2020 Women’s Indoors QF Preview: #4 CMU vs #5 Chicago

Can I let you all in on a secret? I have “academic time” this morning where I guess I’m supposed to sit in class and learn something (or something like that), but instead I slept in and am blogging. And I don’t feel even a little bit guilty. Let this be a message of hope for all our Type A readers that one day you too can disregard your responsibilities to be an anonymous blogger on a D3 tennis website.

Today I teamed up with the wonderful WCentral to bring you our second match by match 2020 Indoors QF preview. WCentral has quickly adjusted to blogger life and is spitting fire with her predictions — see below. Tl;dr we both think this one is going to be a barn burner but ultimately CMU will pull through.

Who: #4 Seed/#7 CMU vs #5 Seed/#8 U of Chicago 

When and Where: Friday February 28 at 9am EST in Nicholasville, KY

Trip Advisor’s #1 Attraction in Nicholasville, KY: Taylor Made Farm, an 1100 acre Thoroughbred paradise. Taylor Made is home to 2x Horse of the Year and KY Derby Winner – California Chrome!

California Chrome – Kentucky Derby Winner and Nicholasville, KY native

Match rundown: 

#1 doubles: Danna Taylor/ Courtney Ollis (CMU) vs. Perene Wang/Claudia Ng (UofC)

WCentral: This should be a fun doubles game to watch! With Ollis’s poaching talent and Taylor’s groundstrokes, this is a dangerous team. Wang and Ng have played every doubles match together since the fall season, and have good chemistry and have had a lot of success. I think it’s going to be a very tight match, but I am going to give the win to UofC 8-6. 

ASW: I’d be lying if I said that Taylor and Ollis’s most recent loss to Case Western’s #1 dubs team of Paolucci/Bright didn’t worry me coming into this weekend. As bloggers we overgeneralize a lot, and one bad day last weekend may have been just that. However, Wang and Ng from Chicago have been rock solid since fall and if they can get a lead on Taylor and Ollis, there’s a chance that Ollis becomes a little unhinged and loses focus. I think Chicago is the safer pick here. UofC 8-5

 

#2 doubles: Lindy Cornwall/Vinaya Rao (CMU) vs. Eugenia Lee/Catherine Xu (UofC)

WCentral: With Rao being a senior team leader and Cornwall being a big hitter, this duo will be effective. Cornwall has played in the #2 doubles position this year very successfully with several partners, but I think pairing her with Rao will be the winning combination. Xu and Lee have played several doubles matches together this year, with mixed results. Lee is a counter-puncher and pairing her with Xu may be effective if Xu is feeling aggressive on the court, otherwise, Rao’s craftiness will shorten the points, and not give Lee the comfort of the grind Lee prefers. I think this CMU team will just unsettle this UofC team, so I’m predicting CMU will take this match 8-4.

ASW: For whatever reason, every year CMU’s 2 and 3 doubles surprise me with their success. I’ve had a rocky couple of years with Vinaya Rao and I always want to pick her and sometimes she lets me down. Because she really cares about an anonymous online blogger. But this time I think Rao and Cornwall’s aggressive style of play is well suited for indoors, so I’m going to once again put my trust in the senior Tartan. CMU 8-6

 

#3 doubles: Janabelle Wu/Bin Zheng (CMU) vs. Lauren Park/Brigette Wu (UofC)

WCentral: CMU has not been locked into this pair for the lineup for very long, and have only played together twice, but honestly I would have also put these 2 together. However, Park and Wu have played this entire season together with a lot of success.  At #3 doubles, this is a talented group. I will have to give the win to UofC because of their experience together on the court. I think doubles teams only get better as their relationship builds. So UofC will win this battle 8-6.

ASW: I like the vibes I’ve been getting from CMU Freshman Zheng so far in her career and Wu has proven that she is a talented doubles player. Park and Wu have indeed had a lot of success so far this season but like I said above, CMU has always seemed to outperform expectations indoors, especially in doubles. What the heck. CMU 8-6

 

#1 singles: Danna Taylor (CMU) vs. Lauren Park (UofC)

WCentral: If this match was played in the fall I would have given the win to UofC, however this spring Park seems to be struggling in the #1 position. With Antohi away, studying abroad for a few more weeks, Park has been forced to take the lead and doesn’t seem to be comfortable in that position. CMU will win this face-off 7-6/6-2

ASW: Danna Taylor has proven that she can consistently win the big matches and I don’t think Park will bring enough firepower to blow Taylor out of the water. Park did have a great fall season but so far this spring has been off to a shaky start. I think Taylor has a bit more confidence coming into this match and will able to convert the big points. CMU 7-5, 6-1

 

#2 singles: Vinaya Rao (CMU) vs. Catherine Xu (UofC)

WCentral: Rao has moved up to the #2 position this year and has been stepping up to the plate. She seems to prefer to play hard hitters, so the match-up with Xu will benefit Rao more than Xu. With Xu having to play in the #2 position, because of Antohi’s absence, she seems to be struggling a little. I’m giving this match to CMU 6-4/6-3. 

