SCIAC Day 1 Recap
ASouth: As you all know, D3 Hero Nick Ballou has been covering the Western region action with live tweeting and cameo articles for us here at the blog. It’s nice to get some other feedback and thoughts, so here he is with the SCIAC Day 1 recap as well as a short Day 2 Preview. I will be adding any notes in parenthesis as well! And without further ado… Ballou.
Day 1
I’m beat from the heat and if I’m feeling it then the rest of the players I saw throwing up today must want to die right about now. It was a scorcher today, with the temperature above 80 degrees at 9a.m. and 90 by 10a.m and no wind. : ( So I’m going to do the best I can . Sorry if it’s not perfect.
Here’s what happened today, three matches came down to the wire and one big upset in a big time singles match. The 2 matches of the day (that had really anything exciting for tennis news) where #4Redlands battling #5 Whittier in the first round and #2 Pomona taking on #3 Cal Lutheran in the Semifinals.
Today I was fortunate to witness a competitive match between Redlands and Whittier. Each player at their respected positions took it to each other and this was one of the better matches I’ve seen since Kenyon and Emory at Indoor Nationals last year. I’m talking about back and forth battles, 10 of 14 sets being 6-4 or longer, 7 of 14 being 7-5 or 7-6. Although doubles was more of an appetizer to a main courses, two doubles matches went 8-6 and a quick 8-2 at 2 doubles for a lonesome doubles point for Redlands. It actually proved to be very important to get up 2-1 since Redlands swept the Poets earlier this year and continued to win 8-1 overall. This time the match was completely backwards, with David Konstantinov losing to Lipscomb in a close 7-6 7-6 battle. Troy Chavez, I really want to nick name this guy “the cannon” because he may not move the fastest on the court but when he gets a hold of a forehand like he did on match point, no one can touch him. Schommer, can I say, amazing job in sticking it out in doubles today man, being down 3-6 with Konstantinov and winning that 8-6, huge! Then balling it up and playing a marathon match and clinching overall 6-4 in the third. These guys did what they wanted to come and do, upset first round and take a shot at an over powering CMS team. Congrats for having a great tournament and icing on the cake for them would be a win over Cal Lutheran tomorrow morning and shock the Kingsmen like they did the Bulldogs today.
The second match of the day was Pomona vs Cal Lutheran. I want to first say that I drove 35 minutes just to do this stuff. To I get some kind of gas credit thing here guys? Or how does this crap work!? Ha -__- (ASouth: Absolutely not, you get a few pats on the back and more coverage tomorrow). This was a match I will title the “TITANIC”. Once upon a time, there was a boat (CLU) built that was thought to be impossible to be sunk (I have no idea what he is talking about). They start off their voyage roaring with all engines a go. The ship goes up 8-2 at 1, 6-3 at 2 and 6-3 at 3. As soon as the Kingsmen thought they had it in the bag for a nice smooth trip, until the unforeseen iceberg (Pomona) struck. Okay this is stupid, what the hell am I talking about, the Titanic, smooth sail. Lets hit the skip to the end button, The iceberg whoops the crap out the boat and comes back from both those doubles, goes up 2-1 after doubles and the boat is only halfway down with people still aboard. (I think he was saying that Pomona started off weak and then surprised people). To start at the bottom, it’s pretty bad when you get a total of 2 games between your 5 and 6 singles. 🙁 Sean Handley played a pretty good match but just couldn’t quite handle it in the 10 point tie-breaker for a third set. Treacy just straight balled it up today in singles getting a 6-1 6-2 at 3, my freshman standout for the year Jake Yasgoor comes up with a 6-1 6-4 set in what looked like a rough day out on the court for Nichols. Yasgoor gets the gold star since he clinched it with a big win over Nichols to lead his team into the finals to battle CMS with individual hopes for Yasgoor still a possibility if he can upset Dorn. Moises Cardenas had a good win over Wiechert again 6-3 6-3 to close out everything for that match.
Chapman v Occidental
This match was a 5-4 match but there was just a dash of excitement in singles with a retirement at 5 singles at 1-1 in the first set. There was a long 3 set battle at 3 singles with Chernin def Mittledorf 6-3 4-6 7-6. Great battle and good win. Werman def Siebs giving Chapman the win at 2, 7-6 7-5. Other than that the rest of the matches were short and sweet.
Every other match today in the first round went 5-0 except for a sneak attack win from Cal Tech over CMS in doubles winning 8-6 at 3 doubles AND AGAIN over Redlands Pat Lipscomb and Tom Suchodolski 9-8. Cal Tech is learning some doubles! Damn! Morgan Lebby also got a win over Teddy Burchett 6-3 6-3 with all other matches going Redlands in looked like comfortable matches, respectively.
One match I want to touch on lastly because it’s time to have a fun Friday night tonight, David Konstantinov upset Warren Wood 6-0 4-6 6-2 and beat the recently crowned, Ojai Singles Champion. I don’t know what this means for the singles rankings in the West, but tomorrow depending on results in the top singles matches could turn this camp fire into a wild fire for who will be ranked what, heading into NCAA Individuals.
SCIAC 2nd DAY PREVIEW
CMS v Pomona
Here it is very shot, 7-2 with CMS going up 2-1 and possibly 3-0 after doubles and then stealing 1 or 2 singles matches. I’m sticking with 7-2 with those two options happening right there. CMS congrats on another dominating year and being ranked #1. Wood, you are a leader this year without a doubt, as well as Dorn. These guys will them possibly one step farther than last year.
Cal Lu v Whittier
I don’t know how the Kingsmen will show up tomorrow after their dismantling today at the hands of Pomona. They need to find the same fire Pomona had lit under their ass today. I don’t know why I like referencing fire so much, I just…do! Whittier might come away with the 5-4 upset if they can get 2 out of 3 doubles tomorrow and then Konstantinov getting an upset over Cardenas and getting 2 or 3 more singles wins at the 2 with Schommer over Nichols and 5-6 singles after the results from today’s matches. Cal Lu needs to, how would they say it in the Goat House, “puke and rally”. Suck it up and come back out and defend your home courts. Good luck. (Shots fired)
Redlands v Chapman
This will be another 9-0 or 8-1 with an upset somewhere in the singles line up maybe. The Bulldogs might be deflated after the first round upset but could still might be too good for Chapman to handle.
Cal Tech vs. Occidental
Have a good match guys! Cal Tech keep getting better, I like the tennis I’m seeing out there. Headed in the right direction taking big strides every year. Impressive showing with the wins so far in SCIAC. Dancu has been sighted, let’s see if he can lead his team over a streaking Cal Tech team. 5-4 or 6-3 for Cal Tech. I say they carry on the momentum from the upsets they had today and put it all together tomorrow. Come on, they are engineers for pete’s sake, they should be able to “put it all together” pretty damn easily right?! < smh so dumb.
Please excuse any errors, again I am tired, had a few adult beverages with my roommates and friends as well during dinner. Don’t be a grammer freak on me pleeeease! Okay, thanks and GOODNIGHT! (What he means is just berate him).