I’m obviously making the assumption that my first round picks will be correct so based off those picks this is how I have the 2nd round playing out. The doubles records and stats are as of Thursday so if the guys win or lose a match on Friday the numbers would change.
Oklahoma Regional
Headington Family Tennis Center – Norman, OK
[1] Oklahoma (25-2) vs. [17-32] Northwestern (21-9) – 2pm est – This will be the second time this season that these two have met with Oklahoma winning 4-1 during the Kickoff Weekend in a match that was surprisingly close.
Regular Season Meeting
#2 Oklahoma 4, #28 Northwestern 1
Jan 25, 2015 at Norman, Okla. (Headington Family Tennis Center)
Singles competition
1. #20 Andrew Harris (OU) def. Sam Shropshire (NU) 3-6, 6-1, 6-4
2. #14 Axel Alvarez (OU) def. Logan Staggs (NU) 6-2, 6-2
3. #33 Dane Webb (OU) def. #108 Strong Kirchheimer (NU) 7-5, 7-5
4. Spencer Papa (OU) vs. Mihir Kumar (NU) 6-2, 6-7, 1-0, unf
5. Alex Ghilea (OU) vs. Fedor Baev (NU) 7-5, 2-6, 5-4, unf
6. Jose Salazar (OU) def. Alp Horoz (NU) 2-6, 6-2, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. #38 Dane Webb/Axel Alvarez (OU) def. Kumar/Pasareanu (NU) 6-3
2. Fedor Baev/Strong Kirchheimer (NU) def. Papa/Harris (OU) 6-3
3. Sam Shropshire/Alp Horoz (NU) def. Ghilea/Bragusi (OU) 6-3
Match Notes
Northwestern 2-2; National ranking #28
Oklahoma 3-0; National ranking #2
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (2,6,1,3)
Doubles Records: Oklahoma 15-12, Northwestern 17-13
UTR Starting 6 Power Rating: Oklahoma 86, Northwestern 81
Projected Singles Lineups:
1. #1 Axel Alvarez (OU 14.89) vs. #42 Sam Shropshire (NU 14.04)
2. #7 Andrew Harris (OU 14.96) vs. Strong Kirchheimer (NU 13.73)
3. #44 Dane Webb (OU 14.25) vs. Konrad Zieba (NU 13.70)
4. #103 Alex Ghilea (OU 14.33) vs. Logan Staggs (NU 13.43)
5. Spencer Papa (OU 13.88) vs. Fedor Baev (NU 12.89)
6. Florin Bragusi (OU 13.65) vs. Alp Horoz (NU 13.14)
Oklahoma was just getting its bearings straight in the first meeting but they are firing on all cylinders now – I like OU in doubles and look for Alvarez, Harris, and Papa to get the job done. Prediction: Oklahoma 4-0.
UCLA Regional
LA Tennis Center – Los Angeles, CA
[16] UCLA (16-9) vs. [17-32] Texas Tech (19-8) – 6pm est – These two met back during the Kickoff Weekend with UCLA pulling out the 4-1 win in a highly competitive match that had 4 singles matches go 3 sets. Only #1 and #2 singles will be rematches from the first encounter plus the guy that played #3 for Texas Tech in the first meeting is no longer on the team.
Regular Season Meeting:
#4 UCLA 4, #48 Texas Tech 1
Jan 24, 2015 at Los Angeles, CA (Los Angeles Tennis Center)
Doubles
1. #35 Dojas/Soares (TTU) def. #11 McDonald/Redlicki (UCLA) 6-4
2. Di Giulio/Sell (UCLA) def. Cornea/Sendegeya (TTU) 6-2
3. Mkrtchian/Rapp (UCLA) def. Curry/Francisco Zambon (TTU) 6-4
Singles
1. #7 Mackenzie McDonald (UCLA) def. #28 Felipe Soares (TTU) 6-0, 6-3
2. Dennis Mkrtchian (UCLA) vs. Hugo Dojas (TTU) 7-6, 3-6, 1-0, unf
3. #88 Martin Redlicki (UCLA) def. Victor Cornea (TTU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
4. Karue Sell (UCLA) def. Alex Sendegeya (TTU) 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
5. Jolan Cailleau (TTU) def. Joseph Di Giulio (UCLA) 7-6, 6-3
6. #90 Austin Rapp (UCLA) vs. Connor Curry (TTU) 6-2, 5-7, 2-2, unf
Match Notes
Texas Tech 6-2; National ranking #48
UCLA 3-0; National ranking #4
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (1,5,3,4)
Doubles Records: UCLA 18-7, Texas Tech 9-9
UTR Starting 6 Power Rating: UCLA 84, Texas Tech 80
Projected Singles Lineups:
1. #3 Mackenzie McDonald (UCLA 15.07) vs. #37 Felipe Soares (TTU 13.67)
2. #36 Dennis Mkrtchian (UCLA 13.94) vs. Hugo Dojas (TTU 13.47)
3. #107 Martin Redlicki (UCLA 14.35) vs.
