2019 ITA Cup Women’s Preview

ITA Cup is this weekend and your women’s bloggers have assembled to bring you some hot content. Since we all can’t sit around a table and chit chat about horoscopes, which coast is best (obv, East), oh and D3 tennis, we had ourselves a virtual roundtable to peer into our crystal balls on this coming weekend’s ITA Cup. After realizing the tourney starts tomorrow, the women’s blogger squad assembled in the 11th hour to bring our devoted readers the content they deserve. Shoutout to ASW for coming up with these questions (and opining!) on top of her 120-hour work week, she’s the real MVP here. Anyways, let’s dive into our thoughts!

First things first, blogger thoughts on the expanded draw?
Central: The focus is on the spring and the team. The expanded draw allows players who may not make NCAA’s singles to have an opportunity to play those tough matches. For example, the 2 UChicago players in this tournament played in the 3 and 5 positions  last year in their lineup. They couldn’t have qualified for singles. Also to travel so far gives players a shot at more than 1 or 2 matches.
ASW: I quite like it and actually think it makes the tournament more competitive. With the 8 person draw I felt like players ultimately only got 1 or 2 actual competitive matches where they didn’t blow their opponents out of the water or get blown out. Rome has the court space and I’m glad they’re putting it to good use.
West: I like it actually. The thing I most enjoyed about my teams was travel, because those trips can create really lasting memories, and more players getting that opportunity is a good thing. Plus, if you’re from a region like Texas of the Northwest you used to have to fly across the country for a play-in match. Now at least you get a back draw to take your mind off midterms.
NEW: I think it’s actually really great. As my fellow bloggers have already mentioned, it allows more players to get in some more competitive matches. Plus, it’s fun for us to see matchups that we probably wouldn’t get to see otherwise.
Analyst: I think 8 in a draw is really limiting, so like the other bloggers I am a fan of the new draw, and hope the bigger draw leads to more competitive matches. Although I also wonder if it will make more evident the gap between stronger and weaker regions. 

Quick and dirty, what is your region bringing to the table in one sentence or less?
ASW: Danna Taylor (S,D) and Defne Olcay (D) are the only ASouth players who have made to this tournament before (maybe Ollis for doubles in the past? Someone check me) so I’m going to go with a nothing-to-lose attitude.
West: A bunch of Athenas and Blog favorite Shrub

NEW: Freshmen. Both my regionals’ reps are heavily stacked with freshmen this year, so that’s pretty cool. I’m pretty excited to see how these youngsters deal with the pressure of a big tourney situation. But idk maybe there is no pressure here?
Analyst: I am region-less but I choose to respond for the Northeast and I will say that the Northeast is bringing a lot of Cardinals from that school called Wesleyan which won the NCAA title last year.
Central: 4 singles players and 3 doubles teams—some experienced with these big tournaments and some not. 

Who is your pick to win the whole thing?
West: I know it’s not cool to pick a high seed, but I’m going with Serim Jin from Wes. She tore through absolutely everyone in her regional which included Heather Boehm from Midd, Libby Rickeman from MIT, and Camille Smucker from Herst. We’ve seen first-years catch fire like Katniss in regionals before, and then flame out once they hit higher level competition in the national tourney, but those are too many data points for me to think that happens here. In doubles it’s anybody’s guess, but I’ll stay in region and take the CMS team of Allen / Leong.
ASW: I’m going to be boring like West and go with the #1 seed Danna Taylor for singles. I like that she has big match experience and I’m also a little biased toward my region. For doubles I like Allen and Leong, which is another boring pick since they are seeded #1 as well but I think they’re just too good. You never know, maybe I am the one that made the draw!
NEW: Wow there are so many new names for me in this draw I don’t even know where to start, but I’m going to go with Emory’s Alexa Goetz. She doesn’t have an easy path at all, but Eagles players are usually pretty gritty, and I think she’ll find a way to battle her way through. On the dubs side of things, I’m going to go with Wes’ Henderson and Yu. The pair of sophomores really impressed me in their regional, plus, they’re a NE team, so they’ve gotta be fire.
Analyst: I feel unqualified to pick because there are so many rookies in this draw I don’t know much about yet. But I think the rookies will be playing with nothing to lose, so I am going to copy West’s pick and go with Serim Jin for the singles title. In doubles, I have to believe that Catherine Allen’s experience will help her and Leong make their way through the draw, so I’ll choose that team for doubles.
Central: I have to go with Serim Jin. She’s strong and is coming from a team culture that will only support her and give her the confidence to plow through the draw. (What does Fried put in their tea? We all need some.) For doubles I have to go with Allen/Leong. Allen is scrappy, experienced and a fighter and I think this will help this CMS team make it to the end, as the doubles champions. 

Who is your dark horse pick?
West: Justine Leong in singles since she carved up the rest of the Athenas the same way I attack apple cobbler. In doubles I’m going with the Cards team of Ferrante and Yeung. Wow do CMS and Wesleyan look scary good this year.
ASW: I’m gonna take Catherine Allen as a dark horse pick because she’s a senior and I like the way she competes. I feel like she could catch fire (insert another Hunger Games reference here) this weekend and pull out some wins. For dubs I pick the CMU team Cornwall and Zheng. For no particular reason. I just feel like they could tree.
NEW: Calling Catherine Allen a dark horse just doesn’t seem right, but I’m going to do it anyways. She’s an incredible player and a senior, so she’s got experience on her side. In dubs, Ferrante and Yeung are my pick, but again, it feels weird to call them a dark horse (though I guess they are relatively untested).
Central: My singles dark horse is Alexa Goetz. I am familiar with her brother at UVA, so coming from such a tennis talented family, I’m sure she is a fighter and will be an Emory star. For doubles I am going with my region and saying Ng/Wang. Both are freshmen but they easily won the regional and from the photos Tee posted I could feel good energy emulating.
Analyst: I’m going with Emory’s Goetz as my singles dark horse and Goetz and her partner Watson as my doubles dark horse pick. Goetz is a freshman, and if she can keep up how well she’s been playing this fall, I could see her advancing through the draw. For doubles, Goetz and Watson face the #1 seeds in the first round so their path through the draw is quite a challenge, but they made a huge statement at ITAs winning 6-1, 6-0 over another Emory team in the finals. 

