[ColoradoTree]

After a disappointing week that included a great fight against a top team (Pepperdine) and a disastrous loss to Oregon--the worst loss I can recall in my time closely following this team--Stanford has a chance to get back on track with a trip to Los Angeles this weekend to play UCLA and USC. The harder task comes first, with the UCLA match today at 1:30pm. 

UCLA is excellent, and they will almost certainly take the doubles point, as it's a point of emphasis for them, and something we tend to deemphasize as a program. (That comment is made without any knowledge of Stanford practices, but at some point, the proof of the pudding is in the tasting, and we are a far stronger singles team than a doubles team, often having to come back and find four singles wins to take the match.) Arbuthnott will be overmatched at #2 singles. Our hopes rest on Geller and Choy both being healthy, getting wins at #3, #4, and #6 singles, and then hoping that either Gordon at 1 or Choy at 5 brings us home. 

As for USC, it's still a tough match, but one that if we play reasonably close to our level, we should win. And wins over UCLA and USC would put us back in the driver's seat for the #1 seed in the conference tournament. 

UCLA live stream/stats: https://uclabruins.com/sports/2020/1/13/...ats-w.aspx

USC live stream/stats: https://usctrojans.com/sports/2020/2/19/...adium.aspx

[ColoradoTree]

After a disappointing week that included a great fight against a top team (Pepperdine) and a disastrous loss to Oregon--the worst loss I can recall in my time closely following this team--Stanford has a chance to get back on track with a trip to Los Angeles this weekend to play UCLA and USC. The harder task comes first, with the UCLA match today at 1:30pm. 

UCLA is excellent, and they will almost certainly take the doubles point, as it's a point of emphasis for them, and something we tend to deemphasize as a program. (That comment is made without any knowledge of Stanford practices, but at some point, the proof of the pudding is in the tasting, and we are a far stronger singles team than a doubles team, often having to come back and find four singles wins to take the match.) Arbuthnott will be overmatched at #2 singles. Our hopes rest on Geller and Choy both being healthy, getting wins at #3, #4, and #6 singles, and then hoping that either Gordon at 1 or Choy at 5 brings us home. 

As for USC, it's still a tough match, but one that if we play reasonably close to our level, we should win. And wins over UCLA and USC would put us back in the driver's seat for the #1 seed in the conference tournament. 

UCLA live stream/stats: https://uclabruins.com/sports/2020/1/13/...ats-w.aspx

USC live stream/stats: https://usctrojans.com/sports/2020/2/19/...adium.aspx

[oldalum]

Still no Geller in singles. Blake has been promoted to #2 singles!

[oldalum]

Still no Geller in singles. Blake has been promoted to #2 singles!

[Lorcan]

Arbuthnott still struggling down a spot, but Bolton is a very good player. Arbuthnott down 5-0, and it’s looking grim. 

Choy is a bright spot so far, but after her recent losses, I’m hoping she can come through.

[Lorcan]

Arbuthnott still struggling down a spot, but Bolton is a very good player. Arbuthnott down 5-0, and it’s looking grim. 

Choy is a bright spot so far, but after her recent losses, I’m hoping she can come through.

[BostonCard]

Unsurprisingly, we lost the doubles point (6-2 in both 1 and 3, with 2 tied at 4 when play was stopped)

Gordon is down 6-2, 1-0
Blake is down 5-2
Arbuthnott is down 6-1, 1-0
Shin is down 5-2
Choy is up 6-2
Higuchi is down 5-2

If things hold, we could easily lose 6-1 (or 4-1 if they stop play).

BC

[BostonCard]

Unsurprisingly, we lost the doubles point (6-2 in both 1 and 3, with 2 tied at 4 when play was stopped)

Gordon is down 6-2, 1-0
Blake is down 5-2
Arbuthnott is down 6-1, 1-0
Shin is down 5-2
Choy is up 6-2
Higuchi is down 5-2

If things hold, we could easily lose 6-1 (or 4-1 if they stop play).