4. Karue Sell (UCLA 13.90) vs.
5. Gage Brymer (UCLA 13.82) vs.
6. Austin Rapp (UCLA 12.99) vs.
Could also play:
UCLA hasn’t been the most consistent team at the bottom of the lineup (15-20 at #5 and #6) but the top has been rock solid with McDonald, Mkrtchian, and Redlicki combining to go 43-9 in dual match play. Texas Tech may take one of the matches at the bottom but UCLA gets it done up top and in doubles. Prediction: UCLA 4-1
Texas Regional
Caswell Tennis Center – Austin, TX
[8] Texas (20-6) vs. [17-32] California (19-8) – Saturday 2pm est – These two met last year in the NCAA Round of 16 with Texas winning 4-1 though Cal graduated its top 2 and added 3 newcomers to the roster while Texas has the exact same starting 6 as they had a year ago. Last year Cal went into College Station and upset Texas A&M in the 2nd round so the Bears won’t have a problem going on the road and playing in front of a tough crowd.
Doubles Records: Texas 12-13, Cal 17-10
UTR Starting 6 Power Rating: Texas 84, Cal 82
Projected Singles Lineups
1. #4 Soren Hess-Olesen (TX 14.95) vs. #29 Andre Goransson (CAL 14.21)
2. #42 Lloyd Glasspool (TX 14.01) vs. #97 Filip Bergevi (CAL 13.94)
3. #54 Adrien Berkowicz (TX 13.98) vs. Greg Bayane (CAL 13.47)
4. George Goldhoff (TX 13.68) vs. Oskar Wikberg (CAL 13.48)
5. Nick Naumann (TX 13.77) vs. JT Nishimura (CAL 13.70)
6. Clement Homs (TX 13.69) vs. Billy Griffith (CAL 13.51)
I like Cal’s chances in doubles and I’d give Wikberg a good shot at #4 but I see Hess-Olesen, Berkowicz, Naumann, and Homs winning in singles for Texas. Prediction: Texas 4-2
Georgia Regional
Dan Magill Tennis Complex – Athens, Ga
[8] Georgia (22-4) vs. [17-32] Florida State (20-10) – Saturday 3pm – This would be the 3rd second round meeting between these 2 in the last 5 years with Georgia coming back 3-1 down to win a 4-3 in 2010 and then Georgia won 4-1 in 2012.
Doubles Records: Georgia 18-8, Florida State 21-8
UTR Starting 6 Power Rating: Georgia 84, Florida State 82
Projected Singles Lineups
1. #24 Wayne Montgomery (UGA 14.61) vs. #46 Benjamin Lock (FSU 13.97)
2. #30 Austin Smith (UGA 14.24) vs. #101 Michael Rinaldi (FSU 13.75)
3. #31 Nathan Pasha (UGA 14.32) vs. Marco Nunez (FSU 13.54)
4. Ben Wagland (UGA 13.47) vs. C. Gonzalez Mendez (FSU 13.57)
4. Ben Wagland (UGA 13.47) vs. C. Gonzalez Mendez (FSU 13.57)
5. Nick Wood (UGA 13.83) vs. Jose Gracia (FSU 13.43)
6. Paul Oosterbaan (UGA 13.84) vs. Terrell Whitehurst (FSU 12.97)
Dual Match Singles Records:
1. Montgomery 13-3 vs. Lock 14-7
2. Smith 14-6 vs. Rinaldi 12-8
3. Pasha 12-5 vs. Nunez 8-10
4. Wagland 10-5 vs. Gonzalez Mendez 13-10
5. Wood 14-6 vs. Gracia 13-10
6. Oosterbaan 13-3 vs. Whitehurst 12-7
Dual Match Singles Records:
1. Montgomery 13-3 vs. Lock 14-7
2. Smith 14-6 vs. Rinaldi 12-8
3. Pasha 12-5 vs. Nunez 8-10
4. Wagland 10-5 vs. Gonzalez Mendez 13-10
5. Wood 14-6 vs. Gracia 13-10
6. Oosterbaan 13-3 vs. Whitehurst 12-7
Doubles is a near toss-up but I’m leaning toward Florida State however I think Georgia gets it done in singles with wins from Montgomery, Smith, Wagland, and Oosterbaan. Prediction: Georgia 4-2
TCU Regional
Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center – Fort Worth, TX
[5] TCU (22-7) vs. [33-48] NC State (18-11) – Saturday 6pm
Doubles Records: TCU 15-11, NC State 18-11
UTR Starting 6 Power Rating: TCU 84, NC State 82
FYI, the number beside the player’s school is the player’s Universal Tennis Rating as of May 1st. For more details about UTR check out their website.
