REGIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: 04/22-04/28
Deep breaths people! Another crazy weekend of tennis that took years off the bloggers’ lives and we’re back with another set of players of the week. As we always do this time of year, we’ve been ramping up our coverage recently, and you can check back soon for the most up to date bracktology, some recaps, Power Rankings, and I’ll have plenty of NESCAC coverage for you later in the week. Also, if you only read one thing, make sure it’s the DOGS OF D3 BRACKET! The play-in game is going on now and you have until Monday night to vote! We will have the Round of 16 for you on Tuesday night.
A-SOUTH
Player: Adrien Bouchet
Team: Emory
Results: 3-0 singles and doubles at UAAs
Recap: Adrien Bouchet, senior. Bouchet went out of his last UAA Tournament in style, winning all 6 of his matches en route to Emory winning the title. He clinched the match over Daniel Li in three sets in the semifinal against Wash U and added a quick win against Brandeis in the final. The senior also teamed up with longtime senior teammate Jemison to go 3-0 at #1 doubles. Emory looks dangerous and Bouchet is a big reason why.
What’s next: NCAA Tournament
Honorable Mention: James Spaulding (Emory), Ray Boppana (CMU), Austin Gu (Hop)
Name of first pet you ever had (and type of animal): Rock – still have it
Favorite dog from D3Dog bracket: I refuse to choose from greatness. They are all amazing.
NewD3CENTRAL
Player: Pascal Lee
Team: Kenyon
Results: 2-0, UF at 4 singles; 3-0 at 1 doubles
Recap: Pascal Lee helped clinched Kenyon’s 175th consecutive NCAC title with a straights sets win over Mitchell Thai. Lee went undefeated in his first NCAC tournament with only one set against Thai being in doubt for the Lord this weekend. Lee and the Lords proved once again that they are streets ahead of the competition, and it’ll probably be a minute until we see them challenged in conference.
What’s next: Lords put on their dancing shoes…(all the way to the Elite Eight, oh yea you betchyo ass I have the Lords making a run)
Honorable Mention: Ninan Kumar (Chicago), Leo Vithonniten (Carleton), Daniel Li (Wash U), Melisandre (Lord of Marginally better Lighting), Arya Stark (North), Armin Arlert (Scout Regiment), Ryan Mitchell (UWW), Ian Yi (Kzoo)
Name of first pet you ever had (and type of animal): Alex, a Cat
Favorite dog from D3Dog bracket: Mr. Steal Yo Girl Rivers
NE
Player: Zach Bessette/Harris Foulkes
Team: Amherst
Results: 1-0 at #2 doubles and each 1-0 at #3 and #5 singles respectively against Middlebury.
Recap: Lots of big results in the NE this week, and I’ll let NewRegional take a Brandeis player since they are technically his team to cover. Bowdoin scored three big conference wins to maintain their Pool-C status, Kauppila might have had the best overall week in the region, but Bessette and Foulkes going undefeated and earning three points against Middlebury to claim Amherst’s first NESCAC regular season title since 2015 is a big deal. It’s a nice juxtaposition to have your lone starting senior and a freshmen both doing the nitty gritty, fighting back from a big early deficit to get the key 8-6 doubles win at #2 and give Herst a lead going into singles. In singles, Bessette made quick work of Andre Xiao at No. 3 singles (the box score says #4, but Amherst Twitter was quite clear about Zach playing #3 singles so I’m trusting the in-person view), while Foulkes battled from down a set against Nate Eazor, and then eventually broke him late in the 3rd to clinch the match for Herst.
Honorable Mention: Justin Patel (Bowdoin), Jerry Jiang (Bowdoin), Jacob Kauppila (Bates), Alex Taylor (Williams)
Name of first pet you ever had (and type of animal): Salamé the Cat
Favorite dog from D3Dog bracket: Impossible question, I’ve become attached to Cleo, but the puppy pics of Stuart Litl’ nearly broke me.
NewDIIIWEST
Player: Niko (NikOjai) Parodi
Team: CMS
Results: Won Ojai in both singles and doubles for the third consecutive year
Recap: His three year streak in Ojai now stands at 15 wins 0 losses in singles and 12 wins 0 losses in doubles. Nuff said.
