The 2019 Ridiculously Dope UAA Preview

Well, hello there everyone. My name is RegionalNEC. I usually write about teams you’ve probably never heard of, but today I’m filling in for ASouth in his annual ridiculously dope UAA preview. His job had the GALL to send him on a business trip during UAA Week, so that means it’s next man up for the Bloggers. We’re hitting all things UAA tournament tonight, so sit back, relax, and read on!

Implications

Uh, there are a few! The best place to get more of a rundown is to check out ASouth’s Pool C Articles, of which there will hopefully be another next week. But for a little rundown: Emory and Chicago are fighting for probably the #2 overall seed in NCAAs, because the NESCAC has completely beat up on each other so far. Regardless, both teams are locks for NCAAs, with one most likely in via Pool A for winning UAAs and the other getting in with one of the first Pool C spots. Wash U is the most firmly on the bubble right now, and after their close loss to Chicago a few weeks ago, they’ll have their sights set on winning the whole shebang and clinching a bid right off the bat. This scenario, while unlikely, would be bad news for the NESCAC, as they’d end up with only three Pool C spots, since both Emory and Chicago would be in. But that’s unlikely. Anyway, Wash U really need to finish third to stay in contention, which would require a win over CMU (not a given at all!) on day 1 and then a win against Brandeis or Case on Day 3 (also not a given!). A loss in either of those matches would spell trouble, despite their early season win against Amherst. Damn, this is starting to sound like a Pool C article. Moving along, Brandeis is most likely not going to have the resume to get in via Pool C, though if they finish third they’d put themselves at least in the conversation (though they really need to beat Chicago in the semis to give themselves more of a shot).  Case is in a similar boat to Brandeis and has a lot to play for but would need something special to happen to make NCAAs, while CMU just straight up doesn’t have the resume to get in via Pool C no matter what happens, so they’d have to win the whole thing. And finally for Rochester and NYU, the only implications are for seventh place! Both teams will likely finish the year right next to each other in the national rankings around 35-40, but it’s always a bit nicer to finish the year with a win.

Senior Shoutouts

Chicago

Jonathan Li- Like many a 4-star, UChicago’s lineup proved to be tough to crack for Jonathan, who still stuck around for four years—something that can’t be said for all of Chicago’s recruits. He was UAA-All Academic a couple times and he goes to Chicago, so I think it’s a safe bet to say that he’s probably a smart dude and is going to do just fine after college. I bet when all the coaches talk about their seniors at the banquet Coach Tee was like “Jonathan Li will be taking over the IMF next month.”

Max Liu- Sound familiar? Max made the final of the massive 128 draw central region ITA as a freshman back in 2015, and held it down at the bottom of the lineup that spring, going 19-4 overall. He hasn’t seen too much playing time since, but not too many people can say they were ITA finalists! He finishes his career with only seven losses so far. That’s a lot fewer than I had! The computer science major, also a UAA All-Academic honoree, will likely be okay in the post graduation world as well.

Charlie Pei- I remember his freshman year when five-star Charlie Pei lost 0&1 to Kratky (Wash U) at UAAs. It blew my mind how someone with such a good junior resume could get completely smoked like that. Just goes to show you that juniors don’t matter much when you get to the big leagues (aka D3 Tennis). Charlie has had many ups and downs through his four years but has been a stalwart in the lineup of one of the best teams in the country. ASouth has irrationally hated on him in the Group Chat for a while and I’ve never understood it. Shoutout to you, Charlie, on an outstanding career for the Maroons—one where the final chapter is yet to be written.

Emory

Adrien Bouchet- Won the first doubles point in the 2017 national championship match, and then clinched the title with a massive 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 win over Daniel Morkovine (CMS). That’s a hell of a resume right there, but he’s also a doubles All-American already and will be looking to add more honors to his resume this year. Playing behind Jemison for four years has probably held him back in terms of getting the credit he deserves, but make no mistake, Bouchet has been an absolute gamer and clutch for Emory through the years.

George Congdon- George has seen limited playing time through his time and I honestly don’t know anything about him, but look—Coach Browning isn’t going to keep a guy on the team just for S’s and G’s, so I have no doubt that George has been contributing to the Eagles success in one way or another through the years. He’s also got a cool name. I hope his nickname is King Cong.

Jonathan Jemison- Man there’s a lot to say about J. Let me first say, and I’m going to shout this from the rooftops: HE MADE THE FINALS OF ITAS IN SINGLES IN DOUBLES ALL FOUR YEARS. How many people have done that before? The list of accolades goes on and on, but I’ll just say this: J is a great encapsulation of Emory tennis. A fierce competitor. A great tennis player. Extremely polarizing. An (un?)healthy dose of swagger. And at the end of the day, like it or not, he wins a whole lot of tennis matches.

