[1] Oklahoma (29-2) vs. [5] TCU (25-7) – Monday 1pm – Oklahoma is coming off a 4-2 win over #7 Georgia while TCU beat #13 North Carolina 4-1. Oklahoma won the regular season meeting in Norman 4-1 but all the singles match-ups will be different this time around except for the Alvarez/Chappell pairing.
Regular Season Meeting:
#1 Oklahoma 4, #10 TCU 1
March 27, 2015 at Norman, OK
Singles competition
1. #19 Andrew Harris (OU 14.74) def. #37 Cameron Norrie (TCU 14.30) 7-6(5), 6-4
2. #7 Axel Alvarez (OU 14.59) vs. #36 Nick Chappell (TCU 13.82) 5-7, 6-4, 2-3 DNF
3. #76 Guillermo Nunez (TCU 13.72) def. #26 Dane Webb (OU 14.32) 6-3, 6-2
4. #65 Alex Ghilea (OU 14.15) def. Arnau Dachs (TCU 13.91) 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
5. Spencer Papa (OU 13.81) def. Will Stein (TCU 13.30) 6-4, 6-3
6. Florin Bragusi (OU 13.51) vs. Facundo Lugones (TCU 13.64) 6-3, 6-7(5), 3-2 DNF
Doubles competition
1. #6 Webb/Alvarez (OU) def. #19 Chappell/Stein (TCU) 6-1
2. Harris/Ghilea (OU) def. Norrie/Johnson (TCU) 6-3
3. Papa/Bragusi (OU) vs. Blake/Lugones (TCU) 3-4 DNF
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (1, 2), Singles (3,5,1,4)
Doubles Records: Oklahoma 17-13, TCU 18-11
UTR Starting 6 Power Rating: Oklahoma 87, TCU 84
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.
FYI, the number beside the player’s school is the player’s Universal Tennis Rating as of May 15th. For more details about UTR check out their website.
Projected Singles Lineups with UTRs in ( ):
1. #1 Axel Alvarez (OU 15.18) vs. #49 Nick Chappell (TCU 14.03)
2. #7 Andrew Harris (OU 15.05) vs. #59 Guillermo Nuez (TCU 14.11)
3. #44 Dane Webb (OU 14.21) vs. #39 Cameron Norrie (TCU 14.35)
4. #103 Alex Ghilea (OU 14.41) vs. Facundo Lugones (TCU 13.99)
5. Spencer Papa (OU 13.90) vs. Arnau Dachs (TCU 14.13)
6. Florin Bragusi (OU 13.64) vs. Will Stein (TCU 13.51)
Dual-Match Singles Records – # in ( ) is W-L vs. ranked:
1. Alvarez 24-1 (19-1) vs. Chappell 12-6 (5-6)
2. Harris 18-5 (15-5) vs. Nunez 20-2 (6-2)
3. Webb 15-8 (6-8) vs. Norrie 16-8 (5-7)
4. Ghilea 20-4 (2-2) vs. Lugones 17-5 (2-1)
5. Papa 12-10 (0-7) vs. Dachs 18-5 (3-4)
6. Bragusi 11-3 vs. Stein 13-7 (0-2)
2. Harris 18-5 (15-5) vs. Nunez 20-2 (6-2)
3. Webb 15-8 (6-8) vs. Norrie 16-8 (5-7)
4. Ghilea 20-4 (2-2) vs. Lugones 17-5 (2-1)
5. Papa 12-10 (0-7) vs. Dachs 18-5 (3-4)
6. Bragusi 11-3 vs. Stein 13-7 (0-2)
#1 singles – Alvarez had his 23 match winning streak snapped by Mackenzie McDonald but he rebounded with a 6-1, 6-1 dismantling of #24 Wayne Montgomery while Chappell had dropped 4 of his last 5 until he hammered UNC’s #11 Brayden Schnur 6-4, 6-2. Chappell led Alvarez 3-2 in the 3rd in the regular season meeting but if Alvarez plays like he did against Montgomery there won’t be much Chappell can do. Prediction: Alvarez (OU) in 3
#2 singles – Harris has won 8 of his last 9 and he was serving for the match up 5-4 in the 3rd against Georgia’s #30 Austin Smith while Nunez has won 5 of his last 6 with that loss coming on Saturday against UNC’s #28 Ronnie Schneider 7-6, 6-1. Harris hasn’t been as crisp this week but I think he still get by. Prediction: Harris (OU) in 2
#3 singles – Webb has dropped 7 of his last 10 after going down 6-2, 6-3 to #31 Nathan Pasha while Norrie has won 8 in a row and was leading UNC’s #73 Brett Clark 1-0* in the 3rd before the match was stopped. Norrie gets it done in straights. Prediction: Norrie (TCU) in 2
#4 singles – Ghilea has won 6 of his last 8 and 11 of 13 after he held off Ben Wagland 7-6, 7-5 while Lugones has won 12 of his last 13 after he spanked Jack Murray 6-3, 6-1. Prediction: DNF with Lugones (TCU) leading
#5 singles – Papa has won 2 of 3 but he’s coming off a 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 loss to Georgia’s Nick Wood while Dachs has won 7 in a row after clinching TCU’s win over UNC with a 6-4, 7-5 win against Robert Kelly. Prediction: Dachs (TCU) in 2
