WHITMAN MISSIONARIES
Twitter Handle: @whitwomentennis
Coach: John Hein
Fall 2014 Ranking: #29
Spring 2015 Ranking: #22
Fall 2015 Ranking: #22
Player Ranking (National/Regional):
Jenna Dobrin: #50/#13
Cello Lockwood: NR/#25
Hi Tennis Addicts! Welcome back to another preview of the fast-approaching D3 ladies tennis season. This installment will see yours truly, @d3westwomens previewing the the squad of Whitman!
Looking back to 2015, Whitman capped their year with another Northwest Conference title (NWC) and a trip to NCAA, where they defeated unknown St. Scholastica (Minnesota???) before getting sent packing by Pomona in the second round. Overall, Whitman had a year that probably matched expectations. Their win of the year was a squeaked out 5-4 win at La Verne, but then failed to back it up with next day losses to Vassar and Redlands, creating the black hole of the high 20s in the rankings. Despite such, the team rebounded to win their conference and maintain a top 25 spot. Winning the NWC has become more difficult each year as Lewis & Clark improves (both matches last year finished 5-4 to Whitman) and Linfield is also on the rise. I think it is very fair to say that this season ahead will be a step down from the last few for the Missionaries, as they graduated some of their best last season including one of the best female players the PNW has ever seen, Courtney Lawless.
ITAs in the PNW does not have much to show us unfortunately, as the major teams are the aforementioned L&C, Linfield and Whitman. A player from one of these three will most likely win every year. This time around, Whitman performed well, if you were looking at results, but just decent if you consider how weak the region is. Freshman Mary Hill and Jana Klages-Miller provided a nice little runs to the Quarterfinals, before falling to Ella ‘Enchanted’ Riddle of Whitman. Ever-present Jenna Dobrin (will she ever graduate?) reached the Semifinals before being blitzed by eventual champ Summer Garrison. Lastly, newbie Cello Lockwood performed well in her first outing, falling in the Quarterfinals to Aurora Garrison. On the dubs side of things, Dobrin/Lockwood reached the Semifinals and Klages-Miller/Hill and Allie Wallin/Hanna Greenberg finished in the quarters, all losing to L&C pairs. Like I said, ITAs cannot give us much. More to come later in the piece.
Schedule Analysis:
February
2/12/2016 Trinity-Texas
2/13/2016 University of Redlands
2/14/2016 * Linfield College
2/19/2016 * Lewis & Clark College
2/20/2016 * Willamette University
2/20/2016 * George Fox University
March
3/5/2016 * Whitworth University
3/12/20 * Willamette University
3/13/2016 * Linfield College
3/16/2016 Texas-Tyler
3/17/2016 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges
3/18/2016 Vassar College
April
4/2/2016 * Lewis & Clark College
4/3/2016 * George Fox University
4/10/2016 * Pacific University
4/10/2016 Bellevue Comm. College
4/16/2016 * University of Puget Sound
4/16/2016 Seattle University
4/17/2016 * Pacific Lutheran University
2016 NWC Women’s Tennis Tournament
4/23/2016 NWC Tournament TBD (Top seed)
4/24/2016 NWC Tournament TBD (Top seed)
Whitman also has a little surprise every year in their schedules, I dig it. This time, we see a scrapped Cali trip, that of which appears to be more like a long weekend of tennis, given that the matches are all over three days. Then, we also see the usual NWC suspects and the ever-fun Whitman invite in February.
Technically, the Whitman invite is not the first match of the year for the Missionaries, as they play host to a few out of division opponents in Eastern Wash, L&C State (Idaho) and Univ. of Idaho, but I won’t waste energy in talking about those. Trin-TX is the first D3 opponent of the season for Whitman and I think Whit will have a toughie on their hands. If Trin keeps their dubs teams together (which there is a rumor going around that Southwick/Lutz might get split up, VERY VERY VERY BAD move, FYI) then I think the Texans will take the bookend dubs positions as well as the higher singles lines. This will be tight and come down to how the Whit freshman do really. Hill, Lockwood and K-Miller will probably take 2-4 but that is a LOT of freshman in the middle of the lineup, not bad, but not ideal. Nerves happen. I am going to go for Whitman here though, 5-4. Redlands will be a much more stern test for Whitman, as I mentioned in my earlier preview, I think the Bulldogs are too solid for this one, despite my statement calling Whitman ‘depleted’, which I will retract and edit to say, ‘a Whitman squad in a building year’. 8-1 Redlands. Linfield comes in next to conclude the invite and I think this will be an interesting contest. The Wildcats are improving year to year, Whitman lost a lot of players and gained some, but are they enough? For now, yes. 6-3 to the Missionaries but this will be tight through dubs, before Whitman controls the lower part of the singles lineup. The match that I am wicked excited for is that of Whitman-L&C in February…much earlier that expected. Two 5-4 battles last season saw Whitman squeak into NCAAs and the scoreline will not be repeated here, 6-3 to very much improved L&C. Whitman will then close this month with two routine NWC victories over Williamette and George Fox.
