Your favorite ladies are back on the women’s side of the Blog to bring you what has been come somewhat of a blog trademark: match-by-match breakdowns. We’ve kind of brought two articles together to bring you a double dosage of D3 women’s tennis with short team profiles followed by the usual match rundowns. So, in our debut preview, we present you the first of two all-NESCAC quarterfinals: Middlebury vs. Wesleyan. This is the THIRD time these teams are playing this season, so we have a lot of data points to look back on, but at the end of the day, this is NCAAs, and really anything can happen. Slam Tennis gives Midd a 72% chance of winning, but the Cards are fighters, so let’s take a look!
Slam Tennis Comparison: https://slam.tennis/compare/ncaa3w/702
#5 WESLEYAN
Power 6: 56.28
Best wins: #13 WashU (9-0), #7 Pomona (6-3), #6 Tufts (6-3), #8 Amherst (7-2), #14 Bowdoin 5-2, #9 CMU 5-1
Worst losses: #2 Williams (1-8), #4 Middlebury (3-6), #4 Middlebury (3-5)
Seniors: EUDICE (#1 singles/#1 doubles), Aashli Budhiraja (#3 singles), Helen Klass-Warch (#6 singles/#3 doubles), Nicole McCann (#3 doubles)
Starting freshman: Polina Kiseleva (#4 singles/#2 doubles), Alissa Nakamoto (#5 singles/#2 doubles)
Where they are strongest: It’s an understatement that Eudice at #1 singles and #1 doubles are dependable points. She is undefeated this year in D3 singles and has only lost once (to Raventos/Cancio) in D3 doubles. Victoria Yu has also been playing lights out lately – her last loss was to Mina Karamercan (btw she has really stepped up and been a highlight for Tufts this year) over a month ago.
Where they are vulnerable: All the other positions. Believe me, these would be strengths against most other teams in the country, but in their 2 losses against Middlebury, Wesleyan could not get a doubles point at #2 or #3, and could not get a set (incredible!) in singles positions #3-#6.
How they got here: They got a good win over a strong CMU team in the regional final AT CMU. Huge shoutout to Wesleyan to getting to the National Quarterfinals for the first time ever in program history! Firsts are a big deal and this is a big accomplishment.
What would be considered a success: Continuing an incredible season of firsts by overcoming Middlebury and getting to the semifinals.
Three words to describe this team: EUDICE, firsts, hungry
Don’t forget: Just last year Wesleyan *just* missed out on making the Elite 8 with a 4-5 loss to Bowdoin in the regional final. What a difference a year makes!
#4 MIDDLEBURY
Power 6: 57.38
Best wins: #6 Tufts (6-3), #7 Pomona (7-2), #14 Bowdoin (8-1), #5 Wesleyan (6-3), #8 Amherst (6-3), #5 Wesleyan (5-3)
Worst losses: #3 CMS (2-7), #2 Williams (4-5), #2 Williams (3-5)
Seniors: NONE!!
Starting freshman: NONE!! (Skelly was in #3 doubles but appears not to be anymore)
Where they are strongest: #3-#6 singles. These players are fairly even all the way down the lineup, therefore the lower players are in the strongest positions to score points.
Where they are vulnerable: Top of the lineup, their youth (most starters are sophomores)!
How they got here: Cruised through their regional with a 5-1 win over Skidmore in the regional final.
What would be considered a success: A finals appearance! I think they will get by Wesleyan with the same formula they used for their 2 previous wins over them (#2 and #3 doubles and 3 points from #3-#6 singles), but it’s tough for a team with no seniors to win it all. This team has the middle of the lineup and depth to beat any team in the field on a regular day. But these are not regular days coming up. The talent is there, just missing the star at the top and senior urgency.
Three words to describe this team: Raw, hard-hitting, building.
Don’t forget: They pushed NCAA frontrunner Williams to 5-4 and 5-3 matches.
MATCH-BY-MATCH:
We had the privilege of seeing these two match up in post-season play in the NESCAC semis just two weeks ago, but NCAAs can be considered a whole other beast, and with Wesleyan being as hungry as they are, I wouldn’t be surprised if they pushed Midd even more than they did at NESCACs.
#1 doubles: Eudice Chong/Victoria Yu (Wesleyan) vs. Katy Hughes/Skylar Schossberger (Midd)
ASW: Wesleyan has one of the best doubles teams in the country regardless of division. Midd is good but I have to go with Wesleyan 8-2
NEW: Wesleyan 8-4
D3Nameless: Wesleyan’s two powerhouse singles players pair up to create a dangerous #1 doubles pairing. The duo has seen great success this season and easily took care of Huges/Schossberger two weeks ago and in their regular season meeting. I expect Wesleyan to run away with this match yet again, albeit with a bit of Elite 8 nerves to make the match a little closer. Wesleyan wins 8-5.
#2 doubles: Polina Kiseleva/Alissa Nakamoto (Wesleyan) vs. Catherine Blayze/Maddi Stow (Midd)
ASW: For some reason I think that beating a team twice in a row is really hard, but once you’ve got two wins the third is a given. It’s my weird ASW logic. Midd 8-5
NEW: Middlebury 8-4
D3Nameless: The Midd #2 dubs pair has been rock solid all season with some very impressive wins. They handled their Wes counterparts easily in the regular season and at NESCACs, and I expect this match to be no different. Midd wins 8-3.