James Spaulding- James has been more of a doubles contributor than anything else, but he’s also worked his way into the singles lineup a bit this year as well. He’s been known to get hot at times, and when he does, he’s one of the best doubles players in the country, as evidenced by his run to the finals of the NCAA doubles tournament last spring. A source has told me that coming into college he had no idea that his doubles was going to become such a key part of his identity as a player, so shout-out to him for making it work and finding a way to have such a massive impact!

Wash U

Konrad Kozlowski- Yet another All-American, Konrad has been a key doubles guy for Wash U throughout his career. Koz is also well known for his loudness, in typical Wash U fashion starting from the moment the warm ups begin. He’s a team captain and a guy that can be plugged just about anywhere in the doubles lineup as well as in the bottom of the singles and you know he’ll give you a good shot of winning. Guys like that don’t grow on trees, so I’m certain that Coach Follmer will be sad to see him go.

Radha Vishnubolta- Radha didn’t see much playing time as a senior, but he left his mark during his career, particularly on the doubles court. His career doubles record is 57-24, a damn good mark! I’d go as far as to say that he’s the second best doubles player in history from Carmel, Indiana (kudos if you know the first). Majoring in finance, minoring in CompSci, and plenty of academic awards to his name—I think the future’s so bright for Radha he’s going to have to wear shades (and maybe even turn his backwards cap around).

Brandeis

Zach Cihlar- Zach is an interesting story because he’s a perfect example of someone who basically got recruited out of the lineup. Deis has gotten a ton better during his four years, and while his playing time has dwindled after starting at #6 for some of his freshman year, he’s stuck around and no doubt been a leader as Coach Lamanna has brought in some talented youngsters. His initials are also ZAC, which is his name. Neat.

Tyler Ng- Another guy who’s had to fight hard for playing time as Deis brings in talented classes, but I gotta say Tyler’s done a great job of keeping himself in the mix, this year predominantly in doubles. It’s gotta be pretty rewarding for him to be starting on a top 10 team after being on a team that was probably around 30 his freshman year. And he and I are more simpatico that he even realizes, as he lists his favorite thing to do besides tennis as “Going on food adventures in Boston.” Man after my own heart.

Case Western

Rob Stroup- Stroup hails from a town in Ohio called Novelty. That’s fun. And his last juniors win was against Nick Hamburger. Also fun. (side note: Hamburger was on UChicago, but no longer is). Anyway, Stroup’s been one of the best singles performers for Case during his career, going 11-3 at #3 his sophomore year and having the claim to fame of having won singles matches at all 6 spots during his career. Four years at Case means a lot of hours on court, early morning grinds, sprints, etc. Coming out on the other side should make him proud, and the fact that he’ll finish well inside the top 10 for career singles victories for Case is just gravy. Here’s to you, Strouuuuuuup.

Carnegie Mellon

Vayum Arora- I had completely forgotten that Arora was an All-American in doubles his freshman year. Damn, that’s legit! Though he missed his junior year it’s great to see him back in action for his final season, where he’s seen a lot of doubles playing time. Like CMU’s season as a whole, his results haven’t been amazing, but he’s still finishing his career as an All-American. For an extra treat, google image his name and check out the first photo. It’s something special.

Yannick Bloem- What if I told you, four years, was really only one? That first impressions, were also final ones? You could make a 30 for 30 about Yannick Bloem, who I believe played one year at CMU as he came to the school for a Masters. Just knowing that you’ve only got one shot to make your mark is a ton of pressure, but shoutout to Yannick for cracking the lineup in doubles, taking no time to learn that D3 tennis involves a lot of yelling, and for participating in our Indoors bracket challenge (and not picking himself initially!). I’ve only heard good things about this guy, so I’m hoping he’s got another win or more in him before his one season passes him by.

Chaz Downing- Both Chaz and the guy below him are constant topics of discussion in the Blog group chat. I think for Downing a lot of it has to do with the nickname Chaz Hands, though some Blogger also tried to make the argument that he’s nothing more than a solid #5. That, obviously, is not true, as Downing beat Levine for the ITA title this fall and has played a good amount of the spring ahead of his teammate at #1, currently on his way to an NCAA singles and doubles bid. I also just looked it up, and Chaz was a 2-star, so my love for him has gone way up! He plays one of the least flashy games in D3 tennis, but it’s also one of the most effective, so I’m wholeheartedly hoping the rest of his career (and he’s still got a month left) is filled with long points, lots of running side to side, and, most importantly, plenty of wins!