March arrives with two NWC contests that will serve as batting practice, (Whitworth and Williamette) before the Cali long weekend. I think UTT will be a very similar match to that of Trin-TX above, but not as close. 6-3 to Whitman. CMS is a tough task for anyone outside of the Top 8 right now, 9-0 Athenas. Moving on to Vassar, I am not sure how to play this one…maybe the ever-fabulous NEW can provide some insight but I think that Whitman, who lost to the New Yorkers last season, will struggle once again, but has Vassar lost some star power? Hmmmm it’s unclear here. Let’s say 7-2 Vassar..
Ok let’s just cut to the chase here….the NWC lacks depth. Most of April will be routine wins for Whitman so I am just going to focus on the first match of the month with L&C and the NWC conference final because both teams will get there unless a miracle occurs. The first match between the two squads will be another grind fest and I think Whitman is going to push it to 5-4 here. Perhaps playing L&C earlier on wasn’t the best for the schedule (I think the PIOS will succeed indoors) but outside, Whitman takes this one to set up a blockbuster NWC final. Like last year, we will see tears, sweat, probably a scream and a crash under pressure. L&C wins at a 5-3 decision with victories at all three dubs, 1S and 5S.
Lineup Analysis:
Back to the ever handy UTR again! Universaltennis.com
Power 6 Team Rating: 39
#1 Singles – Jenna Dobrin (6.97): Dobrin gets the nod for #1 after a steady career in the middle-top of the Whitman lineup. Last season, she played at #2 mostly and fared well, pushing some solid players to third sets in Sumida (Redlands) and Matsuda (La Verne). She will struggle at #1, especially against non-NWC opponents.
#2 Singles – #4 Singles Cello Lockwood (6.62), Mary Hill (6.95) OR Jana Klages-Miller (7.37): Not much besides seven tenths of a UTR point divides these three freshman from one another. All lost in the same round of ITAs to formidable opponents in three sets. You can be the judge based on UTRs.
#5 Singles – Allie Wallin (6.48): Wallin had a decent year in 2015, some nationally ranked scalps from the team discipline and a solid force in the lower parts of the lineup. #5 is a good place for her, especially against Vassar, UTT and Trin-TX.
#6 Singles – Lindsay Brodeck (6.08): A few players could get the #6 slot of the Whitman lineup but Brodeck seems to have the creds for it, she got a tough draw at ITAs but made a nice run in the Consols.
#1 Doubles – Dobrin/Lockwood: This seems to be the #1 pair for the season after a run to the Semis of ITAs, defeating Linfield’s #1 squad in route. Dobrin can bring her experience and leadership to help Lockwood in her rookie year. Dobrin isn’t really a dubs player though..might see them slide.
#2 Doubles – Hill/Klages-Miller: Two youngin’s together isn’t my style, but hey whatever works. They fell to the eventual champs at ITAs.
#3 Doubles – Hanna Greenberg/Wallin: This is a pretty solid #3 team Wallin brings experience as does Greenberg. They definitely have a potential to move up a spot or two if squads don’t make the cut.
West’s Wonderful Words of Wisdom
#1: Handle Nerves: There will be MANY freshman in this lineup. Nerves will rise when things get tight in big matches like Trin-TX, and versus L&C. If Whitman can channel these nerves, this could get interesting…
#2: Be able to defend from behind: Dobrin in 1S will be a tough call against top squads and I think 3D will struggle a bit too. If one of the other dubs loses, that could be a 3-1, 4-0 deficit quick. This team will have to really grind and fight out a few matches along the way.
#3: L&C: Yup, this rivalry is BIG and heated. I think the PIOS are hungry for a win against Whitman and will get it, but this season will not be one for the faint of heart and full of drama…..how exciting…….mwahaha
OK y’all. I have started the New Year with a bang! Check out my next preview which is going to be discussing the Leopards of La Verne!!!
Wishing you Aces and Winners,
D3WW