What is your most anticipated first round match-up?
West: Katherine Fleischman of Wes vs. Danna Taylor of CMU. Last year’s Rookie of the Year is a tough draw for the Wes newcomer, but she’s played really well so far. In doubles I like the matchup between Fukushige/Yu (Whitman) and Prins/Yim (Carleton); let’s hear it for schools where it’s under 50°!
ASW: Nicole Semenov (Chicago) vs. Alexa Goetz (Emory). Semenov showed a lot of talent in the bottom half of Chicago’s lineup last year and Goetz is potentially Emory’s next star. I think this match will be a good litmus test for both players who are trying to come in and compete with the best. In dubs I like Allen/Leong (CMS) vs. Goetz/Watson (Emory) for basically the same reason I picked my singles match. I want to know how good Emory is compared to the other big guns. Somehow I don’t think this match will be very competitive but I’m hoping for Emory’s 2020 Championship chances that it is.
NEW: Fleischman (Wes) vs. Taylor (CMU) is definitely a match I’ve got my eye on. Taylor’s got the collegiate experience on her side, but Fleishman really wowed me during regionals. I think this match is going to be super close and fun to watch. For dubs, I’m excited for Goetz/Watson  (Emory) vs. Allen/Leong (CMS). I know I didn’t call them my dark horse pick, but I think Goetz/Watson are more dangerous than ASW is giving them credit. This could be a chance for a huge upset, but then again, you’ve got Catherine Allen, doubles extraordinaire, on the other side of the net, so maybe not.
Central: I have to go with Semenov (Chicago)  vs Goetz (Emory). Both are from NY, so they’ve played each other in their juniors. Goetz is a hitter and Semenov is a counter puncher. Depending on Semenov’s fitness level she may outlast Goetz, or Goetz may just hit those corners and move on to round 2. It’s going to be a fight because there is a back story there and points to be made. For doubles I am anxious for the Ferrante/Yeung (Wes) vs Ollis/Taylor (CM) match. You’ve got a team of seniors who have been doing this for years and have the confidence and talent and calm nerves to win (CM) vs a team of a freshman and sophomore (Wes) who have the drive and hunger to make a statement.
Analyst: I’ve been debating between the two match-ups that the bloggers already called out, and I’m going with the Taylor (CMU) vs. Flesichman (Wes) pairing at the top of the draw. Fleschman is a really dangerous opponent for the #1 seed Taylor, and Taylor has more pressure being a returning player and the top seed, so I’m curious to see if the sophomore seed can make it through this match. In doubles, I’m actually also excited for the match at the very top of the draw. Allen/Leong (CMS) were my pick to win the whole thing, but Goetz/Watson (Emory) were my dark horse pick, so I have a lot of interest in this first round match.

Who has the best draw?
West: I think Leong from CMS has a really good draw for her first tournament. She plays Emory’s Cartledge in the first round, and while she was really good at #4 last year her regional was pretty weak (no Ysa, who’s abroad). Then second round she’d get the Central region winner of Oku/Riermann. As much as I love the midwest, I think there’s a big talent difference at the top between the Central regions and the rest of the country.
ASW: In singles, Serim Jin. She plays GAC’s Ginger Valentine in the first round then winner of Whitman/Vassar. Those are 3 great players but I think Jin is just on another level. For dubs, I agree with West. All bets are off.
NEW: I’ve gotta agree with West here and say Leong. I think she has a pretty clear path to the semis, which is pretty crazy to say in a competitive field like this one. On the dubs side, I don’t even know how to begin evaluating this – new teams, new players, new matchups – too much for me to process and even give you a somewhat well-educated guess, sorry!
Central: For singles I agree with West. Though not easy, Leong’s path to the semis is pretty clear. For doubles, it seems every team has a challenge right from the day 1. Should be fun!
Analyst: In singles, I think both Leong from CMS and Jin from Wesleyan have easier paths to the semis than the other seeds Taylor and Allen. Doubles is too unpredictable, but I think the #2-seeded Wesleyan team and the #4-seeded CMS team have, at least at first glance, are in an easier half of the draw than the #1 and #3 seeds.

What is your favorite fall activity (aside from tennis blogging obvi)?
NEW: eating apple cider donuts
West: counting down the days till Christmas (#favoriteholiday) and wondering at what point it becomes socially acceptable to hibernate
ASW: Did someone say pumpkin chocolate chip cookies and storing fat for the winter?
Central: Buying Halloween candy, eating Halloween candy, buying Halloween candy….it’s not pretty.
Analyst: Pumpkin bread. Best fall baked good.

That’s all for now, folks! I’m so excited for this weekend – there are so many good players and matches heading our way that we didn’t get to speak about. And with so many rookies in the field, anything is possible! Huge shoutout to my fellow bloggers on showing up over the past 12 hours and pulling this piece together!