The second-largest team tournament in collegiate tennis behind the NCAAs is the ITA National Team Indoor event. 15 schools advanced in Kick-Off Regionals to join host Wisconsin in Madison in the prestigious event that lasts from Friday through Monday. Last year, North Carolina dropped only 2 points in its 4 matches to clinch its 2nd title in 3 years. Lots of questions come into the tournament – can UNC match its title run after two of its three stars left? Can Vanderbilt show the world that its NCAA title isn’t a fluke? Will UGA turn its consistency into a national title? Will a new team emerge from Madison as a top-tier team?
Round of 16 Preview
(1)#1 Vanderbilt vs. #15 Duke
Vanderbilt got one of the worst first-round matchups in the entire tournament, playing a Duke team that won this event most recently in 2014. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised to see Duke pull off the stunner. The (obvious) key to this match is doubles, which can go either way with the quicker format. In singles, Capra and Sharma are near locks for Duke and Vanderbilt, respectively. Francis Altick has had an incredible past 8 months and is considered the favorite against a tough Kaitlyn McCarthy. The match can be decided at the bottom three and the No.4 line is basically a coin flip and at No.5, Georgina Sellyn is due for a huge win in her comeback from injury.
Prediction: Vanderbilt 4-3; Both teams are so close in ability, I’m very excited to see how this one progresses. The reigning NCAA champions may have just enough confidence to squeak by in a very tight encounter.
Vanderbilt vs. Duke
1. #11 Colton/Campbell vs. #26 Capra/Hamlin
2. Sharma/Yates vs. Harris/McCarthy
3. Altick/Contreras vs. Scholl/Smith
2. #15 Frances Altick (11.65 UTR) vs. #29 Kaitlyn McCarthy (11.58 UTR)
3. #33 Astra Sharma (11.25 UTR) vs. #79 Chalena Scholl (10.58 UTR)
4. Courtney Colton (11.06 UTR) vs. Samantha Harris (10.93 UTR)
5. Georgina Sellyn (9.79 UTR) vs. #70 Ellyse Hamlin (11.26 UTR)
6. Fernanda Contreras (10.99 UTR) vs. Jessica Ho (10.27 UTR)
Both teams advanced to Madison in Regionals they traveled to, but Fresno State was the lone No.3 seed and they stunned #9 UCLA en route to victory. Ohio State went to TCU as the highest-ranked team in their Regional, but was awarded the No.2 seed. Fresno State vaulted to #30 from #54 in the latest ITA poll thanks to their win, while OSU hit a program-best #16. The Buckeyes recently traveled to Michigan and defeated their rival 4-2 indoors for an extra confidence boost. The No.1 singles match between DiLorenzo and M.Sherif Ahmed is the highlight of the entire match and the Bulldogs could sneak a surprise win at No.2 singles
Prediction: Ohio State 4-0; The Buckeyes are on fire and running on the highest confidence and will be no match for Fresno State. OSU is extremely well-trained indoors and will snag the win before the Bulldogs can sink their teeth.
Ohio State vs. Fresno State
1. #6 Sanford/Kowase vs. Sherif Ahmed/Sherif Ahmed
2. DeSantis/Angeles Paz vs. #58 Watts/Watts
3. Sneed/DiLorenzo vs. Malysheva/Noble
2. Gabriella DeSantis (10.28 UTR) vs. Sophie Watts (10.17 UTR)
3. Anna Sanford (10.59 UTR) vs. Rana Sherif Ahmed (9.66 UTR)
4. Miho Kowase (10.34 UTR) vs. Galina Bykova (9.86 UTR)
5. Ferny Angeles Paz (10.53 UTR) vs. Emma Wilson (9.38 UTR)
6. Olivia Sneed (9.83 UTR) vs. Sofya Malysheva (8.45 UTR)
California’s lineup is one of the highest-quality in the country, especially with the addition of Maria Smith in January. The Bears won their rain-delayed Regional, while Wisconsin gets in as the host wildcard. Lauren Chypyha has evolved greatly as a player throughout her time in Madison, but Cal’s depth is extraordinary deep compared to Wisconsin. I think the Badgers will improve from their last season or two and the experience they get by playing 3 matches against Top 20 teams will be influential in that.
Prediction: California 4-0; Cal is on another level compared to Wisconsin and should cruise into the quarterfinals.
1. #3 Manasse/Starr vs. Chypyha/Kirsch
2. #43 Fabikova/Hauger vs. Rider/Stepanova
3. Chi/Smith vs. Burich/Grambeau
2. #10 Klara Fabikova (11.37 UTR) vs. Ekaterina Stepanova (9.95 UTR)
3. Lynn Chi (11.21 UTR) vs. Kendall Kirsch (9.86 UTR)
4. Denise Starr (11.19 UTR) vs. Maria Avgerinos (9.70 UTR)
5. #81 Olivia Hauger (10.99 UTR) vs. Kelsey Grambeau (9.01 UTR)
6. Karla Popovic (10.57 UTR) vs. Sydney Rider (8.98 UTR)
The biggest news of the last week was the announcement that five players from Virginia’s squad were suspended for violation of team rules. It was said that players left their hotel room for a snowball fight as a winter storm approached, but there have been rumblings that things were deeper for the decision. After an upset loss to South Carolina with only 5 players, UVA inserted a lineup with everyone minus Skylar Morton and Cassie Mercer, which could’ve make the Cavalier lineup even stronger. Texas A&M can push Virginia, but have to cause some upsets to have a fighting chance to upset, even though they’re the favorites on paper.
