It’s conference tournament weekend! While the UAA thought they were all fancy playing their tournament like two weeks ago, there are a ton of conference tournaments happening this weekend. I wanted to bring you all a few previews of the three tournaments that I think are the most compelling, and those would be the NEWMAC, Liberty League, and ODAC tournaments. In the NEWMAC and Liberty League, MIT and Skidmore are the favorites, but in the ODAC, VA Wesleyan looks to take out Washington & Lee for their first tournament birth in I don’t know how long. Here are the previews!
NEWMAC Championships
The NEWMAC Championships have been around a while, but I’m pretty sure this is one of the first years that the winner gets an automatic bid. Sorry Babson/MIT loser, no NCAA berth for you. Anyway, the NEWMAC is a conference that, because of the similar acronym, I consider to be a bit like the NESCAC’s younger brother. MIT has long dominated these championships, and even after losing to Babson in season last year, they took them out in the conference finals. MIT has looked good over the past few weeks, but Babson got as close as they could get to winning against MIT just a few weeks ago. Coast Guard is also sitting there as the #3 seed, and could pose a challenge to the Babo Beavers if they get hot. Here’s my hot take on the NEWMAC Championships!
Semifinals @ MIT: 5/7 at 11:30am
#1 MIT vs. #4 Springfield
MIT will take on Springfield College in the first semi. Springfield actually took out Wheaton (MA) in the quarters because five teams make the NEWMAC tournament. MIT is a huge favorite in this semifinal, given the score line the first time around. #2 doubles was close, but MIT won all the singles matches in straights, with one set finishing 7-5, but all of the others finishing 6-2, 6-1, or 6-0. That was a home match for Springfield, so I don’t expect things to be much closer at MIT. #2 Kevin Wang also didn’t play for MIT in that match. I’m not sure if they are playing to decision or completion, but I don’t think it matters. 9-0 MIT
#2 Babson vs. #3 Coast Guard
This match certainly has the potential to be much closer than the first semi. This is the score from the Babo v. Coast Guard match from earlier this year. Coast Guard is a really experienced team with three solid seniors in Mark Guentert, Robert Renfrow, and Weston Fortna who can all hit the cover off the ball. When they are hot, they are not easy guys to go up against. Babson, however, is an extremely experienced team as well, with three seniors in Roberto Perez, Isaac Thylen, and Victor Vu manning spots #1-3. #4-6 were all super breakers the first time around, but I like Brandon Rosenbluth at #4 for Babo. I do like Fortna at #5, and I think #6 could be a tossup. Because of Babo’s experience up top, I think they’ll pull through fairly comfortably, but I think the match will be closer than the final score. 7-2 Babson
Championship @ MIT: 5/8 at 1:00pm
#1 MIT vs. #2 Babson:
So if I’m wrong and Coast Guard beats Babson then all predictions are out the door and I’ll have to write up another preview. But here’s a preview of the championship match, which I’m thinking will be a rematch of the 5-4 thriller between these two teams just a couple of weeks ago. Here’s the score from that one.
