NE UPDATE: SPRING BREAK VS CORONAVIRUS

NE SPRING BREAK UPDATE

Can I tell you how dispiriting it is in the Blog group chat right now? Every couple hours there’s some new news on another school doing something related to the Coronavirus, or the stock market, or the presidential race or college basketball or something else equally as depressing. I bet if you polled all the bloggers now, the majority would tell you that it’s certainly more likely than not that the season gets cancelled at some point down the line. Amherst, Middlebury and Tufts have already suspended spring sports and it’s very likely that others aren’t far behind. If so, I will be absolutely crushed. Not really bc it means we’ll stop providing TOP NOTCH coverage (though that will happen too), but really for the seniors whose last athletic hurrah will be cut short. SO…the question now is where do we stand? While we still have something to blog about, I went through all the NE teams in the most recent Blog Power Rankings to examine their spring break plans past, present and future. I’m not going to spend very long on each team bc the NE has a lot of ranked teams. What better way to quickly hit on a lot without really saying very much than way too many blurbs!!!

D3NE EDITS/UPDATES

• TUESDAY, MARCH 10TH 2:00 PM: SO FAR ONLY AMHERST AND MIDDLEBURY HAVE GONE REMOTE/EFFECTIVELY CANCELLED SPRING SPORTS. I/WE WILL CONTINUE TO UPDATE THIS ARTICLE AS MORE SCHOOLS FINALIZE THEIR PLANS.
• TUESDAY, MARCH 10TH 9:00 PM: TUFTS HAS MOVED TO VIRTUAL CLASSES FOR THE REST OF THE SEMESTER, EFFECTIVELY CANCELLING ALL SPRING SPORTS AS WELL.
• TUESDAY, MARCH 10TH 11:30 PM: THE NESCAC HAS CANCELLED LEAGUE AND CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY ACCORDING TO A RELEASE ON THE TUFTS WEBSITE. THE PARAGRAPH OF THE RELEASE RELATED TO ATHLETICS SAYS, “Following a decision of the NESCAC presidents, the NESCAC league and championship play are canceled. Further, Tufts, like many of our NESCAC colleagues, will not have any spring sports for the remainder of the semester. We await guidance from the NCAA about eligibility for spring post-season play. We realize this will be upsetting to our athletes and their supporters. We recognize the dedication and hard work of our student athletes, and we look forward to resumption of NESCAC competition in the future.”
• WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11TH 9:30 AM: BATES HAS CANCELLED THEIR UPCOMING MATCH WITH MIT. This isn’t really a surprise, but still it wasn’t technically NESCAC league play so there was some wiggle room if you were holding out hope.
• WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11TH 11:45AM: THE NESCAC HAS CONFIRMED THAT “conference competition, including conference championships, will be canceled for the 2020 spring season.” Click here to read the full statement.
• WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11TH 3:10PM: MIT HAS CANCELLED THE REST OF ITS SEASON. From Edwin Zhang’s fingers to your eyeballs, MIT appears to be the next casualty.
• WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11th 3:25PM: HAMILTON HAS CANCELLED ITS SPRING BREAK TRIP, BUT SOURCES SAY THEY STILL “HAVE A SEASON”. Considering no NESCAC play, that season will be rather abrupt, but as of this moment they are looking to schedule matches for the short term and long term…

#3 MIDDLEBURY (Blog Power Ranking #6) – SCHOOL GOING REMOTE

Results so far: None, but Midd is supposed to open this weekend against Bates on Saturday and Brandeis on Sunday. 

Spring break: The Panthers are still scheduled to head west at the end of next week. They are supposed to take on Occidental, GFU, PP and CMS amongst some other non-DIII competition. As you can see, things move quickly in today’s modern world. From the time I started this article until now Middlebury has moved to remote classes and HAS SUSPENDED ALL ATHLETICS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. 

Thought for your thoughts: We were very much looking forward to the Brandeis/Middlebury match this Sunday, but alas. My deep condolences to Alex Vanezis, Aleks Samets and Weston Brach, who could be missing out on their senior seasons. 

#5 AMHERST (BPR #8) – SCHOOL GOING REMOTE

Results so far: NONE.

Spring break: CANCELLED. Amherst’s spring break is 100% cancelled as their schedule reflects it, but there’s more…

Thought for your thoughts: It seems like Amherst’s entire season will be cancelled given that the school announced last night they will make the move to remote schooling for the rest of the semester. If that’s the case, my heart breaks for Jayson Fung, the lone senior on the roster. 

#6 WESLEYAN (BPR #5) – NESCAC SEASON CANCELLED

Results so far: The Cards beat an Oscar Yang-less Bowdoin 5-4 yesterday. 

Spring break: CANCELLED! 