#6 singles – Bragusi has won 4 of his last 6 after beating Georgia’s Paul Oosterbaan 6-4, 6-2 while Stein has won 6 of his last 7 though he trailed UNC’s Esben Hess-Olesen 6-3, *5-6. This is a court that’s a must for TCU but I see Stein coming up short. Prediction: Bragusi (OU) in 2
Both teams are playing well in doubles but Oklahoma seems to be playing especially well. I’ll take Boomer Sooner at 1 and 3 doubles and then in singles I like Alvarez, Harris, and Bragusi at 1, 2, and 6. I like Norrie and Dachs for TCU and think Lugones could beat Ghilea if the match gets to finish. Prediction: Oklahoma 4-2
Both teams are playing well in doubles but Oklahoma seems to be playing especially well. I’ll take Boomer Sooner at 1 and 3 doubles and then in singles I like Alvarez, Harris, and Bragusi at 1, 2, and 6. I like Norrie and Dachs for TCU and think Lugones could beat Ghilea if the match gets to finish. Prediction: Oklahoma 4-2
2] Baylor (25-5) vs. [3] Virginia (27-3) – Monday 1pm est – Baylor is coming off a 4-2 win over #8 USC while Virginia bum-rushed #5 Texas A&M 4-0. Baylor won both of the regular season meeting winning 5-2 at home on March 1st and 4-3 in Chicago on February 14th – both matches were played indoors. Baylor won the doubles point in both matches with Julian Lenz and Mate Zsiga each winning singles matches in both while Max Tchoutakian lost in both. Virginia’s Collin Altamirano won both his matches in blowout fashion while Ryan Shane and Mitchell Frank both lost twice.
Regular season meetings:
Regular season meetings:
#5 Baylor 5, #11 Virginia 2 – FINAL
March 1, 2015 – Waco, TX (Hawkins Indoor Tennis Center)
Doubles Competition
1. #55 Ryan Shane/Luca Corinteli (UVA) def. #56 Mate Zsiga/Tony Lupieri (BU) 6-3
2. Julian Lenz/Diego Galeano (BU) def. Mitchell Frank/Collin Altamirano (UVA) 6-3
3. Vince Schneider/Felipe Rios (BU) def. Mac Styslinger/Jonathan Cornish (UVA) 6-1
Singles Competition
1. #11 Julian Lenz (BU 14.69) def. #2 Ryan Shane (UVA 14.54) 6-4, 7-5
2. #59 Mitchell Frank (UVA 14.85) def. #23 Tony Lupieri (BU 14.32) 3-6, 6-1, 6-1
3. Collin Altamirano (UVA 14.69) def. #40 Max Tchoutakian (BU 14.22) 6-2, 6-2
4. Vince Schneider (BU 13.46) def. #91 Mac Styslinger (UVA 14.02) 7-6(6), 6-4
5. Mate Zsiga (BU 13.82) def. JC Aragone (UVA 13.88) 6-0, 6-2
6. Felipe Rios (BU 13.62) def. Henrik Wiersholm (UVA 13.77) 6-1, 6-4
Match Notes
Order of Finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (5,3,6,2,1,4)
#10 Baylor 4, #3 Virginia 3 – NTI Quarterfinals
February 14, 2015 – Chicago, IL (Midtown Athletic Club)
Doubles competition
1. #37 Shane/Luca Corinteli (UVA) vs. #40 Zsiga/Lupieri (BU) 6-6 (5-3) DNF
2. Lenz/Galeano (BU) def. #41 Mac Styslinger/Kwiatkowski (UVA) 7-6 (7-2)
3. Schneider/Felipe Rios (BU) def. Mitchell Frank/Altamirano (UVA) 6-3
Singles competition
1. #10 Julian Lenz (BU) def. Mitchell Frank (UVA) 6-2, 6-0
2. #4 Ryan Shane (UVA) def. #67 Max Tchoutakian (BU) 4-6, 6-1, 6-1
3. #27 Tony Lupieri (BU) def. #1 Thai-Son Kwiatkowski (UVA) 6-4, 7-6 (10)
4. Collin Altamirano (UVA) def. Diego Galeano (BU) 6-1, 6-2
5. Mate Zsiga (BU) def. Alexander Ritschard (UVA) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
6. J.C. Aragone (UVA) def. Vince Schneider (BU) 6-3, 6-4
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (1,4,6,2,3,5)
Doubles Records: Baylor 27-2, Virginia 27-3
UTR Starting 6 Power Rating: Baylor 86, Virginia 87
Projected Singles Lineups with UTRs in ( ):
1. #2 Julian Lenz (BU 15.07) vs. #8 Ryan Shane (VA 14.88)
2. #35 Tony Lupieri (BU 14.12) vs. #20 Mitchell Frank (VA 14.53)
3. #58 Max Tchoutakian (BU 14.41) vs. #77 Collin Altamirano (VA 14.72)
4. Diego Galeano (BU 13.79) vs. #19 Thai-Son Kwiatkowski (VA 14.77)
5. #116 Mate Zsiga (BU 14.19) vs. Alexander Ritschard (VA 14.07)
6. Felipe Rios (BU 14.17) vs. J.C. Aragone (VA 14.08)
Dual-Match Singles Records – # in ( ) is W-L vs. ranked:
1. Lenz 15-4 (12-4) vs. Shane 19-6 (12-5)