Prediction: Virginia 4-1; This match is on Virginia’s racquet. If the players suspended are reinstated, UVA will have enough depth to conquer the Aggies.
2. Bhosale/Mamalat vs. Elbaba/Nauta
3. Gavrilovska/Gonzalez vs. Olivarez/Susi
1. #53 Saska Gavrilovska (11.12 UTR) vs. #4 Danielle Collins (12.04 UTR)
2. #58 Rachel Pierson (10.81 UTR) vs. #8 Julia Elbaba (11.83 UTR)
3. #106 Rutuja Bhosale (10.72 UTR) vs. #30 Stephanie Nauta (10.88 UTR)
4. Eva Paalma (10.08 UTR) vs. Victoria Olivarez (10.04 UTR)
5. Domenica Gonzalez (10.69 UTR) vs. Maci Epstein (10.39 UTR)
6. Ines Deheza (10.65 UTR) vs. Meghan Kelley (10.20 UTR)
(3)#5 North Carolina vs. #13 Alabama
North Carolina always brings their best team for the Indoor tournament, but this will be their first big test without Jamie Loeb and Caroline Price. Alabama is a good first test for the Tar Heels, as they play strong doubles and can push in singles. 2-time reigning NCAA doubles champ Maya Jansen has been sitting out (with an injury, I presume) and not having her in the lineup works extremely well in UNC’s favor. Look for Hayley Carter and Andie Daniell to have a strong tournament individually. I’m also looking at Kate Vialle, who has quietly moved up the Tar Heel lineup and contributed greatly in her time.
Prediction: North Carolina 4-0; Looking at their lineup, I just realized how stacked North Carolina is. They have another ranked player at No.7 and then Ashley Dai at No.8. The loss of Jansen is a costly one for the Crimson Tide, but they could give some teams a freight in the backdraw.
1. #2 Carter/Kay vs. #48 Routliffe/Daniell
2. #16 Aney/Vialle vs. Spielmann/Savva
3. Dai/Ouellet-Pizer vs. Dunn/Greene
1. #6 Hayley Carter (11.73 UTR) #vs. 63 Erin Routliffe (10.83 UTR)
2. #88 Whitney Kay (10.76 UTR) vs. #41 Andie Daniell (11.31 UTR)
3. Kate Vialle (10.54 UTR) vs. Joanna Savva (9.65 UTR)
4. #68 Jessie Aney (11.20 UTR) vs. Danielle Spielmann (10.56 UTR)
5. Marika Akkerman (10.81 UTR) vs. Natalia Maynetto (10.02 UTR)
6. #112 Chloe Ouellet-Pizer (10.58 UTR) vs. Aryn Greene (8.89 UTR)
Chris Young’s OSU Cowgirls have constantly improved every year and it’s nice to see them utilize their talent into a Top 10 program. It’s also nice to see Julia Sell bring the LSU Tigers back into the Top 20. She brings the No.1 recruiting class for next fall with star signing Raveena Kingsley still committed. LSU will need to capture the doubles points to and probable wins in singles at Nos. 1, 5 and 6. I don’t see Lushkova and Laurente dropping their matches, while the No.2 match looks to be the tipping point. Not much separates the two teams, but OSU and their talent in the middle of the lineup is a hair stronger.
Prediction: Oklahoma State 4-1; OSU is incredibly consistent throughout their lineup with possibly their No.6 spot a “weakness.” LSU will grit out a point (or two), but the Cowgirls will march on in a close encounter.
1. #27 Katarina Adamovic (10.60 UTR) vs. #23 Joana Vale Costa (11.20 UTR)
2. #38 Vladica Babic (10.94 UTR) vs. #52 Jessica Golovin (10.93 UTR)
3. #46 Viktoriya Lushkova (10.69 UTR) vs. #93 Skylar Kuykendall (10.59 UTR)
4. #89 Kelsey Laurente (10.73 UTR) vs. Ryann Foster (10.30 UTR)
5. Katarina Stresnakova (10.60 UTR) vs. Abby Owens (10.66 UTR)
6. Carla Tur Mari (10.24 UTR) vs. Ella Taylor (10.39 UTR)
1. #9 Laurente/Alavarez vs. Vale Costa/Foster
2. #23 Lushkova/Tur Mari vs. Kuykendall/Owens
3. Adamovic/Babic vs. Holloway/Taylor
If I were a betting man, I’d put good money down that this could be one of the longer matches of this first round. Miami’s team is full of claycourt-style players who will outgrind and extend rallies to debilitate their opponents. Unfortunately, they play a Michigan team who plays indoors nearly year-round. It’s a nice matchup for both teams and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a few of my picks turn out to favor the other side. This is another match where the doubles point is crucial and will affect the winner of this match.
