Hi everyone! I’m super excited to contribute to College Tennis Today and hope to add on to the awesome work Bobby’s already done to give more light to college tennis. A lot of my knowledge and passion stems from the women’s side of the game and the reason I fell in love with the college game was being present for the #1 Georgia Tech vs #4 UGA battle in 2008. I was hooked ever since and follow all things college tennis current players and in the pros. I hope to help Bobby with giving content for the women’s side of the game while he dominates what’s going on with the men. I’ll start off with my predictions for this weekend’s ITA Kick-Off Weekend.
Vanderbilt (1) Vanderbilt, (49) Penn State, (55) Brown, (NR) Denver
Vanderbilt shocked many, including myself, with their title run to the NCAA Championship this past Spring. They return most of their team and regain Georgina Sellyn, who was their No.1 in 2014. The Commodores start their kickoff against Denver, who is led by former top junior Julia O’Loughlin. The winner of that match will play the winner of Penn State and Brown. Nobody is stopping Vanderbilt from a slot in Wisconsin.
Predictions: SF: Vanderbilt d. Denver, 4-0, Brown d. Penn State 4-2; F: Vanderbilt d. Brown 4-0, 3rd/4th: Penn State d. Denver 4-2
Predictions: SF: Vanderbilt d. Denver, 4-0, Brown d. Penn State 4-2; F: Vanderbilt d. Brown 4-0, 3rd/4th: Penn State d. Denver 4-2
UGA (4) UGA, (57) Old Dominion, (65) Tulane, (74) Wyoming
UGA is one of the top-coached teams in the country with Jeff Wallace doing an amazing job at building players over their 4 years and making them national contenders. Although they’re missing Hannah King out of their lineup they’ll have no problems punching a ticket to Madison. The Old Dominion-Tulane match should be the closest match in Athens, but it’ll be all Bulldogs.
Predictions: SF: UGA d. Wyoming, 4-0, Old Dominion d. Tulane 4-2; F: UGA d. Old Dominon 4-0, 3rd/4th: Tulane d. Wyoming 4-1
Predictions: SF: UGA d. Wyoming, 4-0, Old Dominion d. Tulane 4-2; F: UGA d. Old Dominon 4-0, 3rd/4th: Tulane d. Wyoming 4-1
UNC (5) UNC, (48) Tulsa, (53) Marshall, (68) Yale
A team I’m keeping an eye on this season is the Tar Heels, led by Hayley Carter. UNC lost Caroline Price to graduation and Jamie Loeb to the pro tour and those are two magnificent holes in the lineup. They brought countless wins to the program and this is definitely a rebuilding year, even with strong addions of Jessie Aney and Chlor Ouellet-Pizer. The defending champions will return to the stage, sweeping Yale and Tulsa.
Predictions: SF: UNC d. Yale 4-0, Tulsa d. Marshall 4-1; F: UNC d. Tulsa 4-0, 3rd/4th: Yale d. Marshall 4-1
Cal (6) Cal, (44) St. Mary’s, (52) Washington, (NR) Cal Northridge
Cal will be a tough team to stop this season, even with losing Zsofi Susanyi to graduation. The Bears add Maria Smith and Olivia Hauger, two solid recruits. The St. Mary’s Gaels can play well, even downing Stanford in Palo Alto, but I can’t see anyone downing Amanda Augustus’ squad. Look for Washington, who have built a solid team, to sneak the upset against the Gaels.
Predictions: Cal d. Cal Northridge 4-0, Washington d. St. Mary’s 4-2; F: Cal d. Washington 4-1, 3rd/4th: St. Mary’s d. Cal Northridge 4-0
UVA (8) UVA, (56) Columbia, (66) Maryland, (NR) BYU
Virginia will be one of the teams to beat at the final Indoor event, led by Top 10 players Danielle Collins and Julia Elbaba. The two seniors have combined a 29-6 record this season. Columbia is a tough team to play in doubles, but the Cavaliers are too solid top to bottom to crash out early.