#3 doubles: Helen Klass-Warch/Nicole McCann (Wesleyan) vs. Ann Martin Skelly/Heather Boehm (Midd)
ASW: I’m going against the grain here just because I want there to be an upset in this tournament and I think Wesleyan is my best shot. It will be close but I’m going to call a Wesleyan victory (despite my logic in the above match). Wesleyan 9-8.
NEW: Middlebury 8-6
D3Nameless: (Potential) SWING MATCH. Skelly and Boehm took the regular season match easily, but Klass-Warch and McCann fought hard at NESCACs. This win (and the doubles lead) will be crucial if Wesleyan wants to pull off the upset. Unfortunately, I think they’ll fall short and Midd will win this battle. Midd takes the dubs lead with a 9-7 victory.
#1 singles: Eudice Chong (Wesleyan) vs. Christina Puccinelli (Midd)
ASW: At this point does Eudice even feel pressure? Does she just know she’s going to win every time? Like I’m legitimately curious about this. Wesleyan 6-1, 6-2
NEW: Wesleyan 6-2, 6-2
D3Nameless: It’s incredibly hard to have the odds in your favor against the number one play in D3, and although a very talented player, I just don’t think Puccinelli has it in her to take it to Eudice and pull off the upset. Wes wins 6-3, 6-1.
#2 singles: Victoria Yu (Wesleyan) vs. Katy Hughes (Midd)
ASW: Both players are confident at this point in the season. I hate picking one but I have to. Yu 7-5, 6-3
NEW: Wesleyan 6-3, 6-3
D3Nameless: Battle of the sophomores! Both Yu and Hughes are amongst the top #2 players in the country, so this match should produce some great tennis. Both players have had incredibly good sophomore seasons (I’ve seen very few sophomore slumps this year in D3!), but I picked Yu as my player to watch in the regionals, and I think she’ll snag a point for her team with hopes of helping them to the Final Four. Wes wins 6-4, 6-2.
#3 singles: Aashli Budhiraja (Wesleyan) vs. Heather Boehm (Midd)
ASW: Boehm has the two match advantage. Midd 6-1, 6-4
NEW: Middlebury 6-1, 6-2
D3Nameless: Boehm has been absolute fire at #3 all season. As we get into the strongest part of the Midd lineup, it’s going to take a lot from Wes to pull off the upset. While Budhiraja has had a good season this year, Boehm has easily won their two meetings this season. This Midd sophomore will be hungry to get her team the spot in the semis, and should take this match fairly comfortably. Midd wins 6-3, 6-1.
#4 singles: Polina Kiseleva (Wesleyan) vs. Catherine Blayze (Midd)
ASW: With a name like Blayze I can’t pick against her in good conscience. Midd 6-2, 6-3
NEW: Middlebury 6-2, 6-2
D3Nameless: The Midd sophomore Bla(y)zed through her Wesleyan opponent both times this season (I’m so sorry for my terrible puns). Blayze is definitely the favorite in this match and I think will prove to be too much for Kiseleva to overcome. Midd wins 6-2, 6-1.
#5 singles: Alissa Nakamoto (Wesleyan) vs. Skylar Schossberger (Midd)
ASW:I cheated and read D3Nameless’s preview of this match and it seems like Nakamoto was pushing Schossberger in the second set of their NESCAC match, so I think Schossberger is going to come out a little flat before getting fired up. I think it’s going to be a close one but ultimately I’m going to go with Midd 7-5, 6-2.
NEW: Middlebury 6-2, 6-4
D3Nameless: These two didn’t get a chance to finish their match at NESCACs, and even though Schossberger ranaway with a 6-1 first set, Nakamoto was fighting in the second. This is probably Wesleyan’s best spot to nab another singles win, but Schossberger is fiesty, and overall the favored player. This one probably won’t be played to completion, but I’m going for some thrills here and predicting Midd/Wesleyan split 6-3, 4-6, unfinished.
#6 singles: Helen Klass-Warch (Wesleyan) vs. Maddi Stow (Midd)
ASW: I’m torn on this one and I think this will be the match it comes down to. As much as I want an upset from Wesleyan I think Midd is going to win. 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
NEW: Middlebury leads 7-5, 2-1
D3Nameless: #6 singles is another spot where Wesleyan has a chance to maybe take another match. Stow beat Klass-Warch at NESCACs, but the two had a close second set. Seeing as this is the Wesleyan senior’s (likely) last match, I see her stepping up and battling it out. Ultimately, I think Midd comes out on top 7-5, 6-3.
Overall prediction:
ASW: 5-4 Middlebury, and it’s going to come down to # 6 singles. It’s always # 6 singles. This is something that I always used to tell my teammates and they’d be like. “D3ASW what are you smoking” because I firmly believe that the most important match in D3 tennis is #6 singles. Change my mind.
NEW: 5-3 Middlebury
D3Nameless: Despite a season of firsts for Wesleyan, I think that their run at NCAAs will come to an end against a fellow NESCAC foe. Unless they can take the doubles lead and battle to a win at the bottom of the lineup, I say Midd wins 5-3.
D3ASW here finishing this up. D3Nameless really has taken the reins on these previews and I’m honestly still blown away by how much she’s pushing me and D3NEW while producing such quality content. I can’t keep up. She deserves a promotion. Anyways, we (but mostly D3Nameless and then I copied all her answers) really dove into this preview and we’re planning the same for the rest, so stay tuned for my NCAA hype! We’ll be posting all weekend so keep your eyes peeled on the Blog! Good luck to both teams, and let us know what you think of our predictions in the comments!