There’s a bunch of great west region matchups in the Portland area this weekend so I thought I’d put together a little preview, complete with my not-so-informed predictions. I can’t remember the last time Trinity traveled to the northwest (I’m sure y’all will remind me in the comments), but I’m very happy about the intra-region opportunities. They’ll take on Lewis & Clark Friday, Linfield on Saturday, and Whitman on Sunday. The Blues will hop on an Alaska Air flight through Seattle and take on Portland State too while they’re in town. I’ll only be previewing the marquee D3 matchups this weekend, because as you all know I have a very active personal life outside of the blog.
Also, I can’t talk about Portland without mentioning our friends over at George Fox, who picked up a big win over Whittier in SoCal last weekend and have probably the coolest landing page on their team site. It looks a bit like a Nike ad, and I bet they poached someone from Beaverton for a day to take those bomb photos. Either way, it makes we want to lace up once again and #BeABruin. Alas, I’m only cracking my knuckles to crank out another article…
Trinity (TX) vs. Linfield
I’m really looking forward to this battle of big cats because Trinity is one of those teams with a pretty wide range of outcomes this year. They could win their conference for the umpteenth time and once again show the world they’re the best West region team outside of Claremont, or the wheels could fall off the wagon if they can’t overcome the graduations of Kutach and de Leon. This will be the first real test for them and we’ll see if the new faces at the bottom of the lineup can propel them to victory. For Linfield, they’ll be playing a team that’s strong where they’re strong, probably has a bit more talent (especially in dubs), but plays differently outside the comforts of home.
In doubles it’s hard for me to pick against the Kaffens at #1, and that’s I think the most sure point in this whole match. Clayeux/Uyeda have the game and consistency to beat TU’s Flores and Garcia at #2, and so I think we’ll see a swing match between Wong/Fujimori for the Wildcats and DeBauge/Canjar for the Tigers. When push comes to shove, I’m going with TU at #3 doubles in a close one as DeBauge should be the best player on the court.
#1 Singles: Zoe Kaffen (TU, 8.19 UTR) vs. Michelle Uyeda (Linfield, 8.49 UTR)
This is a match with big nationals implications. Both of these players are cuspy given how stacked CMS is this year – they’ll likely get 3 in, with another 1-2 for Pomona-Pitzer which leaves maximum 3 spots between Texas and the Northwest schools. Something tells me Uyeda takes this in a tough two sets: Linfield 6-4, 7-5
#2 Singles: Ashley DeBauge (TU, 7.93) vs. Tessa Kern (Linfield, 8.23)
We should have another great match at #2 between two pretty evenly-ranked players. While UTR favors Kern, DeBauge’s been playing some good competition including at the #1 spot and I think she uses that preparation to take an early advantage. Wouldn’t surprise me to see this match go three, but I’m sticking to the Tigers in straights: TU 6-3, 6-4
#3 Singles: Megan Flores (TU, 7.13) vs. Riley Clayeux (Linfield, 6.64)
I love Clayeux’s fight, and I think this will be a battle at times. Flores is pretty talented but has struggled moving up to #3 so far, and it wouldn’t be surprising if Coach Gretchen mixes things up a bit. Hard for me to pick against the Wildcat senior, though I think this is an instance where the elevated level at #3 singles catches up to both players. Going with the stronger mental game here. Linfield 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
#4 Singles: Francesca Canjar (TU, 6.79) vs. Lexie Matsunaga (Linfield, 7.32)
Here’s where things start to get really interesting, as I don’t know too much about anyone’s game here so I won’t even pretend, but most everyone down here is new to the D3 lineup and definitely new to being relied on in big match play. I’m going with experience here and backing the senior from Houston. TU 6-4, 6-1
#5 Singles: Paulina Garcia (TU, 7.29) vs. Allena Wong (Linfield, 7.61)
If you believe UTR, both these players should be higher in the lineup. This is another instance where the experience edge goes to the Tigers, but we’ve got to remember that Linfield is playing on their home courts and I think that advantage gives Wong enough to pull out the W. Linfield 6-4, 2-6, 7-5
#6 Singles: Nicole Markiewicz (TU) vs. Haley Fujimori (Linfield, 7.30)
Yet another Hawaiian for the Wildcats, Fujimori bounced back well from a tough loss against Boise St. with last week’s win over College of Idaho. I expect things to get LOUD, especially with likely rain on Saturday that will move these matches inside. Neither of these players has tons of experience playing indoors, though Fujimori’s a bit more used to it now that she goes to school in the northwest. Because I like drama, I’m going with the upset win for the Cats. Linfield 7-6 (4), 6-4
Overall Linfield 5-4
Trinity (TX) vs. Whitman
At this point, Trinity will have traveled across the country and will be playing their 3rd match in 3 days, and from experience I can tell you that the Sunday morning match is always a bit de-energized. Whitman won’t have traveled as far, won’t play Friday, and plays a less emotional match vs. PSU on Saturday so they should be relatively fresh.