Daniel Levine- Oh boy, I can’t believe ASouth is letting me have the word on this one. Just goes to show you that he does have a life outside of the Blog. We can all agree that Daniel Levine has been a stud for CMU for four years and deserves a ton of praise. I’ve never heard a bad word about him, he’s won a ton, and according to ASouth, he is the Greatest CMU player of all time. While some in the chat stan a certain fellow whose named rhymes with Shabishek Shalla, this is neither the time nor place to have that argument. So we’ll say this unequivocally. Daniel Levine is ONE OF the best players in Carnegie Mellon tennis history and he will not be easily replaced.

NYU

Shrikar Kundur- Famous for his backwards hats a la Lleyton Hewitt, Shrikar in some ways is the perfect encapsulation of NYU tennis. Some solid results, some shaky results, and an entire year where he wasn’t even on the team. For better or for worse, that’s a common story for NYU. In the end though, it’s great that he’s ending his career not only on the team, but in the lineup, holding it down at #3 doubles with Vishal Walia.

Yanik Parsch- According to the NYU athletics website, Yanick is undeclared for a major, despite graduating in under a month. Better get on that ASAP! In all seriousness, Yanik has been consistently in the lineup for four years—a rare feat for the Violets. He was no Steve Wu in terms of results, but got a lot better during his time and has contributed throughout the lower parts of the lineup.

Benedict Teoh- The treasurer of Beta Psi at NYU, this Aussie bro had a solid freshman year, playing #2 and #3 before seeing limited playing time since. He played doubles last week against Stevens, so we might see a bit more of him before he fades off into the sunset. And no matter what, he’ll always be remembered in my eyes as being a college athlete named Teoh who wasn’t catfished!

Rochester

Masaru Fujimaki- Four years playing #1 is pretty legit, so hats off to Masaru for that. He just surpassed 100 wins, which is a great accomplishment, especially given the competition he’s faced. No one I can remember has been ranked as high (or as consistently) as him, so in that regard he’s going to leave a big gap for the Jackets. And according to this article and from what I’ve heard, his contributions as a leader and captain have been just as huge as his tennis. So long Masaru, you will be missed dearly in Rochester.