ASW: As I said above, Rao has always been a CMU enigma but I agree with WCentral in that her playing higher in the lineup is actually a good move since she prefers to play against the harder hitters and stay away from long rallies. Xu has also contributed to Chicago’s early season jitters and on the big stage, I like that Rao has been here 3 times before. I predict that the CMU senior will come out inspired on Friday and take this one with ease. CMU 6-2, 6-4

 

#3 singles: Bin Zheng (CMU) vs. Nicole Semenov (UofC)

WCentral: This is the match I want to watch! Zheng is a very strong #3 but will have her patience tested with the creative Semenov. Though Semenov will frustrate her opponents to no end, I believe Zheng will be up for the challenge and take this match in 3 sets. CMU 7-6/4-6/6-3

ASW: Like CentralW, I think this match will be extremely close. I was very high on Semenov at the end of last year when she was playing a little lower in Chicago’s lineup, but right now Bin Zheng is the trendy pick. Between this match and #3 doubles match, Zheng has her work cut out for her on Friday but if she has a good day the pay off will be big. I can see this one going either way but for the sake of variety I’m going with Semenov in 3. UofC 3-6, 6-4,6-4 

 

#4 singles: Janabelle Wu (CMU) vs. Claudia Ng (UofC)

WCentral: As talented as Wu is, I believe Ng will prevail in this match-up. Ng has had a terrific year, alternating between #3 and #4 in the lineup, and she could easily play higher up in the line-up. This face-off I have to give to UofC 6-3/6-3.

ASW: Wu is another one of CMU’s players that has a lot of ups and downs. When she’s playing well, she’s absolute fire but I’m not sure which Janabelle will show up this weekend. I like the consistency that Ng has been showing us this spring and I’ve been burned by Wu in these prediction pieces before. Sorry Janabelle, I’m going with Ng for this match. UofC  7-5, 6-4

 

#5 singles: Lindy Cornwall (CMU) vs. Perene Wang (UofC)

WCentral: Just as with the #4 match, the same goes for the #5 position. Cornwall is an excellent singles player, however, Wang is very talented and has had a great season, going undefeated. Wang’s UTR is 9.48, vs Cornwall’s 8.36, so I think Wang from UofC will take this one. 6-2/6-2.

ASW: In our roundtable preview I mentioned that I thought Chicago has a little more depth than CMU and this is probably why I’m picking Chicago in all these lower lineup matches. Cornwall didn’t see much playing time last year during her Freshman campaign but this year has worked her way into both the singles and doubles line up. No doubt she’s playing well, but I think freshman Wang is too hot right now. UofC 6-3, 6-3

 

#6 singles: Madeline Fidel (CMU) vs. Brigette Wu (UofC)

WCentral: So it all comes down to the #6 position. Fidel has been floating between the #5 and #6 position this season, with a lot of success.  Wu hasn’t played much in the line-up this year, and when she has it’s been with mixed results. There is a lot of talent for both teams at this #6 position, however, I have to give the win to Fidel, who is going into this tournament undefeated with a 8.44 UTR, vs Wu with a, 8.39 UTR. So I predict CMU will win with a score of 6-4/6-3. 

ASW: Fidel had a sneaky good fall by making the semifinals of her ITA Regional. Wu didn’t play much singles in the fall and so far this season has done well at #6 singles. I’m torn on this match as well but since I think CMU is going to win the whole thing, I’m going to give Fidel the nod here. CMU 3-6, 7-5, 6-1

 

Overall prediction:

WCentral: This is an important match and will be impactful regarding UAA seeding and NCAA Pool C. I think it will be so close, and come down to just a few factors. I believe that #3 and #6 singles will be the deciding matches. The win could go to either team, however because UofC’s inconsistency this season, I am going to predict that CMU will be the winner of this nailbiter face-off. CMU 5-4

ASW: I agree with what WCentral said regarding the importance of this match, and I expect it to be very close. Adding up my matches above, I also predict a CMU 5-4 victory, though I have them picking up wins in slightly different spots. I think it will come down to whoever can get the lead after doubles. If I am wrong, then you have permission to comment on this article about what a trash fortune-teller I am.

2 thoughts on “2020 Women’s Indoors QF Preview: #4 CMU vs #5 Chicago

  1. Winging It

    Lauren James and Melissa Strome haven’t been in the Carnegie lineups this month. Any idea why not? If they play this weekend, that would tip the scales further toward Carnegie. Strome is a doubles All-American and James was very impressive in the fall.

    1. D3ASouthW

      Not sure what happened to James but Strome has been dealing with a wrist injury that took her out all fall.

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