Predictions: SF: UVA d. BYU 4-0, Columbia d. Maryland 4-0; F: UVA d. Columbia 4-0, 3rd/4th: Maryland d. BYU 4-2
UCLA (9) UCLA, (34) Arkansas, (54) Fresno State, (70) UC Irvine
Of any top team this season, UCLA is by far in a “rebuilding phase. They lost their top half of the lineup (Anderson and Van Ngyuen to graduation, Brady to pros), who constantly owned the doubles court as well. Stella Sampras-Webster is another coach who maximizes the potential in her players and it will be interesting to see how Catherine Harrison and Kyle McPhillips handle the top of the lineup. The Bruins will advance to Wisconsin and can go far with a decent draw. I also expect Fresno State to sneak by Arkansas in an upset to play the Bruins
Predictions: SF: UCLA d. UC Irvine 4-0, Fresno State d. Arkansas 4-2; F: UCLA d. Fresno State 4-1, 3rd/4th: Arkansas d. UC Irvine 4-1
Predictions: SF: UCLA d. UC Irvine 4-0, Fresno State d. Arkansas 4-2; F: UCLA d. Fresno State 4-1, 3rd/4th: Arkansas d. UC Irvine 4-1
Texas A&M (10) Texas A&M, (37) Wichita State, (61) Minnesota, (73) South Alabama
Texas A&M is a team I have always overlooked, but constantly have done well every season. Mark Weaver has taken over the Aggies, who are led by Saska Gavrilovska and Rachel Pierson. Wichita State could prove to be a real trouble to Texas A&M, but I think the Aggies have enough depth to continue on. Wichita State/Minnesota will be a tough battle, but the Shockers will wear the Gophers down.
Predictions: SF: Texas A&M d. South Alabama 4-0, Wichita State d. Minnesota 4-1; F: Texas A&M d. Wichita State 4-1, 3rd/4th: Minnesota d. South Alabama 4-1
Oklahoma State – (11) Oklahoma State, (26) Northwestern, (27) Arizona State, (T-32) Notre Dame
This regional was the first to fill up and should be one of two to watch. Oklahoma State has been a program I’ve closely followed and the rate Chris Young has built the team has been phenomenal. Oklahoma State has two rising Serbians leading the team and All-American Lushkova at No.3. They’re too stacked to bet against in my opinion. Any of the four teams could earn a berth in Madison, but the Cowgirls should outduel Northwestern in a heated battle.
Predictions: SF: Oklahoma State d. Arizona State 4-1, Northwestern d. Notre Dame 4-3; F: Oklahoma State d. Northwestern 4-2, 3rd/4th: Notre Dame d. Arizona State 4-2
Miami (12) Miami, (41) Auburn, (69) Michigan State, (NR) Middle Tennessee State
Though full of foreigners, Miami constantly builds a top 10 dynasty and Paige Yaroshuk-Tews deserves so much credit for their longevity. The Hurricanes will win their regional (outdoors), but look for them to make some noise in Wisconsin. They’re definitely a dark horse to outgrind some teams. Don’t expect a ton of close matches at this regional.
Predictions: SF: Miami d. Middle Tennessee State 4-0, Auburn d. Michigan State 4-0, F: Miami d. Auburn 4-1, 3rd/4th: Michigan State d. Middle Tennessee State 4-0
Michigan (13) Michigan, (23) Kentucky, (T-32) Dartmouth, (NR) San Francisco
Ronni Bernstein is another coach whose longevity should be admired. The Wolverines are a tough team to battle indoors and I’m looking forward to see them play Kentucky, who is improving each season. Dartmouth is a solid team that could possibly trouble the Wildcats, but this Buckeye only sees Michigan at the final site.
Predictions: SF: Michigan d. San Francisco 4-0, Kentucky d. Dartmouth 4-0; F: Michigan d. Kentucky 4-2, 3rd/4th: Dartmouth d. San Francisco 4-0
Alabama (15) Alabama, (40) Texas, (45) Purdue, (NR) UPenn
Jenny Mainz has done a terrific job at upgrading the Crimson Tide and they can be a Top 10 team by the season’s end. Although they’re missing half of the two-time reigning NCAA Doubles Champion Maya Jansen, they shouldn’t be tested too hard in Tuscaloosa. Howard Joffe now heads a tough Texas team and I’m excited to see how he transforms a program who should consistently be in the top 20. The addition of Daniella Roldan is a good start to that.