The UTR Power 6 is the combined UTRs of the starting 6 (rounded to a whole #). An individual win/loss to anyone with a UTR difference of 1.0 or greater would be considered an upset.
Projected Singles Lineups
1. #49 Nick Chappell (TCU 14.03) vs. #69 Robbie Mudge (NCST 13.89)
2. #59 Guillermo Nuez (TCU 14.00) vs. Beck Bond (NCST 13.68)
3. #39 Cameron Norrie (TCU 14.33) vs. #110 Simon Norenius (NCST 13.76)
4. Facundo Lugones (TCU 13.92) vs. #93
5. Arnau Dachs (TCU 14.10) vs. Thomas Weigel (NCST 13.53)
6. Will Stein (TCU 13.40) vs. Nick Horton (NCST 13.43)
Dual Match Singles Records
Chappell 11-6 vs. Mudge 18-7
Nunez 18-1 vs. Bond 17-5
Norrie 14-8 vs. Norenius 15-8
Lugones 14-5 vs. Powell 14-11
Dachs 16-5 vs. Weigel 15-8
Stein 11-7 vs. Horton 14-12
The matchup at #2 singles ought to be a good one with Beck Bond (17-5) and Guillermo Nunez (18-1) combining to go 25-6 in dual match play. I think NC State steals the doubles point and gets a win at #1 from Robbie Mudge but TCU pulls out the rest though I expect several to be very close. Prediction: TCU 4-2
Wake Forest Regional
Wake Forest Tennis Complex – Winston-Salem, NC
[12] Wake Forest (22-7) vs. [17-32] Florida (15-8) – Saturday 3pm
Doubles Records: Wake Forest 22-7, Florida 13-10
UTR Starting 6 Power Rating: Wake Forest 84, Florida 83
Projected Singles Lineups
1. #6 Noah Rubin (WF 15.20) vs. #63 Diego Hidalgo (UF 14.05)
2. #16 Romain Bogaerts (WF 14.63) vs. Elliott Orkin (UF 14.19)
