take him out in three sets, as did Farah at 6 against Entwistle. Another great sign for the Bears is Parizher’s apparent return to form at 5. He beat MacGibbon who has been great for GAC this semester in straight sets. Couple that with his win over Chicago and things are on the up-and-up for him.

MASSIVE win for Wash U. They sent a message loud and clear that they should not be overlooked and are still tough as nails. This match was never in doubt and that will be key for the Bears moving forward towards UAA’s. They look to be on a collision course to meet Case Western for a rematch, which should be quite a story considering the current trends of each squad. All I will say is things will be much different this time around, I’m excited. If I’m Gustavus, I’m pretty upset with the way things went. The fact that none of the doubles were that close really surprises me. It really leads me to believe these guys aren’t as good outdoors (which makes sense if you think about it). They haven’t yet tested a team outdoors and if they can’t even keep it close, they’re going to be hard-pressed to find a way to beat a 1 seed to go to the elite 8. Their saving grace is the fact they always seem to host, and if the weather is bad (which it has been in the midwest lately) they could be in the comfort of their bubble. That’s their best shot, the way I see it.

Depauw – 7 def. Denison – 2:
I do apologize for dropping the ball on previewing this. I think this match carried more weight than the Coe v Carleton in terms of the national scene, so don’t think that was supposed to a shot at these two teams. I totally forgot to check either teams website…whoops.

This match was played at Denison, which really sheds light on how much they are struggling this year. 1 and 3 doubles were blowouts and it looks like Miles/Kopecky are playing better doubles, nice to see. The only doubles ever in question was at 2 where Moss/Garlock edged Cempre/Marczak in a breaker. That was all she wrote as far as the Big Red’s chances were concerned. Really disappointing they couldn’t even muster a doubles match at home against their rival…

Had I have written a preview I definitely would have had Depauw winning at 1 and 2 singles. They won both fairly easily. Both Miles and Kopecky are more battle tested than Cempre and Veltman and it showed. That’s already the match which means nothing else really mattered but Denison was able to put up a bit of fight at the lower spots. Marczak took out Bertollini (looks like he’s still finding his form back from injury I believe) in a super at 3, and Gettel beat Garlock (who all the sudden is struggling) at 5 for the only two points Denison would find. Moss pulled it out in a super at 4, and Kaczkowski continues to grow at 6 where he won in straights.

Overall, solid win for Depauw. They finally have some momentum and have some confidence in doubles for once. They will need to play lights out doubles and pray for 2 spots against Kenyon in the conference tournament finals (under the assumption they beat Dension again in semis) if they have any hope of making NCAA’s. I don’t think it’s remotely possible but I could see the Tigers taking a couple doubles points if Kenyon’s doubles woes continue. For Denison…let’s chalk this up to a rebuilding year and call it at that. These guys really dropped off the map this year and I’m not 100% sure why. They have some pretty good quality talent but just can’t seem to figure it out. I guess there’s always next year…

Coe – 7 def. Carleton – 2:
I got exactly what I wanted. I wanted to indulge Carleton and give them a close prediction knowing full well this match could easily be a blowout in Coe’s favor. The match, however, could have very easily been 5-4 either way if Carleton was clutch. But as it turns out, that doesn’t seem to be the case. This match did take place in Iowa on Coe’s home courts so that may have been a factor. Coe’s fans are known to be pretty rowdy and can definitely get under your skin if your not prepared.

Perfect doubles prediction =) I bragged about it on twitter because it was a pretty blind guess. I didn’t have too much to base it on. Sprinkel/Newman are a tough team and sit at #5 in the region, far superior to Carleton’s duo, hence 8-4. Galbraith/Yasushi took out Chin/Jiang in the tightest affair of the day at 2, 8-6 Finally, Nagy/Johnson were able to salvage life for Carleton heading into singles…

Why? Because Sprinkel was a lock at 1 over whoever Carleton threw out. He won 1 and 0. Question though: Why is Sprinkel sitting at 8 in the Central still after his loss to Karki of Luther a couple weeks ago? Either way he’s definitely one of the better players in the region. Jiang mounted the lone point at 2 for Carleton over the freshman Galbraith in straights. Although that match was pretty tight, from that point on every match was in doubt at one point or another. Three setters at 3-6 and Carleton took 2 of those first sets. Yet, they couldn’t win a single one. Sprinkel called me out saying I may have underestimated the Kohawks bottom of the lineup, but more appropriately I overestimated Carleton’s bottom.

So, Coe’s win streak continues (24 in a row), and they beat another “average” team. A nice win, I guess, showing they can be clutch in tight situations. Something they will need to build on if this program hopes to crack the top 30. Two weeks from now they take on Elmhurst and Whitewater. Elmhurst will be another test, and they finish with Whitewater. A match that means a lot for both teams: For Coe a chance to cap off a perfect regular season and finish the year ranked (I’d guess), and for Whitewater a shot at redemption from a year ago. For Carleton…You had your shot. Sorry. Please don’t argue with me when I make valid points in my article. Let the rackets do the talking, thank you.

#2 Kenyon – 8 def. #23 Washington and Lee – 1:
Since I procrastinated just enough, I didn’t have to do a preview for this match and can just give my reactions. Which means I didn’t realize this match was happening on a Tuesday… BUT! Had I done a preview for this match, no way in hell would I have predicted it to turn out the way it did. D3AS tweeted at me #tankinggennies halfway through. I guess it’s not uncommon for these guys to decide not to show up. Because everyone besides Hu said, “I really don’t wanna be here.”

It started with doubles… I’ve made it abundantly clear that Kenyon’s doubles has been STRUGGLING. They have mixed and matched, poked and prodded, shaken things up. Nothing has quite worked the way Thielke would hope. Maybe this lineup was just what the doctor ordered…who knows? Burgin/Rosensteel(??? That’s right) at 1, Williams/Raz at 2, and Ye/Heerboth at 3. All three teams won, and in convincing fashion I might add. Tank? I don’t know.

Singles was same day, same story. I kept checking live updates and saw 1-3 and 6 just torching for the Lords. Burgin, Raz, and Heerboth destroyed dropping only 8 games total between the three. Huber won 0 and 0 at 5 (my is he playing well), and Ye won easy enough at 6. The strangest thing of the whole match is that Williams loses 1 and 1 to Christopher Hu. I’m sure Hu is a good player, but Williams has been a model of consistency the whole season and he got straight trounced…The only flaw in Kenyon’s entire day.

Summed up, good day for Kenyon. Not so hot for Wash and Lee. Wash and Lee had just taken out NC Wesleyan 7-2 and followed it up with this??… I’m scratchin’ my head. I don’t know if this hurts Wash and Lee, but I think it should. Hopefully the Lords have found an answer for their doubles problem. Seems like throw Burgin and Rosensteel (two bangers) at 1 and hope, and keep your money spots at 2 and 3. Not a bad play, we’ll see if I’m right.

Hope you guys enjoyed. It’s a little late and I really wanted to get this out. Apologize if the grammar is poor. Please, feel free to comment!