Honorable Mention: Chase Lipscomb (Redlands), Julian Gordy (CMS), Whitman!
Name of first pet you ever had (and type of animal): Max (Chocolate Lab)
Favorite dog from D3Dog bracket: Rocky Linfield is a total cutie
REGIONAL NE/C
Player: Josh Piatos
Team: NYU
Results: 1-0 at UAAs
Recap: Josh played one match at UAAs, but man did he make the most of it. I’ll spare you the lead-up, but for the second year in a row, Piatos found himself in a third set tiebreak against a cramping Sahaj Somani of Rochester with the overall match tied at 4-4 on the infamous court 6 of Sanlando Park, all off on it’s own away from courts 1-5. Last year, Somani won the match to clinch Rochester’s first win at UAAs since 2011. This time around, Piatos turned it around with a clutch 7-5 win in the breaker, with match point coming on an overrule. Definitely not the best way for a match like that to end, but regardless, all credit to Josh for coming through in the most unlikely of pressure-packed scenarios.
What’s next: That’s all for the Violets! Josh heads off into the summer with one more year of tennis to look forward to in 2019-2020.
Honorable Mention: Masaru Fujimaki (Rochester), Ryan Mitchell (UWW),
Name of first pet you ever had (and type of animal): A capybara named anonymous, but I’ve always wanted a tasselled wobbegong.
Favorite dog from D3Dog bracket: Wicket looks the most like a cat
REGIONAL AS
Player: Ryan Macy
Team: CNU
Results: 4-0 in the first round of the CAC tournament and against W&L
Recap: Macy clinched at #3 singles the first round of the CAC tournament over York college after also picking up a win at #1 doubles, but his biggest performance was over W&L. CNU had a hard fought 5-4 win and Macy played lights out. He picked up a convincing win at #1 doubles 8-1, before going on to tough out a gutsy 6-4 third set victory at #4 singles. The freshman has been so solid all year and will most likely be making a jump towards the top of the lineup next season.
What’s next: A CAC semifinal match against a very dangerous Salisbury squad.
Honorable Mention: Jack Gray (Sewanee), Nick Ruzicka (CNU), Ritwik Chatterjee (Rhodes)
Name of first pet you ever had (and type of animal): Mac and Spud
Favorite dog from D3Dog bracket: Probably would have to be Gary, but also a fan of River
NEWREGIONAL
Player: Adam Tzeng
Team: Brandeis
Results: 3-0 at #2 doubles, 2-1 at #3 singles at UAAs
Recap: Bang Bang Adam Tzeng. Tzeng held down the fort for Brandeis this weekend at UAAs, going undefeated at #2 doubles despite Jeff Chen missing the semis and finals. Tzeng also picked up big wins against Anthony Kanam and Charlie Pei en route to a near perfect weekend.
What’s next: NCAAs? Hopefully.
Honorable Mention: Arjun Krishnan (Stevens)
Name of first pet you ever had (and type of animal): We had no-name fish growing up
Favorite dog from D3Dog bracket: River
AVZ PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Player: Adam Tzeng
Team: Brandeis
Justification: There are some very solid choices this week, but my national player of the week decision will always rely heavily on NCAA implications. NikOjai Parodi is impressive and really turning it on as of late, but what Brandeis did to thrust themselves into Pool C consideration can not go unnoticed. Adam Tzeng had an impressive weekend to say the least. Brandeis had a tough road with Case in the first round as they are a team no one wants to play ever. But the defining moment for Tzeng and Brandeis is clearly the Chicago win. Partnering with a new person in what is likely the biggest match of the season and winning is a big deal. Beating senior Charlie Pei who is a stud is an even bigger deal. Tzeng also kept Brandeis alive with a doubles win against Emory. These are two of the top 4 teams in the country. Heck of a weekend for Brandeis and Tzeng and I am hopeful that the tournament selection committee rewards them with a Pool C nod. They deserve it.
Name of first pet you ever had (and type of animal): Siberian Husky named Shadow
Favorite dog from D3Dog bracket: There are so many gems to choose from. River is getting a lot of love, but that’s accessory aided (sunglasses). I think Reggie is a dark horse. Wicket not getting seeded is a travesty, but I can’t get over the top seeded Maggie’s ears. It’s too much to handle.