Rapid Preview of the 2019* NCAC Championship: Part 1

Rapid Preview of the 2019* NCAC Championship: Part 1

Match: #12 Kenyon College (Region: 3) v. #26 Denison University (Region: 6)

Location: Granville, Ohio (Denison)

Time: 4:30 PM EST

History: (2018) Kenyon def. Denison 5-2 NCAC Championship, Kenyon def. Denison 9-0

(2017) Kenyon def. Denison 5-1 NCAC Semifinal 

(2016) Kenyon def. Denison 5-1 NCAC Championship, Kenyon def. Denison 8-1

(2006) Denison def. Kenyon 4-1 NCAC Championship

Projected Lineups: 

Austin Diehl hasn’t played since March 13th in Kenyon’s 5-4 win over Case: missing a 9-0 shellacking of Millsaps (Mar 14th), a Lordly disaster (0-5) against Trinity TX (Mar 15th), and a 9-0 dismissal of OWU (Mar 30). The man quietly on a 31 match winning streak is a leader and always a major factor for the Lords (plays 1 doubles now too), so his absence would be felt throughout the grounds. Denison would still need a heroic team effort to upset a Diehl-less team, but it definitely makes the matchups more interesting, so for this preview let’s assume that they continue to rest/heal this class’ Wade in singles but he reprises his role at 1 doubles. 

Doubles

1 Doubles: Bryan Yoshino & Austin Diehl (Reg. 6) v. Mitchell Thai & Tim Cianciola (Reg. 8)

I think it’ll be a slow return to the doubles court for Diehl and Yoshino as they play Team Big Red Backhands at Denison. If everyone was firing on all cylinders I’d make it a pure coin flip, but as it stands: I’m going with Team Big Red Backhands to win 8-6 after getting two breaks but Thai dropping serve once as well: Denison 8-6

2 Doubles: Jake Zalenski & Pascal Lee (Regional 12) v. Kevin Brown & Blake Burstein

Brown and Burstein dropped a match to OWU last time out, but I think that’s more reflective of OWU on a Saturday than it is of their play right now. Burstein and Brown have been at this for a long time, and they’ll go as far as Burstein’s consistency and solidness will take them. Zalenski can’t take his rackets on planes because of how hard he can hit a forehand, so Kenyon will be in every single game. Denison needs this match to have any chance of defeating Kenyon, and why not choose the seniors in a corn field burner. Denison 8-7 (14)

3 Doubles: Nick Paolucci & Henry Barrett v. Vlad Rotnov & Brian Weisberg

What. A. Weird. Matchup. Paolucci is walking artillery, Rotnov is a running (and running and running and running) coconut water ad, Barrett is a defensive lefty (like Waluigi in Mario Tennis), and Weisberg is a doubles specialist that can’t crack an egg. I’m not entirely sure how to read this match because it could be absolute one-way traffic either way. Paolucci, despite his talents, has never been a doubles specialist. I think he’ll will his side to victory in a tightly contested, even if it’s not reflected in the score, match: Kenyon 8-4

Denison leads 2-1 after Doubles

SINGLES

1 Singles: Jake Zalenski (11.88 UTR, Reg. 4) v. Vlad Rotnov (11.44 UTR, Reg. 12)

Zalenski has had Vlad’s number the last couple times they’ve played. So long as his patience can keep up with Rotnov’s legs then he should prevail. If Rotnov can make the match go three, make it a track meet, and keep Zalenski off the front foot on his forehand then he could make away of it. Rotnov needs a victory here to have a chance at Nationals, Zalenski is fighting for his own and his classmate’s chances. Kenyon: 6-3, 7-6 (1)

2 Singles: Nick Paolucci (11.47, Reg. 25) v. Mitchell Thai (10.92)

Paolucci handled Thai the last time they played despite going three with Jamie McDonald earlier that season (probably reflective of McDonald’s tenacity). Paolucci can hit and somehow run with near any three in the country. Maybe not at 2, but Thai’s not yet a national standard at 2. I think that Paolucci will take the ball earlier and earlier suffocating Thai in a straight sets win. Kenyon: 6-4, 6-1

3 Singles: Bryan Yoshino (11.13) v. Tim Cianciola (11.51)

Cianciola has the highest UTR on Denison and I’m equally high on the first year. (Is the NCAC newcomer of the year going to Cianciola or Pascal Lee?) Yoshino has improved immensely from his baby-hitting first year, and has become a player with a wild amount of clubs in his bag. I think that this will be a war because of Yoshino’s spirit and competitiveness rather than his game because I think Cianciola has more effective tools at his disposal. Cianciola should prevail but a competitor and fighter in Yoshino could make this iffy for the first year. Denison: 2-6, 6-3, 6-1

4 Singles: Pascal Lee (10.77) v. Kevin Brown (10.64)

Upstart Kenyon first year vs. Grizzled Denison veteran is what awaits the people of Granville. Kevin Brown has played all over the top half of this lineup, while Lee is making his way (downtown, walking fast) up the Kenyon lineup. Lee has had hero moments already this year. If he wins, he clinches but I think that Brown will serve and volley and deep lunge his way to a victory over Kenyon’s nominee for Newcomer of the Year. Denison: 6-3, 0-6, 7-5

5 Singles: Anatol Doroskevic (10.24) v. Patrick McGuigan (10.34)

McGuigan was the conference’s second best five last year, but he’s had measured success this season. Doroskevic, like Barrett, is in his first go of real matches as an upperclassmen. I think that McGuigan is more talented and a better ball striker, but I don’t think you train with the Lords for four years to lose a decade long winning streak in your first Denison match. Doroskevic’s best bet will be to pressure McGuigan with his positioning and to keep the rallies varied because if it becomes a hitting contest instead of a tennis match: I’m choosing McGuigan every time. Thielke’s not so dumb to let that happen. Kenyon: 6-2, 1-6, 6-4

6 Singles: Henry Barrett (10.08) v. Brian Weisberg (9.79)

A rematch of their doubles match, Barrett and Weisberg will battle in the six spot. Weisberg has all the tools and actually plays a game style that’s perfectly suited for felling Barrett; however, it’s just a little too early for Young Brian to do it. While Barrett hasn’t been in the lineup all four years, he’s been practicing, training, and growing with a nationally contending program for the past four years and I think he shows off that experience by channeling his inner Jacob Huber in a Lordly performance. Kenyon: 6-3, 6-3

Kenyon def. Denison 5-4

*tell me I’m wrong.