10 Things to Watch

  • WEATHER! This is an evergreen topic when it comes to tennis in Florida, and 2019 is no different. Rain can wreck havoc on scheduling, and as of now Friday has an 80% chance of thunderstorms! Of the days for there to be rain, however, Friday is probably ideal—because in the worst case scenario, everything gets pushed back a day and maybe they play two matches in a day. That brings up the other big factor when talking about weather: heat and humidity. Anyone of a certain age remembers the absolute wild 2013 match between Rafe Mosetick of Emory and Tyler Kratky of Wash U, where both guys were cramping from the heat and basically funneling pickle juice and mustard until one of them puked and they had to move courts. Anyway, the point is, it’s hot and humid out there! Someone is going to cramp. Looks like mid to high 80s over the weekend, so if you haven’t started hydrating now, it’s too late (and if you’re not in shape now, it’s too late).
  • Lineups- More specifically, doubles pairings. CMU tried to split up Downing and Levine last weekend, and it’ll be interesting to see if Coach Belmonte or anyone else tries the ol’ late season switch-a-roo. Wash U has been tweaking their lineup all year, so it’s anyone’s guess as to what they put out there, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see some new pairings or people moving up and down on any of the teams. Relatedly, it’s always worth watching whether anyone get pulled after a doubles sweep. We’ve seen it in the past, especially on day 1, but I also think that with the new rule we won’t be seeing it as much. Which leads me to…
  • Matches played to decision- This has been hotly debated for years, and finally we’ll see matches called immediately after the clinch. On the one hand, this is good because it saves everyone’s legs in the hot sun for the matches that really matter. On the other hand, it means teams are making the trip to Florida and may not get much court time (looking at you, Rochester and NYU). As a player I never wanted to not get the chance to finish my match no matter what, so it’s kind of a bummer in that regard, but I certainly understand why this rule has been put into place.
  • Day 3 fireworks- Obviously finals day is always fun, and as usual, the third place match is probably going to have even more on the line than the final. But what makes Sunday so exciting on paper is that all four matches could be extra massive. The final is the final—playing for the UAA crown and bragging rights is a big deal. The third place match is likely a win-or-go-home scenario for whoever is playing when it comes to keeping Pool C hopes alive, the fifth place match is most likely CMU vs Case, a classic D3 rivalry that consistently produces barnburners, and the seventh place match is the biggest match of the year for Rochester and NYU as they fight to NOT finish in last place.
  • Dual-gender coaches- For Coaches Tee, Lamanna, Choy, and Nielsen, UAAs is a massive grind of six matches in four days. There’s no doubt that even for the best in the business this takes a toll. And with the women starting today and the men a day behind, these coaches are going to be at least somewhat emotionally and physically drained by Sunday. Now, they are all professionals that have been around the block, so it’s nothing new for them, but it’s always worth keeping in mind that all that goes into making things work for their men’s team is literally only half the battle for them.
  • Case’s fire- Their reputation as the loudest, most boisterous team in D3 tennis has somewhat cooled over the past few years. Honestly, I think that’s for the best as they certainly crossed the line a few times in the past. But, as they’ve cleaned up their act, have they also lost that edge that their bench mob gave them? It’s hard to tell, but it would be a massive statement if the Spartans can channel the vibes and energy they seem to bring to Indoors and put together a win over Brandeis, which would be a massive statement and keep their NCAA hopes alive by a thread.
  • Dining at the Hotel- Everyone has heard about the banquet at this point. Clearly it’s the stuff of legends and needs to intro. I mean, there’s a dance floor and a DJ for crying out loud! But the banquet is unfortunately just a one night thing. Just as compelling but perhaps overlooked are the daily breakfasts at the hotel. Sources tell me that it’s common to be in line for eggs with the dude you will be going to battle with in a couple hours. I’ve even heard stories of people gaining confidence after they see their opponent grab that third danish, only to get destroyed anyway. The banquet gets all the hype, but the UAA BREAKFASTS are perhaps the real story.
  • Dining around town- Jason’s Deli? Jersey Mike’s? How about Chipotle? Or, god forbid, SUBWAY? The options are endless around Sanlando Park, and while each team (and Blogger) has their preferences, it’s always interesting to find out where the latest hot-spot is (and if the Jason’s deli free ice cream machine is working).
  • How does Jemison finish his UAA career? JJ has been a beast, only losing one match in his career at UAAs (though he didn’t play in the final last year). As far as I’m concerned he’s the favorite for first team all UAA at 1 singles and 1 doubles AND Player of the Year. For him personally I’m sure some more accolades would be nice, but it’ll also be huge for Emory to continue to be able to rely on him for consistent points at the top of the lineup, both in singles and doubles.
  • Can Chicago repeat? This is more of a burning question than a Thing to Watch, but I’ll be watching to see how Chicago looks. They certainly made an early season statement at Indoors, but have been pretty quiet for a while. Their recent win over Wash U was impressive on one hand (the comeback) but concerning on the other (that they had that much trouble with a very very good but not top 5 team in Wash U). Which Chicago will we see? Last year’s squad had a senior core that was on a mission to finally win UAAs. Does this year’s team have the same goal? Or are they already looking ahead at bigger things next month.

Quick Hits and Predictions

  • CMU takes a doubles lead against Wash U with a tiebreak win to go up 2-1, then Wash U wins four singles matches to win 5-2.
  • Case and Brandeis give us a five hour thriller but the Spartans pull through in the end.
  • The presence of UAA veteran Eric Halpern on the coaching sidelines for NYU proves completely useless against his former Emory Eagles.
  • Coaches Nielsen and Todd both wisely opt out of their more “formal” coaching attire for T-shirts and shorts, avoiding both cramps and potential swamp-ass.
  • Brandeis plays the loudest music from their van as they pull into the parking lot.
  • At least one freshman orders a Philly Cheesesteak from Jersey Mike’s before his match.
  • The Blog Group Chat blows up at some point about a live score update/tweet that turns out to be incorrect.
  • EMORY, aka the New York Yankees or Golden State Warriors of the UAA, comes out victorious on Sunday.
  • Wash U finishes third and turns their eyes to the NESCAC tournament next weekend to see how their Pool C hopes shake out.
  • Rochester beats NYU for the second straight year to finish seventh, reversing their loss from a few weeks ago.

Final Thoughts

Folks, it’s been a real honor to step in ASouth’s shoes and give you a (hopefully) ridiculously dope UAA preview. It’s been one of my favorite articles to read for many years, so to be here writing it is pretty special. He may hate me and threaten that he’s kicking me out of the Blog sometimes, but I hope I did you proud ASouth!

Enjoy the matches! Here’s to good line calls, solid weather, plentiful updates, and a ridiculously dope UAA Tournament!

One thought on “The 2019 Ridiculously Dope UAA Preview

  1. Joe Tegtmeier

    You did a hella good job on this blog, post, article thingy. Nice job RegionalNEC!

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