Happy Easter Eve, friends! Before you spend time with your family and eat chocolate bunnies, marshmallow peeps (gross), and eggs, I’m here to provide you with a preview of an exciting central region clash between the #5 Maroons of the University of Chicago and the #6 Bears of Washington University in St. Louis.
Although both squads have never been great at tweeting match updates, Wash U will provide live stats! Those can be found at http://bearsports-livestats.wustl.edu/tennis/xlive.htm. Kudos to the Bears’ athletic department! Match time is set for 10 am central.
Background
Wash U is nearly unstoppable at home. Over the past 13 years, they’ve amassed a 115-5 home record. One of those five losses came to Chicago in 2011. Despite the upset six years ago, Wash U’s traditionally gotten the better of the Maroons. However, the Bears and the Maroons have recently traded blows, splitting their last four encounters. Most recently, Chicago defeated Wash U 7-2 in the ITA Indoors semifinal.
Power 6
Chicago Power 6: With David Liu: 75.79. Without David Liu: 75.13. David Liu (12.96), Nick Chua (12.58), Charlie Pei (12.47), Erik Kerrigan (12.62), Luke Tsai (12.89), Peter Leung (12.27), Jonathon Li (12.30)
Wash U Power 6: With Jason Haugen: 74.14. Without Jason Haugen: 73.66. Johnny Wu (12.67), John Carswell (12.62), Jason Haugen (12.41), Bernardo Neves (12.21), Jeremy Bush (12.15), Shaun Berman (12.08), J.J. Kroot (11.93)
Pre-Match Stories
Even before the players set foot on court, there are two important topics. First, will this match be played indoors or outdoors? Yesterday, Wash U and UW-Whitewater competed indoors, and it looks like the forecast calls for storms in St. Louis on Easter. Honestly, I’m not sure who each surface favors. The Maroons’ two recent victories over the Bears have been indoors, so perhaps they will have that advantage. But, I don’t think the surface will make too much of a difference.
Next, and more importantly, will David Liu and Jason Haugen play singles? Liu, Chicago’s best player, has not played a single match since ITA Indoors in February, while Haugen, one of the top Wash U players, has played most doubles matches, but we’ve rarely seen him in the singles lineup since Indoors.
Doubles
While we can’t be certain about which singles players will take the courts tomorrow, each team’s doubles lineup has mainly stayed the same. For the Maroons, expect freshmen Erik Kerrigan and Ninan Kumar at 1, senior Max Hawkins and freshman Tyler Raclin at 2, and junior Bobby Bethke and sophomore Charlie Pei at 3. For Wash U, expect junior Jason Haugen and sophomore Konrad Kozlowski at 1, senior Jeremy Bush and freshman J.J. Kroot at 2, and freshman Bernardo Neves with either freshman Robin Engel or sophomore Radha Vishnubhotla at 3.
In their last meeting, Chicago barely took a 2-1 lead, with scores of 8-6, 7-9, 9-7! While the Maroons aren’t traditionally known for strong doubles play, they’ve really turned things around this season, facing a doubles deficit in only one match this season. Unlike Chicago, Wash U is traditionally known for very strong doubles, but like the Maroons, the Bears have been in top doubles form this season, facing only two deficits heading into singles.
This is a match where no doubles outcomes would surprise me, but I’m not sure if either team is strong enough to take five singles points, even in the year when it’s happened multiple times.
Depth?
Both Chicago and Wash U have rotated several players through the bottom of the singles lineup. For Wash U, Robin Engel, Shaun Berman, Radha Vishnubhotla, and JJ Kroot have been in and out. For Chicago, Peter Leung, Ninan Kumar, Jonathan Li, and Jaird Meyer have seen playing time. At this point, none of the aforementioned players are locks for wins, and I think we could see different guys playing 5 and 6 at UAAs depending on tomorrow’s results.
Implications
Regardless of the outcome, Chicago and Wash U should be the 2 and 3 seeds at UAAs. If Wash U wins, I assume they take the 2, and if Chicago wins, they’re the 2. I would be very surprised if either team were to be the 4-seed. So, Chicago and Wash U, barring any crazy upsets, will be playing each other one week from today.
I’m no D3ASouth when it comes Pool C analysis, but if Chicago were to win tomorrow, I can’t see any way they don’t qualify for NCAAs, regardless of their performance at UAAs. I also think Wash U is in a good place if they beat the Maroons one of these next two outings. Anyway, I’ll leave the Pool C analysis to D3ASouth. You can expect more updates from him in the following weeks. Bottom line is…win!
I won’t be able to tweet tomorrow (trying to do a better job spending time with family during holidays), but remember to check out live stats throughout the match. Should be a great one!