NESCAC FINALS PREVIEW: Bowdoin vs Middlebury

Happy NESCAC finals, boys and girls. Sunday is the final day of non-NCAA tennis, and at this point we’re within 48 hours of the bracket release! Your headmaster will undoubtedly be back with a final bracketology at some point soon, but for now you get to focus on the couple of big conference title matches remaining. The Centennial finals pits Hopkins against Swat, the Liberty League features Skidmore and RPI, heck even the MIAC is interesting (more for the individual matchups). AND for what seems like the 91st time in recent memory we have a big Bowdoin vs Middlebury match (it just always seemed like this was the inevitable conclusion to the conference tournament and *whispers* the NCAA tournament?) Midd smoked Bowdoin earlier this year, but that match was played at Midd. Both these teams are loaded at the top and should provide some fireworks. Let’s remember that Midd beat Bowdoin during the regular season and at NESCACs in 2016, then Bowdoin beat Midd easily for the NCAA title. I’m sure both coaches do! However, this match has a lot of meaning, as the winner will likely be the number one overall seed at NCAAs, and therefore get the easiest hypothetical quarterfinal matchup. According to our bracketology, that could mean the difference between playing Amherst (whom both of these teams have beaten) or playing CMS/Emory/GAC. Enough rambling, let’s get to the match by match.

#1 doubles: Cuba/Schlanger (Midd) vs Tercek/Urken (Bowdoin). SWING MATCH OFF THE BAT. The two best teams in the region and very possibly two of the best three or four teams in the country. Booming serves from both sides and the winner of this match will be the duo that takes over the net most often. Midd won this matchup last time, but gimme the Polar Bears in a tight one. Bowdoin 9-8 (5) 

#2 doubles: Farrell/de Quant (Midd) vs Jiang/Wolfe (Bowdoin). Edge to Midd here. When they’re playing well, Jiang/Wolfe are a great grinding doubles team, but Farrell/de Quant are hitting their stride at the right time. They won this matchup last time, and played very well today against Williams. Midd 8-5.

#3 doubles: Martin/van der Geest (Midd) vs Roddy/Zhao (Bowdoin). Probably both team’s weakest spot, another swing match here. Roddy/Zhao played very well today against Wes, but this is a stronger opponent. The Midd #3’s fell to Williams and have been vulnerable throughout the year. If this new Bowdoin team has found its stride, it makes them considerably more dangerous. Bowdoin 8-5.

#1 singles: Lubo Cuba (Midd) vs Grant Urken (Bowdoin). Cuba was HOT today against Grodecki and beat the #1 player in the region in straight sets. Urken did the next best thing, beating the #2 player in the region in straight sets. If both players are hitting their shots, look for this match to go DEEP into the 3rd set. Midd, 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-3.

#2 singles: Noah Farrell (Midd) vs Luke Tercek (Bowdoin). Farrell beat Tercek earlier this year, and seems to be growing stronger as the season progresses/he is fully healthy. Tercek had an impressively easy win over Finkelman today, but if Farrell is playing well he’s a tough matchup for Tercek’s serve and volley. Midd 6-4, 6-4.

#3 singles: William de Quant (Midd) vs Kyle Wolfe (Bowdoin). This was a tight match last time around, where de Quant won the superbreaker. Probably another long match, as Wolfe plays slow and de Quant doesn’t play fast. In a battle of two seniors nearing the end of their battle-tested careers, expect a thriller. Midd, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.

#4 singles: Kyle Schlanger (Midd) vs Jerry Jiang (Bowdoin). Jiang was up big on Cam Daniels today, but Schlanger took care of the Polar Bear junior with relative ease last time. We all know how good Jerry can be when he’s on, but Kyle is the elder statesman and should have the advantage. Midd 6-3, 6-2.

#5 singles: Nate Eazor (Midd) vs Gil Roddy (Bowdoin). Finally an advantage spot for the Polar Bears. You all know how good Roddy is, and the senior will almost never beat himself. Eazor has come a long way in his first year, but gimme the proven senior all day. Bowdoin 6-4, 6-3.

#6 singles: Timo van der Geest (Midd) vs Justin Patel (Bowdoin). This is a big match, as Patel hasn’t been nearly as infallible as he was to start the year. Earlier in the year, Xiao beat Patel in straight sets, so don’t be surprised if we end up seeing Xiao take over here. That being said, you pick the match you’re given so I’ll take Patel over TVG. Bowdoin, 7-5, 6-4.

Final Match predictions:

NE: Midd def Bowdoin 5-4

AS: Midd def Bowdoin 5-1

RegNE/C: Midd def Bowdoin 5-3

AVZ: Midd def Bowdoin 5-1