NE Weekend Preview

Sunday Funday in the NE(SCAC)

Happy late night reading, boys and girls, and welcome to one of the biggest days of NE tennis left in the regular season. There are 3 big time matches to cover between the top-6 teams in the region, with plenty of postseason implications to boot. Sunday also features a matchup of the two best teams in the region, but I’ll get to that. It’s already way too late on a Saturday (technically Sunday morning) for me to be starting this preview, so I’ll get right to it.

#11 Wesleyan @ #13 Amherst 11 a.m.

Intro/Doubles: Both Amherst and Wesleyan lost big matches last Sunday (Amherst to Bowdoin and Wesleyan to Williams), and one of them will get to redeem themselves tomorrow. Amherst’s top doubles team has been playing better of late, while Wesleyan’s top team is likely its weakest. Wesleyan’s #2 team is generally strong, while Zykov and Yaraghi have been driving the struggle bus recently, and both squads have streaky #3 teams. #3 should be the toss up match here, and while it’s odd to think this, Amherst probably needs the lead if they’re going to pull off this upset.

#1 Liu (Wesleyan) vs #1 Zykov (Amherst). Both Liu and Zykov have some good wins and some losses to top caliber opponents this season. However, Zykov has been playing better of late, and shouldn’t be able to fall prey to Liu’s grind it out style. Amherst, 6-4, 6-3. 

#2 Chen (Wesleyan) vs #2 Solimano (Amherst). If NCAAs started today, Chen would actually make NCAAs. He hasn’t lost a DIII match this year while Solimano is 1-2 since moving up to the #2 spot. He’s lost to some good #2 players, but Chen gets the nod. Wesleyan, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. 

#3 Eusebio (Wesleyan) vs #3 Bessette (Amherst). This is a total toss up in my opinion, and therefore is a big match for both teams. Eusebio has been up and down, while Bessette has been slightly more consistent. I’m giving Amherst the edge in this freshman battle, but it’s only because Eusebio’s results have been better at home than on the road. Amherst, 7-5, 6-3. 

#4 Samson (Wesleyan) vs #4 Yaraghi (Amherst). Yaraghi has lost 8 straight matches, while Samson has probably been the second best freshman in the NE (second only to Urken). Coming into this year, I would have given this match to Yaraghi 10 out of 10 times, now I have to give Samson the edge. Wesleyan, 6-3, 7-6.

#5 Daniels (Wesleyan) vs #5 Revzin (Amherst). Another big match here. Revzin didn’t play against MIT earlier this week, and Daniels is still relatively new to the lineup. That being said, Cam hasn’t lost yet this year, while Revzin has been the epitome of streakiness. I would take the senior, but the inconsistency simply scares me too much. Wesleyan, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

#6 Roberts (Wesleyan) vs #6 Fife (Amherst). Fife only has two DIII losses this year, while Roberts has moved from #3 all the way down to #6 in the lineup. Roberts got a win against Trinity earlier this week, but the Fife has to be favored. Amherst, 6-4, 6-3. 

Match Prediction: This one should come down to the wire, and both teams absolutely have to have this one if they have any hopes of a Pool-C bid. I’m taking Wesleyan in a 5-4 win, their first 5-4 win of the year.

#2 Bowdoin @ #4 Middlebury 11:30 a.m.

Intro/Doubles: THE MAIN EVENT! This match is most likely for the #1 seed at NESCACs (although Bowdoin still has to deal with Williams and Midd still has to tackle Amherst), and the advantage for the conferences Pool-A bid to NCAAs. Both teams can afford a loss in this match, and whichever team loses will still be at the top of my projected Pool-C list. However, a convincing Bowdoin win here would make a statement that the Polar Bears are more than just a contender and solidify their position as Emory’s largest challenger. Bowdoin’s strength has been both its doubles and its depth, while Middlebury usually relies on the top of its lineup to win. It’s an interesting matchup given that the two teams have opposite strengths and weaknesses. In doubles,  the Polar Bears should be slight favorites at all 3 spots, and I like Bowdoin to take a 2-1 lead

#1 Tercek (Bowdoin) vs Farrell (Middlebury). Tercek has been ballin lately, and then there’s stuff like this that just warms the cockles of my heart.

Thanks very much for your positive tweet. I am indeed a proud Dad. https://t.co/L43Htt3YVT

— Mark Tercek (@MarkTercek) April 14, 2016

How do you not love that? Tercek will need all the familial pride he can muster on Sunday, as he’ll be taking on the best player in the country in Noah Farrell. Farrell beat Tercek back in the Final of the Fall ITA, and I expect him to do so again tomorrow. Middlebury, 7-5, 6-4. 