Thought for your thoughts: While their spring break might have gotten cancelled, Wesleyan is making the most of it with a win over a team currently ranked #7 in the country. Yes, they didn’t have their best player, yes it was a rather uninspiring thing, but a win is a win and this was very big especially considering it was their first match of the season. TBD as to whether the Cards play again over their staycation. 

#7 BOWDOIN (BPR #9) – NESCAC SEASON CANCELLED

Results so far: Lost 5-4 at Wesleyan yesterday.

Spring break: CANCELLED! Although Bowdoin obviously is trying to stay active with their match against Wes yesterday and a match scheduled at Swat on Wednesday. 

Thought for your thoughts: Tough 5-4 loss for the Polar Bears yesterday, but honestly after looking at the lineups I thought Wes was going to win that match 7-2. Bowdoin played good dubs, and if not for a breaker loss at #2 dubs I think they would’ve found a way to win the match after a doubles sweep. A loss to a conference foe is never easy to stomach, but if Yang is back soon I’m actually leaving yesterday’s match a little more optimistic than when I entered. 

#8 BRANDEIS (BPR #4)

Results so far: The NE team with the biggest results so far, Brandeis downed Wash U, then took Emory and Chicago to the brink. 

Spring break: Completed as technically the Judges’ big trip this spring was to Indoors back in February. Nothing cancelled, but the University did just implement some new policies which you can read about by clicking here. 

Thought for your thoughts: Midd on Sunday is the next big matchup in what already been an eventful season for the Judges. If they can win that one, they will cement themselves as a top-5 team. If they lose close again, then the narrative shifts from look how close they are to look how they keep losing close matches. If they do lose, they’ll get another chance to prove themselves the following weekend against Wesleyan. 

#10 WILLIAMS (BPR #10) – NESCAC SEASON CANCELLED

Results so far: None. Williams starts later than every other NE team each year.

Spring break: CANCELLED? Well not technically yet. The Williams schedule still has the matches, but I’ve heard from multiple places that the Ephs trip is off. They were supposed to play their usual west coast run of some non-DIII teams and the Cruz, PP and CMS. 

Thought for your thoughts: Really nothing at this point. Considering Amherst is very likely cancelling all spring sports, I would guess Williams won’t be too far behind. These two do everything together, it’s cute. 

#18 TUFTS (BPR #13) – SCHOOL GOING REMOTE

Results so far: Split-squad wins over Conn College (9-0) and Babson (6-3), but a rare Sorkin loss!

Spring break: The Jumbos are scheduled to go to Cali at the end of this week and were supposed to start their break against Swat and Sewanee, but both teams have cancelled their trips. The Bos still have Caltech, PP and the Stag-Hen on the schedule, but we’ll see for how much longer. NE EDIT: RUMORS ABOUND THAT TUFTS WILL BE FOLLOWING MIDDLEBURY’S LEAD SHORTLY. 

Thought for your thoughts: I’m high on Tufts to start this year, though that feels like it’s becoming an annual tradition. That said, two other bloggers rank them higher than me in the power rankings, with one even putting them into the top-10! If they don’t make it out to California, Tufts’ next scheduled matches are at the end of the month against MIT and Bates. 

#19 SKIDMORE (BPR #25)

Results so far: 9-0 sweeps of RIT and Bard sandwiched around an unimpressive 5-4 win over Vassar. 

Spring break: CANCELLED! Skid was supposed to play Bowdoin and play in the Stag-Hen, but now the trip is off.

Thought for your thoughts: The team Twitter account posted on March 7th saying the T-Breds would play Bowdoin and Wesleyan over the past few days, but it doesn’t look like either match materialized. No other “make-up” matches are on the schedule at this moment, and Skid’s next match is scheduled for the 22nd against Ithaca. The following weekend brings a home date with conference-rival RPI. 

#26 MIT (BPR #24) – SEASON CANCELLED

Results so far: A 7-2 Colby is the only relevant result so far, but MIT also beat Holy Cross and Colby Sawyer while getting blanked by BU. 

Spring break: Unlike most NE teams, MIT doesn’t usually take a spring break trip, so it’s almost business as usual for the Engineers…for now. 

Thought for your thoughts: MIT dispatched Colby with some ease, and if they can do the same at Bates next week then I think we have to believe in them as a top-25 team. RPI, Bowdoin and Tufts end the March schedule, and if MIT can somehow win two of those three they will have their highest ranking in years. 

#33 RPI (BPR #33)

Results so far: RPI had easy 9-0 wins over RIT and Rochester, and then fell in a brutal 5-4 loss at Swarthmore yesterday. That loss including dropping all three 3rd sets played. Not only that, but RPI won the first set in all three of those matches, AND RPI won those three first sets by scores of 6-1, 6-0 and 6-1 respectively!  

