The doubles point will be critical (duh). But more so than in the past matches because OSU's "hottest" player is #3 Lushkova, while our "coolest" player is #3 Doyle, so I would expect an OSU win at #3 singles. If we also lost the doubles point, we'd have to win 4 of 5 remaining singles matches to win. At #1 Zhao is going to have her hands full with OSU's #1 player who just destroyed Cal's Manasse in the second set today. I like our chances at 2 and 4-6. But winning 4 of 5 will be very difficult to pull off against such a hot team. If we win the doubles point, however, chances are good we'll win 3 out of the 5 singles. And all 3 of our doubles teams played well today, so I feel more optimistic about our doubles than I have for a while.
Also, neither team knows the other, and I would think we have the advantage in coaching: preparation this evening, and especially within-match coaching.
Also, neither team knows the other, and I would think we have the advantage in coaching: preparation this evening, and especially within-match coaching.