Hey guys and gals! I’ve gathered you all here today to celebrate my one year anniversary as a Blogger! 365 days ago (actually a bit longer, I started before Regionals), I hopped onto the scene as “Unnamed / Nameless” – your fav new Women’s blogger. And in the year since then, I’ve earned the title of new NEW, crystal ball reader, not in last place in the women’s bracket challenge (thank goodness), among many other accolades. And I wanted to say THANK YOU to all you readers and my fellow Bloggers for showing me the love, even when I’m not the most accurate in my predictions (my take on this is thank u, next). WHOOPS, sorry, this is not about me, nor should it be. This is about my preview for 1 of 2 all Northeast quarter final matches we can expect to see This is about two of my NE favorites squaring off for the third time this season in the Elite 8 of NCAAs! This has been a landslide in Midd’s favor both times the two have played, but magical things happen in the post-season, and I don’t expect Amherst to go quietly. I still have all the faith in Midd that they will do great things, but they’ve got to be able to stand up to any challenges thrown their way, and Amherst just might be one of those challenges if they show up ready to eat on Monday. Slam Tennis gives Midd a 93% chance of winning, but who knows what the Mammoths have up their sleeves!
#3 MIDDLEBURY
Best wins: Emory (6-3), Wesleyan (5-4), Amherst (9-0, 5-0), Pomona-Pitzer (5-4)
Worst losses: CMS (8-1), Wesleyan (5-2)
Seniors: Christina Puccinelli
Starting freshman: None!
Where they are strongest: Depth. Midd has some of the best players at every single spot in their lineup. Boehm has been playing lights out at the top, you have Schossberger and Puccinelli as absolute rocks in the middle of the lineup, and Stow holding down the bottom as one of the toughest 5s in the country.
Where they are vulnerable: Honestly, it’s pretty hard to determine a weak spot in the Panther’s armor. But if we look at their two losses this season, and specifically their recent loss to Wesleyan, the Panthers seem to fall short when the going gets tough and they’re pushed to three setters. Whether it’s mental or physical fatigue, it’s definitely a weakness for Midd heading into Nationals.
How they got here: By cruising through their regional and eliminating Tufts 5-0 in the regional final to book their ticket to Kalamazoo.
What would be considered a success: A national championship. I still think it’s in the realm of possibility for the Panthers (and my Bracket Challenge relies on it), but Midd will have to play tough and be hungry to avenge their two losses on the way to claiming the big trophy.
Three words to describe this team: Feisty, hungry, vengeful
Don’t forget: They lost NESCACs. I think they’re going to use that as motivation during the rest of NCAAs.
#6 AMHERST
Best wins: CMU (6-3), Tufts (6-3), Williams (6-3)
Worst losses: Emory (8-1), Midd (9-0, 5-0), Bowdoin (5-4), Wesleyan (6-3)
Seniors: Kelsey Chen, Camilla Trapness, Jane Fraley, Ashley Park, Kelly Yang
Starting freshman: Jackie Bukzin, Claire Evans, Maggie Owensby, Anya Ramras
Where they are strongest: The top and bottom of their singles lineup. The 1-2 punch of Bukzin and Smuckler have been absolute fire at the top of the Amherst lineup and have proven to be some of the toughest spots to beat. That, coupled with the Evans/Owensby/Trapness 5-6 rotation at the bottom of the lineup, who have also been incredibly solid, seem like a recipe for success for the Mammos. Where they run into trouble, though, is that Midd is just as tough in these spots too…
Where they are vulnerable: Doubles. The Mammoths have been swept TWICE in dubs by Midd, and hopefully they’re not here to make it a third time. Amhert’s doubles have been up and down all season, and they haven’t seemed to have gotten the recipe just right yet, but now is the time, if ever, to finesse their dubs prowess.