2. Lupieri 9-10 (4-10) vs. Frank 16-3 (11-3)
3. Tchoutakian 15-9 (4-8) vs. Altamirano 18-3 (3-2)
4. Galeano 14-4 (3-2) vs. Kwiatkowski 22-3 (2-3)
5. Zsiga 14-3 (3-2) vs. Ritschard 11-3 (3-1)
6. Rios 21-3 (2-0) vs. Aragone 22-3 (0-1)
#1 singles – Lenz has won 8 of his last 10 completed matches though his last match against USC’s Yannick Hanfmann went unfinished with it tied at 1 in the 3rd. Shane has won 10 of 12 though his match with Texas A&M’s Jeremy Efferding went unfinished with Shane leading 6-2, 2-3*. Lenz won the last one 6-4, 7-5 but I think this one goes the distance. Prediction: Lenz (BU) in 3
#2 singles – Lupieri has lost his last 5 completed matches after going down 6-3, 6-3 to USC’s Roberto Quiroz while Frank has won 8 of his last 9 completed matches though he’d had 4 in a row go unfinished though he led Shane Vinsant 6-3, 2-1. Tony Lupieri did stun Thai-Son Kwiatkowski earlier this year and take a set off Mitchell Frank on March 1st but I see straight sets in this one. Prediction: Frank (UVA) in 2
#3 singles – Tchoutakian has dropped 3 of his last 5 and 2 straight after getting beat by USC’s Eric Johnson 6-3, 6-4 while Altamirano has won 3 of his last 5 though he trailed Arthur Rinderknech 1-0* in the 3rd. I think Tchoutakian keeps it close but Altamirano get it done. Prediction: Altamirano (UVA) in 2
#4 singles – Galeano has won his last 7 including a match clinching 6-3, 7-6 win over USC’s Jonny Wang while Kwiatkowski has won 11 in a row and 15 of his last 16 after whipping Harrison Adams 6-1, 6-2. Galeano is playing well enough to potentially get the win but I think Kwiatkowski takes a close one in 3. Prediction: Kwiatkowski (UVA) in 3
#5 singles – Zsiga has won 12 of his last 13 completed matches after taking out Max De Vroome 6-3, 6-3 while Ritschard has won his last 6 and he absolutely blistered AJ Catanzariti 6-2, 6-1. Zsiga beat Ritschard 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in the deciding match in Chicago and I just don’t see the Baylor senior ending his collegiate singles career with a loss. Prediction: Zsiga (BU) in 2
#6 singles – Rios has won 11 of his last 12 including a 7-5, 7-6 win over Nick Crystal while Aragone has won 16 in a row after beating Jordi Arconada 6-4, 6-3. Tough one to predict because both have been playing well but I’m leaning towards Rios. Prediction: Rios (BU) in 3
The doubles point is going to be huge because if Baylor takes it again that might be enough to put them over the top but if Virginia goes up 1-0 it’s going to be mighty tough to see Baylor win 4 singles matches against this loaded Virginia roster. The only court where I see a clear heavy favorite is #2 where Mitchell Frank will get past Tony Lupieri. I think all other 5 courts are in play though I like Shane, Zsiga, and Rios for BU and Frank, Altamirano, and Kwiatkowski for UVA. This match will probably come down to some key moments and it’ll be interesting to see how Virginia handles it in front of a large Baylor crowd that should be out in full force. I’m going to take Baylor in a thriller – Prediction: Baylor 4-3
If Nunez wouldn't have got rolled by Schneider I might have gone with him because I thought the same about Harris. <br /><br />When Wood is on he's really good but he has a hard time sustaining that level.
I was at the matches on Saturday. Harris does not look right. His movement looked very limited. When Smith hit a ball that Harris would have to really run to get, he often times just let it go. Watching the match, I thought Harris was the more talented but he was not moving well. His serve is still huge and his strokes are still huge but his movement was just not there. Hopefully, he will be better after a couple of days of rest.<br /><br />Also, in the first set of the Wood/Papa match, I am not sure if Wood could play any better. He was murdering that big forehand. In the first set, he would have given Alvarez everything he wanted.