Spring break: CANCELLED! RPI was supposed to be out in California right now. They did add Swat and Lemoyne as replacement matches during that time, and have been tweeting out some good spring break content over the past few days. 

https://twitter.com/RPIMensTennis/status/1236053814710591488?s=20

https://twitter.com/RPIMensTennis/status/1236700793241305089?s=20

https://twitter.com/RPIMensTennis/status/1236725121735327744?s=20

https://twitter.com/RPIMensTennis/status/1236809449773424640?s=20

Thought for your thoughts: Really tough loss to Swat who is seated directly ahead of RPI in the national rankings. They will have to regroup and get ready for MIT, Brandeis and Skidmore, all of whom they are scheduled to play later this month. They will have a real chance to win multiple of those matches.

#34 HOBART (BPR #32)

Results so far: Hobart has a nice 5-4 win over Oberlin, a couple easy 7-2 wins over RIT and Hamilton, and a tough 9-0 thrashing by Case that was admittedly closer than the score. 

Spring break: Still on as of now! Hobart is scheduled to head down to Florida at the start of next week and will be playing a lot of matches. Only one is likely to factor into their DIII ranking though, as the Statesmen take on Hopkins for their 5th match in three days and final match of the trip.

Thought for your thoughts: I don’t see Hobart beating Hop, but pushing the Jays would be at least be a decent result. Hobart should remain about where they are in the rankings until the end of April when they play their conference foes Skidmore, Vassar and RPI to close out the regular season. Those matches will decide Hobart’s postseason fate, and their national rankings (and more importantly their Blog Power Ranking). 

#35 NYU (BPR #37)

Results so far: Tough start to the year for the Violets as they lost 6-3 to Swat and 7-2 to NC Wesleyan before barely getting by Southern Virginia 5-4.  

Spring break: It doesn’t look like the Violets have any sort of spring break on their schedule. I don’t know if the matches were removed from the schedule (NYU has a 2-week period without matches starting next week), or if like MIT they just didnt have a trip scheduled. If only one of the bloggers had fulfilled his duties and written a season preview about NYU we might know for sure. Honestly, I don’ t know whose fault it is, but I’ll happily blame both D3RegNE/C and D3NewRegional. 

Thought for your thoughts: I don’t believe NYU will be in the next set of Blog Power Rankings as of this moment, though they can change that fact by beating TCNJ and Stevens this weekend. The end of the month brings further opportunity to lock in a national ranking with matches against Hobart and MIT. 

#37 BABSON (BPR #34)

Results so far: Wins over TCNJ and Vassar, a reasonable 6-3 loss to Tufts and a not-so-reasonable 8-1 loss to Colby. 

Spring break: As of Monday night they are still going! As of Tuesday morning they are not and the trip is cancelled. The Beavers are were scheduled to play at Whittier on Sunday, and then have the Stag-Hen at the end of the week. 

Thought for your thoughts: Strong start for Bab-O should has them ranked and they are probably a top-35 team if not closer to 30. Nordby appears to be the real deal. 

#38 VASSAR (BPR #40)

Results so far: Vassar has played a lot of matches so far, going 4-3 in February including a close win over Rochester, a close loss to Skidmore, and a blowout loss to Babson. 

Spring break: IN PROGRESS! Vassar beat the cancellation rush and is in California as I type. They play Whitter, Haverford and Chapman later this week.

Thought for your thoughts: I was impressed by the 5-4 loss to Skid even if it was played on Vassar’s funky indoor courts. The Liberty League is better when there is more than just Skid at the top, and it looks like Vassar and Hobart are hoping to challenge both RPI and Skid for the crown (though it’s still definitely Skid/RPI’s conference to lose). 

NR BATES (BPR #38) – NESCAC SEASON CANCELLED

Results so far: Two losses against non D-III teams on their February “spring” break trip to Florida. 

Spring break: Completed! Bates is known for their wonky schedule and mid-February spring break trip, but this year the Bobcats went to Florida instead of California to play some matches that won’t really count for or against their season in the eyes of any committee. 

Thought for your thoughts: Not a lot to glean yet, but Bates has a big match against MIT scheduled for next week. The Engineers will be favored, but this is a BIG chance for the Bobcats to not only get back into the rankings, but do so with a considerable leap. 

NR COLBY (BPR #42) – NESCAC SEASON CANCELLED

Results so far: 7-2 loss at MIT and 8-1 win over Babson. 

Spring break: On for now. The Mules have a trip scheduled for the end of this month where they play four matches in five days down in Orlando including UW-Whitewater. 

Thought for your thoughts: A very nice win over Babson after a very disappointing loss against MIT. Scotty Alt is my POTW for a reason and appears to be locked in early in his senior season.