#1 doubles: Alex Cauneac/Bryan Lilley vs. Victor Vu/Saif Rahim
This is not the same doubles team that Babo beat 8-1 the first time around, and I think it’s a much more balanced team. Vu’s a great player and Rahim plays good doubles, so this should be a close match. I think MIT pulls it out. 8-6 MIT
#2 doubles: Kevin Wang/Sean Ko vs. Roberto Perez/Brandon Rosenbluth:
Wang/Ko are a really solid team, but Perez/Rosenbluth have experience and have been playing together all year. I think Wang/Ko are the better team from a talent standpoint, but I’m going with Babo at #2. Babson 9-7
#3 doubles: Tyler Barr/Avi Walden vs. Ben Roque/Dom Wysolmerski
Doubles is so hard to predict. I have to lean MIT in this one, just because they have been so solid in doubles lately. I know MIT isn’t a traditional doubles powerhouse, but doubles is a rhythm game, and MIT has a great beat going right now. MIT 8-4
#1 singles: Alex Cauneac vs. Roberto Perez
Oh man, these guys absolutely battled just a few weeks ago, with Perez falling 7-6 in the third after being up 5-2 in that set. Brutal! I think Perez will certainly benefit from being outdoors, where Cauneac’s massive forehand won’t be quite as effective, and Perez can grind away. However, I think Cauneac has gotten more and more confident. I’m going with the freshman. MIT 7-6 6-4
#2 singles: Kevin Wang vs. Isaac Thylen
This will be a rematch of two experienced seniors. Thylen took this match in two tight sets the first time around. Wang has been struggling a little lately, with losses to Granoff and Gupte from Brandeis and Tufts. I think Thylen takes it again, this time in three sets. Babson 4-6 6-4 6-2
#3 singles: Tyler Barr vs. Victor Vu
Vu strikes an incredibly clean ball, but he’s very hit or miss. MIT is excellent at 3 and 4, and although Babson is quite solid, I have to go with Barr’s talent, given how good he has been this year. MIT 7-5 6-3
#4 singles: Sean Ko vs. Brandon Rosenbluth
This should be a nice battle of freshmen, with the talented Ko going up against Rosenbluth, who has had a nice first year. I have to lean Ko, who won this in straights the first time around. MIT 6-3 6-2
#5 singles: Dennis Garcia vs. Ben Roque
I’m not sure if Brian Lilley will be playing singles, but Garcia and Gea have played the last two matches for the Engineers. Garcia is another senior for MIT going up against the sophomore Roque. Roque played great the first time around for a straight set win over Lilley. However, I just think Garcia will be out there ready to battle in what could potentially be his last match. MIT 6-4 6-4
#6 singles: Kenny Gea vs. Ho Wang Alastair Ng
Gea has a huge forehand, and he can struggle against guys who make a ton of balls and can attack Gea’s backhand. However, I don’t think Ng will be able to hang around long enough to make that happen. MIT 6-2 6-1
Add those up and that’s a 7-2 victory and yet another NEWMAC title for the Engineers. I do think Babson will be in a bunch of matches, and if they can take two doubles matches like last time, it can get close. I think MIT is playing a little more confident right now after two big wins, and confidence, especially in doubles, is huge. We shall see how it plays out!
Liberty League Championships
The good old Liberty League Championships, also known as the Skidmore Championships, will be taking place this weekend as well, actually at Cornell University, which will provide the LL with ample backup for indoor courts. This past weekend, Hobart took out Vassar to secure their place as the #4 seed. This has to be a disappointing finish for the Brewers, and especially senior Dan Cooper who has had a great career. Congrats to Hobart on getting the bid though, as they certainly deserve it! They will have the unenviable task of going up against Skidmore, while St. Lawrence and RPI will battle it out in the other semi. Here are my takes:
Semifinal #1 @ Cornell University: 5/7 at 9am
#1 Skidmore vs. #4 Hobart
Skidmore is a big favorite for this whole tournament, but especially semifinal #1. Skidmore won this match 8-1 in season, with Hobart taking a doubles match. None of the singles matches were close. Hobart will need to sweep doubles if they want a chance, and I think #2 and #3 singles are probably the best chances for Hobart to win. A dubs sweep and #2/3 singles. Make it happen! In all seriousness though, Hobart had a great win over Vassar to even make this tournament. Congrats to the Statesmen. Go out there and tree like you have nothing to lose! 8-1 Skidmore, Hobart takes a doubles match