#2 Trinka (Bowdoin) vs Smolyar (Middlebury). This match is awesome because it could be a must have match for the team, it is a must have match for NCAAs (Trinka is currently ranked 9th in the region while Smolyar sits just below him at #10), and it’s a battle between two seniors who have given everything to their respective programs. On Midd’s home courts, I’m going with Ari in a tight one. Middlebury, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. 

#3 Wolfe (Bowdoin) vs Campbell (Middlebury). Another great matchup, but Wolfe has simply been more consistent than Campbell so far this year. That being said, Campbell’s best results have come at home. Like the match before it, this one also has the possibility of dragging on. Bowdoin, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1. 

#4 Jiang (Bowdoin) vs De Quant (Middlebury). Probably Middlebury’s biggest edge at any spot. De Quant has been great so far this year, and while Jiang has been very good, he has lost not-so-close matches against the two best players he’s faced in 2016 (Samson (Wesleyan) and Macey (CMS)). Edge goes to De Quant, but a Jiang win here would be gigantic for the Polar Bears. Middlebury, 7-6, 6-2. 

#5 Roddy (Bowdoin) vs Derbani (Middlebury). Similar blurb here. Derbani has been very good this year, but Roddy has been perfect. Perfection gets the pick. Bowdoin, 6-3, 6-4. 

#6 Urken (Bowdoin) vs Van der Geest (Middlebury). Oh, what? Another Bowdoin player who hasn’t lost this year? He has gotten a bit lucky with his matchups against the better teams, but as I said above you can’t pick against perfection. Bowdoin, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. 

Match Prediction: I have a 5-4 Bowdoin win, with the Polar Bears taking two of three 3-setters to clinch the match. I know it might sound stupid to say that Midd has to take at least one doubles match, but they really do and it’s no guarantee that they’ll get there. The Panthers were down 2-1 to Tufts, and Bowdoin’s doubles has looked to be among the best (if not the best) in the region so far this year. I’ll certainly be tweeting updates to this match as it goes along, but it’s not even the last match of the day! After this one concludes, we’ll still likely have the majority of…

#12 Tufts @ #6 Williams 1 p.m.

Intro/Doubles: Just like in the Wesleyan/Amherst match, both teams need this match to stay in the Pool-C chase. Tufts probably has no shot anyways, but they certainly can’t afford to take another direct loss to a Pool-C team. Williams on the other hand is right on the bubble, and this loss would certainly drop them below a team like Wash U or CMU. Tufts’ doubles has been extremely streaky recently, and they’re taking on a talented doubles team in the Ephs. Williams should have an edge at both #1 and #2 dubs, and I think the Ephs are more likely to sweep than be down after doubles, but a 2-1 Williams lead is probably the safest bet.

#1: Gupte (Tufts) vs Raventos (Williams). Raventos had a nice win over Liu (Wes) last weekend, while Gupte has lost three ranked matches in a row. Raventos can’t afford to lose this match if he wants to hold on to his NCAA hopes. Williams, 7-6, 6-3. 

#2: Glickman (Tufts) vs Shastri (Williams). Glickman had a tough loss to Granoff last weekend, but Shastri hasn’t won a DIII match in close to a month. This match has the chance to go long. Williams, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. 

#3: Ali (Tufts) vs Grodecki (Williams). Fun matchup here, as Ali has probably been Tufts’ best singles player this year and Grodecki has a bunch of good wins for the Ephs. This is another match that might go on well past the clinch. Tufts, 6-4, 3-6, 10-8. 

#4 Jacobson (Tufts) vs Schidlovsky (Williams). Jacobson has played more singles matches than any Jumbo, and has some good wins and some tough losses. Meanwhile, Schidlovsky is still searching for his first DIII win of the year. Edge to Jacobson, but Al seemed to be playing better tennis last week against Wesleyan (DNF vs Samson). Tufts, 6-4, 7-6. 

#5 Cary (Tufts) vs Raghavan (Williams). Raghavan has some nice wins this year, but he fell in 3 sets to the two best players he’s faced (Yeh (CMS) and De Quant (Midd)). Cary doesn’t always play in the lineup, but when he does he’s generally been pretty darn good. I still give the edge to Raghavan here, Williams, 6-3, 7-5. 

#6 Coran (Tufts) vs Indrakanti (Williams). A battle between two of the most consistent point getters for each squad. Indrakanti hasn’t lost, while Coran’s only two losses came to Midd and Chicago. Great battle here, but there’s a reason Deepak has yet to lose in 2016. Williams, 7-6, 7-5. 

Match prediction: Total up the score and you get a 6-3 Williams win with only minor drama. I think this has the potential to be closer to 7-2 or 8-1 than 5-4, but with Tufts’ talent all the way through its lineup there is always the chance for an upset.

I apologize if there were any stupid mistakes or errors tonight. It’s almost 3am on a Saturday and I just can’t bring myself to go back and read the wall of text #WoT.