How they got here: By fending off a feisty Hopkins team down in Virginia to set up an all-NESCAC quarters match
What would be considered a success: A win over Midd and a spot in the Final Four. While this is looking to be a lofty goal, if the Mammoths are on and Midd is off, it could happen. Even if the Mammoths could push the Panthers a bit more than they have this season, I’d consider that a win
Three words to describe this team: Hustle, hardworking, underdogs
Don’t forget: The Mammoths are an underdog team led by Coach Bagwell. And if I’ve learned anything in my time playing and following D3 tennis, it’s never underestimate a team led by JKB.
Match rundown: Amherst has never taken a single match off of Midd in the two times they’ve played this year, but I’m willing to bet that they won’t be going down without a fight this time around. Midd looks a little more vulnerable after suffering that shocking loss to Wesleyan in the NESCAC finals, but with a chip on their shoulder, perhaps they’ll be more determined to march right through nationals. And Amherst? I’m willing to bet they don’t like the idea of the same team blanking them three times in four weeks. There’s potential here for a much closer match than we all anticipate…
#1 doubles: Heather Boehm / Ann Martin Skelly (MIDD) vs. Kelsey Chen / Jackie Bukzin (AMH)
NEW: This match was so close at NESCACs, with the Midd pair taking it in a breaker. I think it’ll be close again, and really could go either way. Given it might be Chen’s last match of her collegiate career and she’s gonna want to leave it all on the court, I’m gonna say this one swings for the Mammoths. Amherst 8-7 (6)
Analyst: Chen and Bukzin have been really solid for Amherst at the top of their doubles lineup. However, Boehm and Skelly are riding a 9-match winning streak right now, and while I do think this match will be a battle to the very end, I think the Midd duo is going to come through with the win. Midd 8-6
#2 doubles: Katy Hughes / Skylar Schossberger (MIDD) vs. Camille Smukler / Anya Ivenitsky (AMH)
NEW: Hughes and Schossberger have been on fire this year, though they looked vulnerable against the Tufts duo of Iwasaki and Popa in the regional final. The two time these teams played, the match wasn’t particularly close, but with the stakes a bit higher, I think Smukler and Ivenitsky will step it up. Ultimately, I don’t think it’ll be enough, and Midd will emerge victorious again. Midd 8-4
Analyst: Smukler and Ivenitsky have had a great season together. Their only losses this year have been to top-4 teams: Emory, Middlebury, and Wesleyan. But the Midd team of Hughes and Schossberger have smoked this Amherst duo in their two previous meetings, so I don’t think Amherst will flip that result. Midd 8-3
#3 doubles: Christina Puccinelli / Maddi Stow (MIDD) vs. Anya Ramras / Maddie Dewire (AMH)
NEW: Another match that was really close at NESCACs, but, again, Midd ended up victorious. I’ve been really impressed by this Panther duo all season, and they’ve been tough to beat. Midd 8-5
Analyst: It’s Puccinelli’s senior year and I think she is going to make the difference in this match. I think Amherst will put up a fight but not enough to get Amherst a point overall. Midd 8-5
#1 singles: Heather Boehm (MIDD) vs. Jackie Bukzin (AMH)
NEW: So I love this match-up. Bukzin, the NE Rookie of the Year, going toe-to-toe with Boehm, the NE Player to Watch. I was let down with this match-up at NESCACs, when Boehm absolutely blew Bukzin out of the water. But then again, Boehm has been playing SO WELL all season long. I always say experience helps so much at NCAAs, and that certainly showed with Bukzin fighting battles in her two regional matches. Even if Bukzin comes out swinging, Boehm has the confidence and will take it home for the Panthers. Midd 6-3, 6-2
Analyst: Heather Boehm has really earned her spot at the top of Midd’s lineup this year. But NEW is absolutely right, Bukzin has definitely proven herself to be one of the best freshmen in D3 this year. I think there’s something about Boehm’s tough and a bit unconventional game that can give really great players a lot of trouble, and I think we’ll see that happen again in this match. I think Boehm will get Midd a win at #1 singles on Monday. Midd 6-3, 6-1
#2 singles: Katy Hughes (MIDD) vs. Camille Smukler (AMH)