Predictions: Alabama d. UPenn 4-0, Texas d. Purdue 4-1; F: Alabama d. Texas 4-1, 3rd/4th: Purdue d. UPenn 4-3
Predictions: Alabama d. UPenn 4-0, Texas d. Purdue 4-1; F: Alabama d. Texas 4-1, 3rd/4th: Purdue d. UPenn 4-3
Duke (16) Duke, (29) Mississippi State, (36) Florida State, (67) Portland
Duke is a team you can’t turn a blind eye to, especially at the National Team Indoor. Beatrice Capra returns for her final season and I’ll be extra focused to see what freshmen Kaitlyn McCarthy, Ellyse Hamlin and Jessica Ho bring to the table. Although they may struggle against Mississippi State, the Blue Devils won’t be a team missing Madison.
Predictions: SF: Duke d. Portland 4-0, Mississippi State d. Florida State 4-3; F: Duke d. Mississippi State 4-0, 3rd/4th: Florida State d. Portland 4-0
Texas Tech (17) Texas Tech, (30) Virginia Tech, (58) Illinois, (60) Oregon
When glancing over the Regionals, I forgot the Texas Tech was ranked so high. They’re always a team that’s underrated in my opinion and the Red Raiders will have some trouble if they want to advance. Look for Todd Petty’s squad to pull through, but keep an eye out for Virginia Tech-Illinois, which can be one of the closest 2 vs. 3 matches of all of the Regionals.
Predictions: Texas Tech d. Oregon 4-1, Virginia Tech d. Illinois 4-3; F: Texas Tech d. Virginia Tech 4-1, 3rd/4th: Illinois d. Oregon 4-1
TCU (22) TCU, (18) Ohio State, (19) Pepperdine, (42) Houston
Although I’m a little biased because of my alma mater, this (and Oklahoma State) is the one regional to watch. TCU lost All-American Stefanie Tan to graduation, but gained UGA transfer Mia King, who will be a great addition to doubles. Ohio State is led by No.2 Francesca DiLorenzo, who captured the Indoor singles title in the Fall. They are missing Sandy Niehaus, who is nearly a guaranteed win in singles and doubles for the team, but should they escape a tough Pepperdine team, they should book their first Team Indoor berth. Houston has a solid No.1 in Vogasari, but they lack the depth and experience to overtake any of the other teams.
Predictions: TCU d. Houston 4-0, Ohio State d. Pepperdine 4-2; F: Ohio State d. TCU 4-1, 3rd/4th Pepperdine d. Houston 4-0
Georgia Tech (24) Georgia Tech, (21) LSU, (35) DePaul, (46) William & Mary
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are a former champion at the Team Indoor, but a rising LSU program could thwart a return. This is probably one of the weakest Regionals out of the group, but the GT-LSU matchup can be a highlight of the weekend. I think Georgia Tech will take advantage of their opportunity and squeak by in their Atlanta Regional.
Predictions: SF: Georgia Tech d. William & Mary 4-1, LSU d. DePaul 4-0; F: Georgia Tech d. LSU 4-2, 33rd/4th: William & Mary d. DePaul 4-3
My predictions for the National Team Indoor:
(1) Vanderbilt, (4) UGA, (5) UNC, (6) Cal, (8) UVA, (9) UCLA, (10) Texas A&M, (11) Oklahoma State, (12) Miami, (13) Michigan, (15) Alabama, (16) Duke, (17) Texas Tech, (18) Ohio State, (24) Georgia Tech, (NR-host) Wisconsin
(1) Vanderbilt, (4) UGA, (5) UNC, (6) Cal, (8) UVA, (9) UCLA, (10) Texas A&M, (11) Oklahoma State, (12) Miami, (13) Michigan, (15) Alabama, (16) Duke, (17) Texas Tech, (18) Ohio State, (24) Georgia Tech, (NR-host) Wisconsin
Thanks for reading my preview and let me know your thoughts on the women’s regionals – Joey Dillon (Ohio State ’14). If you get a chance give me a follow on Twitter too!!
Gabby Andrews had issues with virtual school, so is attending Tyler JC this year. <br />Also Arkansas will miss their #1 player this weekend. Will be good this year but not having #1 hurts.
Thanks for your synopsis. Ucla was suppposed to add Jada Hart and Gabriele Andrews this year but neither is on the roster. Inderd, they graduate 3 and lose one to the pros but ended up recruiting only 1, Alaina Miller. It should be very challenging for this team to do well. Why would they only add 1 when more was needed?
Welcome! Looking forward to your contributions!