This is a match TU will have to win with their depth, as I don’t see them stacking up well against the top of the Blues’ lineup. Whitman’s got a pretty young team, just like Linfield, though they aren’t the Hawaiian heavy hitters and I’d give Trinity the slight edge in the bottom half of the lineup. Not to sound like your coach here, but winning doubles will be key.
I think Whitman’s FuGu duo upend the Kaffens at #1 doubles, though TU will give the Blues a run for their money. This match has NATIONALS in written all over it in big bright letters – the #3 and #4 teams in the west are squaring off and the winner is going to have pole positioning for the automatic qualifier spot behind the CMS teams. However, I like TU’s depth here and will take the tandem of Flores/Garcia over Whitman’s Le/Tsai at #2 doubles and DeBauge/Canjar over KTP/Wong at #3. My “doesn’t-know-anything” blogger predictions have the Tigers taking a 2-1 advantage into singles play.
#1 Singles: Zoe Kaffen (TU, 8.19) vs. Andei Fukushige (Whitman, 9.01)
If Whitman doesn’t take this point, I’m not sure they have a chance to win the match. Fortunately for the Blues, Fukushige is one of the best players in the West, she’s on fire right now, and she’s the NWC’s reigning student athlete of the week. Zoe Kaffen’s still settling into the top spot, and I think she’s a bit outmatched here. Whitman 6-2, 6-3
#2 Singles: Ashley DeBauge (TU, 7.93) vs. Andrea Gu (Whitman, 7.77)
This is the matchup I’m most looking forward to – it’s senior vs. senior with two relatively even players, and I’m selfishly hoping it goes 3 sets. Get ready for some long rallies. Gu’s experience at the top spot last year should serve her well when this one gets close. Whitman 6-4, 5-7, 6-2
#3 Singles: Megan Flores (TU, 7.13) vs. Camilla Tarpey-Schwed (Whitman, 7.07)
Here’s another point Whitman will need to steal if they want to come out on top, and I’m really curious to see what happens. The Tigers have struggled at #3 so far this year, but this will be Tarpey-Schwed’s first big college match and you never know how first years respond when put in that environment. I picked Flores to lose against Linfield and she’s too good to not leave this trip with a big win. TU 7-6 (2), 7-5
#4 Singles: Francesca Canjar (TU, 6.79) vs. Kattie Pak (Whitman, 6.32)
I think the Tigers’ depth is going to start flexing from here on out. Canjar’s played some tough competition so far and will be going into the weekend hungry, still searching for her first dual match win of the year. Pak’s moved up from the #6 spot this year, and this will be some of the toughest competition she’s played so far. TU 6-1, 6-3
#5 Singles: Paulina Garcia (TU, 7.29) vs. Jennifer Wong (Whitman, 6.22)
I’m getting towards the end of the article, writer’s block is kicking in, and I just don’t see Whitman overcoming TU’s talent advantage at these last two spots. Prove me wrong, JWong. TU 6-3, 6-2
#6 Singles: Nicole Markiewicz (TU) vs. Irene Tsai (Whitman, 6.83)
We’ve got an NCS vs. CCS matchup here for all the juniors who played NorCal high school tennis. I really don’t know much about either of these firstyears, but I think Markiewicz bounces back from a Linfield loss with a Whitman win. TU 6-3, 6-4
Overall Trinity (TX) 6-3