Semifinal #2 @ Cornell University: 5/7 at 12pm
#2 St. Lawrence vs. #3 RPI
This is a very interesting rematch of a match that St. Lawrence won 7-2 earlier this year. Before seeing the result, I honestly would’ve pegged RPI as the favorite, just based off of the years both teams were having. St. Lawrence has losses to Ithaca, Hamilton, Wheaton (MA), Whittier, Cal Tech, Rochester, and Vassar, with the Rochester and Whittier losses both being 9-0. RPI has a lot less matches to compare, but they do have a 7-2 win over Salisbury, a team that is probably comparable to a Hamilton or a Wheaton. They also beat Vassar 5-4. Unfortunately for RPI, McKinley Grimes, their strong #1, has not played a match since Bard College on 4/2, which is a huge loss for their depth and strength at the #1 spot. Their #2 Sherman Uyeno, who had a heck of a year at #5/6 last year and has played well at #2, did not play in the first match against St. Lawrence, but he did play their last match against Hobart, so this will definitely help out the Engineers. The same goes for Anthony Kim, who didn’t play against St. Lawrence either. With two big additions to the Engineers’ lineup, I think they will really turn around the singles. I would now take RPI at #2, #3, and #5. I think doubles could go either way, and if St. Lawrence can take a lead again, this match should come down to the wire. I think St. Lawrence will get that lead, but RPI will win at #1, #2, #3, and #5 for the 5-4 victory. 5-4 RPI
Also of note is RPI’s excellent recruiting class for next year, with two 4-stars and two 3-stars. They are graduating three singles starters, but assuming McKinley Grimes is back and playing well next year, RPI should definitely be a team to watch.
Finals @ Cornell University: 5/8 at 10am
Because semi #2 is a toss-up if I’ve ever seen one, I’m going to wait to preview the final. I do think Skidmore will be a huge favorite against either team, but I think RPI does have a little more talent, and is a little more capable of pulling the upset. Both teams lost 9-0 in season to Skidmore though, so anything other than a Skidmore championship would be a big upset.
ODAC Championships
Semifinal #1 @ W&L: 5/7 at 1:30pm
#1 Virginia Wesleyan vs. #4 Randolph-Macon
VA Wes won this match 9-0 the first time around, and Randolph-Macon failed to win a set. I think the #1 seeds will cruise. 9-0 VA Wesleyan
Semifinal #2 @ W&L: 5/7 at 4pm
#2 Washington & Lee @ #3 Bridgewater
With both Krasner and Holt out, W&L beat Bridgewater 6-3, falling at #2 and #6, though #1 was also in a super breaker. Having Krasner back should help, and although W&L has not looked good coming down the stretch, I think they tough out this match. 7-2 Washington & Lee
Finals @ W&L: 5/8
If Bridgewater beats W&L, which honestly isn’t out of the question, I’ll have to write up a new preview, but here’s preview assuming we get the #1 and #2 seeds. Here’s the score from the first matchup, a 5-4 thriller of a win for VA Wes.
This match was an absolute battle the first time around, as VA Wes took 2 of 3 doubles, won in three sets at #1, and in straights at #4 and #5 to take the match. Graham Wilson 6-2 in the third over Jordan Krasner at #1 was surprising, but even more surprising was Tyler Chang taking out Joe Siami of W&L 2 and 0 at #5. I would’ve expected the Generals to have a big depth advantage but this does not look to be the case. W&L also won 7-6 in the third at #3 singles, so it really doesn’t look like the Generals’ had a big advantage at any spot. Given how the seasons have gone for both teams, I expect VA Wes to be extremely fired up. W&L has won their conference tournament every year since the 2008-09 season (thanks to the Generals’ athletic department for having great archives by the way) and I think VA Wes will be looking to change that. I think the Generals are just not playing with a ton of fight right now, and although they probably are the more talented team, it’s hard to pick them after recent 7-2 losses to both Sewanee and NC Wes that weren’t all that close. I think VA Wes will take 2 out of 3 doubles once again, and they’ll take a few third sets to ultimately win at #1, #4, and #5. Yes, I know that’s the same positions as last time. I’m boring, I get it. This should honestly be a terrific match and is definitely one to keep an eye on during all the conference finals on Sunday. 5-4 Virginia Wesleyan
VA Wes is sneaky good. Wilson turning some heads over there.