NEW: These two split the last time they played, and didn’t end up finishing their match before it was called. Smukler has been playing phenomenally so far in NCAAs, wrapping up her matches so so quickly. This one will be a battle for sure, and, sadly, it probably won’t finish. Amherst leads 6-4, 6-7, 3-1
Analyst: Camille Smukler has played at the top of Amherst’s lineup the past couple years, so she’s a dangerous player to have at #2. She had a couple of mixed results earlier in the season but seems to be playing really well at this point and fighting in matches for her team. However, Hughes is also incredibly solid and I could see this match going either way. But I think Smukler will step it up and be in the lead, but I agree with NEW that the match is unlikely to finish. Amherst leads 7-5, 2-6, 4-2
#3 singles: Christina Puccinelli (MIDD) vs. Maddie Dewire (AMH)
NEW: The lone Midd senior has had such a great year, and is playing so well going into the Elite 8. Dewire, on the other hand, has been pretty up and down, and has sometimes proved to lose a bit of her mental toughness when it matters the most. Last time, Puccinelli clinched the match for the Panthers, and you know what? I like her odds of getting the job done. Midd 6-3, 6-3
Analyst: Dewire started the season with an 8-match win streak but has been struggled since then as Amherst has played against the top NESCAC schools. I hope she can turn it around and come up big for her team when it matters most, but I have to go with Puccinelli for this match. Midd 6-2, 6-4
#4 singles: Skylar Schossberger (MIDD) vs. Anya Ivenitsky (AMH)
NEW: Schossberger is one of the best 4s in the country, and has a fiery game that amps her team up. Ivenitsky, like Dewire, has been pretty up and down all season. The two played a tough one at NESCACs, and it went unfinished. I think Schossberger will turn up the heat on Monday and take this match fairly quickly. Midd 6-4, 6-0
Analyst: Both Schossberger and Ivenitsky, in my opinion, have had mixed results this season. They each have good wins under their belt, but neither has been unstoppable against strong #4 players. I think the underdog motivation is going to kick in and Ivenitsky is going to be the one to outplay Schossberger this time around. Amherst 7-5, 6-2
#5 singles: Maddi Stow (MIDD) vs. Claire Evans (AMH)
NEW: Evans has been on fire, particularly at the end of this season. She was leading Stow the last time the two played, and she clinched BOTH matches Amherst played in the regional. If Amherst is going to nab a second point, it’ll be all Evans, all day. And I actually think this is going to happen. It’ll be tight, but they’ll finish just before the match is called. Amherst 7-5, 6-4
Analyst: Both of these players have been really solid for their teams in the lower half of the lineup. I can’t overlook that Evans was leading in this matchup in their only previous meeting which was at NESCACs. However, I’ve already predicted that Midd will sweep doubles, and I think Midd will get two more singles points on the board before this match has a chance to finish. Amherst leads 6-4, 3-5
#6 singles: Emily Bian (MIDD) vs. Camilla Trapness (AMH)
NEW: At NESCACs, this one was far from being over. Bian took a close first set, but Trapness was running away with the second set when the match was called. The two’s game styles naturally promise a long match, so I know this one won’t finish. But I’m sure it’ll be a tight one nonetheless. Amherst leads 7-5, 4-5
*Also, let me just say, good for Trapness on earning her spot in the lineup for NCAAs her senior season. Amherst has a very strong bottom of the lineup with Evans, Owensby and Trapness, so it’s nice to see a senior crack into the lineup to wrap up her career! (And kudos to Coach Bagwell for giving her seniors a shot to prove themselves!)
Analyst: I agree with NEW that it’s awesome Trapness has emerged into the lineup as a senior, props to her for sticking with it all four years and for her hard work paying off. However, Bian has gotten a lot more matches under her belt than Trapness this spring, and I think that is important. And given that Trapness’s past 4 matches haven’t finished, I think this will be another one that we don’t get to see come to a close. Midd leads 7-5, 1-2
Overall prediction:
NEW: Midd 5-2
Analyst: Midd 5-1