Prediction: Miami 4-3; The 1-2 duo of Lohan and Wagner are too strong this year and they will power the Hurricanes into the quarterfinals
Miami vs. Michigan
1. #7 Sinead Lohan (11.86 UTR) vs. #17 Ronit Yurovsky (11.24 UTR)
2. #9 Stephanie Wagner (11.71 UTR) vs. #19 Brienne Minor (11.37 UTR)
3. Clementina Riobueno (10.60 UTR) vs. #107 Kate Fahey (10.96 UTR)
4. #80 Wendy Zhang (10.82 UTR) vs. Mira Ruder-Hook (10.04 UTR)
5. Clara Taniellian (10.15 UTR) vs. Alex Najarian (10.42 UTR)
6. Ana Madcur (10.39 UTR) vs. Sara Remynse (9.92 UTR)
1. Wagner/Zhang vs. Ruder-Hook/Minor
2. Lohan/Madcur vs. Yurovsky/Fahey
3. Fuentes/Riobueno vs. Remynse/Najarian
(2)#2 Georgia vs. #17 Texas Tech
Prediction: Georgia 4-0; Georgia’s consistency guides them to many Final Fours and other deep runs and they’ll be too strong for the Red Raiders.
Georgia vs. Texas Tech
1. #12 Ellen Perez (11.61 UTR) vs. #77 Gabriela Talaba (11.09 UTR)
2. #22 Caroline Brinson (11.26 UTR) vs. Lynn Kiro (10.50 UTR)
3. #82 Silvia Garcia (10.98 UTR) vs. Sarah Dvorak (10.86 UTR)
4. #109 Kennedy Shaffer (11.23 UTR) vs. Sabrina Federici (10.55 UTR)
5. Mariana Gould (10.46 UTR) vs. Alex Valenstein (10.28 UTR)
6. Laura Patterson (9.79 UTR) vs. Felicity Maltby (10.81 UTR)
1. #14 Perez/Gould vs. Kiro/Talaba
2. Garcia/Brinson vs. Dvorak/Valenstein
3. Patterson/Shaffer vs. Federici/Maltby
You can visit Wisconsin’s home page for the National Team Indoors here.
I don't think Baylor is a top twenty team after a shutout loss at home to Texas A&M and a 4-1 loss at Tulsa. <br />USC and Florida have played in recent past but maybe a trip to Madison Wi was less enticing than one to Charlottesville VA (I know I didn't go for the first time in 5 years)<br />Stanford has hurt their rankings by not playing in the past. Last time the won the NCAA team title they did it as a 8 seed.<br />Maybe that struggle to build a record with enough high quality wins to earn a higher seed is the "punishment" you are asking for.
Sorry to hear the news re: King. Is it her shoulder again? She's a HUGE factor in the success of UGA. I think even more that the NTI is detrimental for them to get solid wins and show they can be a factor with their current lineup.
It honestly skipped my mind to insert that information, my apologies. It definitely somewhat of an asterisk for the winner when so many top teams skip, but the only team in my opinion with a chance for the title with their current lineup and level of play is UF. Stanford, USC and Baylor have all struggled and aren't at their 2015 level, while the Gators seem to be one of the teams to beat. It'll be interesting to see where they end up in the first computer rankings run and then see how they progress.<br /><br />In the past, teams who didn't participate were unofficially penalized, but they would also beef up their schedule that included matches against teams who skipped (ie Florida-Stanford).
Typically Stanford and Fla opt out most every year. They reconciled this to some extent by scheduling one another during that time. It is glaring though that 4 top teams have chosen not to participate- used to just be Stan and Fla. Hopefully this doesn't keep growing to other schools. <br />As a footnote however, I slightly disagree with the optimism re: UGA at this tourney. With Hannah King out with injury for a couple more months they are fairly pedestrian if not weak at 5 & 6 and will give away points at those lines in a tournament against other top teams. They are good in dubs but can be beat there as well. Very strong at 1,2,4 with Garcia a toss-up the last couple years. I do agree in that she is the key but that is assuming they are controlling lines 1,2,4. They really need Hannah back healthy and in a rhythm before NCAAs.
It can't be good for the eomen's game when 4 of the top 16 teams decline participation. If those teams get high seeds at the Ncaa's, others will follow next year and eventually this tournament will be meaningless.
It was a glaring omission to not report that 4 of the top 16 teams declined to participate. It is damaging to the integrity of women's tennis when UF, Stanford, Usc and Baylor all opt out. When it is time for Ncaa seedings, the selection commitee should penalize them accordingly.