3. Skander Mansouri (WF 13.34) vs.
4. #106 Jon Ho (WF 13.81) vs. Chase Perez-Blanco (UF 13.78)
5. Christian Seraphim (WF 13.72) vs. #102 Maxx Lipman (UF 13.53)
6. Keivon Tabrizi (WF 13.05) vs. Joshua Wardell (UF 13.20)
Others who could play: Maksim Kan (WF 13.26), Jordan Belga (UF 13.04)
Dual Match Singles Records:
1. Rubin 19-3 vs. Hidalgo 10-5
2. Bogaerts 20-4 vs. Orkin 13-6
3. Mansouri 13-11 vs. Watson 10-6
4. Ho 17-8 vs. Perez-Blanco 12-3
5. Seraphim 17-9 vs. Lipman 5-11
6. Tabrizi 8-6 vs. Wardell 2-4
If Florida can find a way to take the doubles point I’d give them a reasonable shot at pulling the upset because Wake is a tad vulnerable to 3, 4, and 6. Having said that I like Wake Forest in doubles and see them getting singles wins from Noah Rubin, Romain Bogaerts, and Christian Seraphim. I’ll like Gordon Watson and Chase Perez-Blanco for Florida though they both might not get a chance to finish. Prediction: Wake Forest 4-1
North Carolina Regional
Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center – Chapel Hill, NC
[13] North Carolina (22-10) vs. [17-32] Mississippi State (20-7) – Saturday 3pm
Doubles Records: UNC 23-9, Miss State 20-6
UTR Starting 6 Power Rating: UNC 84, Miss State 82
Projected Singles Lineups
1. #12 Brayden Schnur (NC 14.66) vs. #62 Florian Lakat (MSU 13.96)
2. #28 Ronnie Schneider (NC 14.35) vs. Juan Cruz Estevarena (MSU 13.78)
3. #73 Brett Clark (NC 13.85) vs. Mate Cutura (MSU 13.67)
4. Jack Murray (NC 14.17) vs. Rishab Agarwal (MSU 13.89)
5. Robert Kelly (NC 13.77) vs. Tassilo Schmid (MSU 12.94)
6. Stuart DePaolo (NC 12.50) vs. Julian Cash (MSU 13.40)
Others who could play: Esben Hess-Olesen (UNC 13.53), Oystein Steiro (UNC 13.43)
Dual-Match Singles Records – # in ( ) is W-L vs. ranked:
1. Schnur 7-7 (3-7) vs. Lakat 14-6 (7-6)
2. Schneider 17-10 (6-10) vs. Estevarena 10-5 (1-2)
3. Clark 19-5 (6-4) vs. Cutura 12-7 (1-2)
4. Murray 18-6 (2-4) vs. Agarwal 18-3 (1-1)
5. Kelly 22-4 (1-1) vs. Schmid 5-14 (1-4)
6. DePaolo 5-8 vs. Cash 9-6
Notable Streaks – Clark has won 7 of 8, Kelly has won 7 in a row, Agarwal has won 11 in a row, Schmid has lost 10 of 12
Hess-Olesen is listed at 6 and Steiro is listed at 7 in the singles lineup however each has battled injuries for most of the season so it wouldn’t surprise me if neither played and DePaolo got the call at 6. I like Mississippi State in doubles and Julian Cash in singles but North Carolina should sweep the top 3 and also pick up a win from Robert Kelly at 5 with #4 likely in a tight 3rd set. Prediction: North Carolina 4-2
Illinois Regional
Atkins Tennis Center – Champaign-Urbana, IL
Atkins Tennis Center – Champaign-Urbana, IL
[4] Illinois (26-4) vs. [33-48] Drake (25-6) – Saturday 3pm – Last year in the 2nd round Illinois was on the ropes against Memphis trailing 3-0 and facing what seemed like sure defeat when Memphis’s #1 served for the win however the Illini fought back and won 4-3. Drake has a good team but Illinois is too strong from 1 to 5 to get upset here.
I like the Illini in doubles and look for Jared Hiltzik, Tim Kopinski, and Aleks Vukic to pick up straight set wins at 2, 3, and 5. Prediction: Illinois 4-0
Doubles Records: Illinois 20-10, Drake 21-10
UTR Starting 6 Power Rating: Illinois 86, Drake 80
Projected Singles Lineups
Projected Singles Lineups
1. #33 Farris Gosea (ILL 14.68) vs. #40 Alen Salibasic (DU 13.79)
2. #23 Jared Hiltzik (ILL 14.57) vs. #66 Ben Lott (DU 13.71)
3. #65 Tim Kopinski (ILL 14.30) vs. Matt Frost (DU 13.14)
4. #81 Aron Hiltzik (ILL 14.20) vs. Ravi Patel (DU 13.51)
5. #74 Aleks Vukic (ILL 14.46) vs. Calum MacGeoch (DU 12.44)
6. Ross Guignon (ILL 13.30) vs. Ben Mullis (DU 13.09)
Others who could play: Toshiki Matsuya (ILL 13.19), Blake Bazarnik (ILL 12.86), Ben Stride (DU 12.92)
I like the Illini in doubles and look for Jared Hiltzik, Tim Kopinski, and Aleks Vukic to pick up straight set wins at 2, 3, and 5. Prediction: Illinois 4-0
Virginia Regional
Snyder Tennis Center – Charlottesville, VA
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