04-28-2025, 05:51 PM
An oddity as I was perusing the rankings today. Alexis Blokhina is still ranked by the ITA despite not playing for Stanford this spring - and she checks in at #125 in singles. Alas, we won't have her services as we enter tournament season.
Stanford will travel to Lubbock as a part of Texas Tech's region. We'll open play in NCAA's against unranked Florida International (15-4) of the Conference USA. Florida International is a potentially tricky opponent to navigate. For comparisons sake, they beat Miami 4-0 & 4-3 (Miami was missing their #1 Alexa Noel and forfeited #6 in the first matchup, followed by just Alexa Noel the second go round). We should handle Florida International, but a much sterner test in Round 2 will be #11 seed Texas Tech (22-2). They've beaten the likes of #12 NC State and UC Santa Barbra, UCF, among others. Way back in February, Texas Tech took the doubles point along with wins at #5, #4, and #3 - it seems at a glance that they rely on winning the doubles and finding three from throughout their lineup - and I'd wager that they're a favorite or at least even on #3, #5, and #6 if we face them - so finding four will be a tough ask. That said, you really do have to like how this draw opens up for Stanford. Sure, we're not hosting, and we have a tough out against Texas A&M - but if you win that, you make a trip presumably to Michigan for the super regional where you have to battle against #6 Oklahoma with #3 Michigan or #14 Texas waiting on the other side if seeds hold. In an oddity this year - none of the teams from California are hosting. California, USC, Pepperdine, and UCLA along with Stanford will be navigating this tournament unseeded. Washington is the only former Pac-12 team to garner a seed - and they got rewarded with a #16 seed with California in their bracket close to a VERY good #1 Georgia squad. This year's journey with tempered expectations starts on Friday - I'm sure Colorado Tree has some additional insights to provide that I haven't caught.
Stanford will travel to Lubbock as a part of Texas Tech's region. We'll open play in NCAA's against unranked Florida International (15-4) of the Conference USA. Florida International is a potentially tricky opponent to navigate. For comparisons sake, they beat Miami 4-0 & 4-3 (Miami was missing their #1 Alexa Noel and forfeited #6 in the first matchup, followed by just Alexa Noel the second go round). We should handle Florida International, but a much sterner test in Round 2 will be #11 seed Texas Tech (22-2). They've beaten the likes of #12 NC State and UC Santa Barbra, UCF, among others. Way back in February, Texas Tech took the doubles point along with wins at #5, #4, and #3 - it seems at a glance that they rely on winning the doubles and finding three from throughout their lineup - and I'd wager that they're a favorite or at least even on #3, #5, and #6 if we face them - so finding four will be a tough ask. That said, you really do have to like how this draw opens up for Stanford. Sure, we're not hosting, and we have a tough out against Texas A&M - but if you win that, you make a trip presumably to Michigan for the super regional where you have to battle against #6 Oklahoma with #3 Michigan or #14 Texas waiting on the other side if seeds hold. In an oddity this year - none of the teams from California are hosting. California, USC, Pepperdine, and UCLA along with Stanford will be navigating this tournament unseeded. Washington is the only former Pac-12 team to garner a seed - and they got rewarded with a #16 seed with California in their bracket close to a VERY good #1 Georgia squad. This year's journey with tempered expectations starts on Friday - I'm sure Colorado Tree has some additional insights to provide that I haven't caught.