BC

[ColoradoTree]

Arbuthnott-Bolton and Blake-Hart were the matchups I expected, just on different lines!

Yeah, only one first set when you need four points is rough. Arbuthnott is showing some fight in the second set, which is encouraging. Higuchi is hanging in there. But even if they were to pull off three-setters, where’s the fourth point? Maybe Blake shakes this off because her first set was closest.

But not looking good, certainly. On the bright side, it would be one heck of a comeback if we did it!

---

Some signs of life: 

* Gordon tied up her second set at 4-4
* Arbuthnott took her second set 6-3!

The problem is that Shin and Higuchi look done and headed for scorelines that, frankly, are embarrassing for a match between two heated rivals like this. Now Hart seems to be pulling away from Blake a bit, and that would be UCLA’s four points. They have options for their fourth point, and we need to shoot the moon.

---

On the other hand, Choy has now lost 3 straight and that set is 4-4. 

This dual match has probably just seconds left before it’s clinched. Sigh.

Losing to UCLA isn’t embarrassing. But these scorelines? Those are embarrassing.

[ColoradoTree]

Arbuthnott-Bolton and Blake-Hart were the matchups I expected, just on different lines!

Yeah, only one first set when you need four points is rough. Arbuthnott is showing some fight in the second set, which is encouraging. Higuchi is hanging in there. But even if they were to pull off three-setters, where’s the fourth point? Maybe Blake shakes this off because her first set was closest.

But not looking good, certainly. On the bright side, it would be one heck of a comeback if we did it!

---

Some signs of life: 

* Gordon tied up her second set at 4-4
* Arbuthnott took her second set 6-3!

The problem is that Shin and Higuchi look done and headed for scorelines that, frankly, are embarrassing for a match between two heated rivals like this. Now Hart seems to be pulling away from Blake a bit, and that would be UCLA’s four points. They have options for their fourth point, and we need to shoot the moon.

---

On the other hand, Choy has now lost 3 straight and that set is 4-4. 

This dual match has probably just seconds left before it’s clinched. Sigh.

Losing to UCLA isn’t embarrassing. But these scorelines? Those are embarrassing.

[ColoradoTree]

4-0 and they’re playing it out. This could get even uglier. 7-0 isn’t out of the question as Choy trails 4-5 in her second set now.

---

Should be a third set match tiebreaker for Choy now as she loses five straight games to drop the second set.

Blake down 2-5 in her second set, so can she muster a comeback when the team has already lost? That’s especially tough when it feels pointless.

Arbuthnott tied 2-2 in her third set. She has a lot to be proud of, the way she came back and fought after a very quick drubbing in her first set. She’s about the only one with something to be proud of, though.

---

Choy loses 11-9 in the tiebreaker after leading 8-5. Her finishing continues to be wanting. 

She was up 6-2, 4-1! Goodness.

Arbuthnott leaving some opportunities on the table, but at least she’s battling.

[ColoradoTree]

4-0 and they’re playing it out. This could get even uglier. 7-0 isn’t out of the question as Choy trails 4-5 in her second set now.

---

Should be a third set match tiebreaker for Choy now as she loses five straight games to drop the second set.

Blake down 2-5 in her second set, so can she muster a comeback when the team has already lost? That’s especially tough when it feels pointless.

Arbuthnott tied 2-2 in her third set. She has a lot to be proud of, the way she came back and fought after a very quick drubbing in her first set. She’s about the only one with something to be proud of, though.

---

Choy loses 11-9 in the tiebreaker after leading 8-5. Her finishing continues to be wanting. 

She was up 6-2, 4-1! Goodness.

Arbuthnott leaving some opportunities on the table, but at least she’s battling.

[ColoradoTree]

Arbuthnott was the most heavily overmatched player coming into this, so absolutely full credit to her for this, win or lose.

---

She had a couple of match points up 5-4 but couldn’t convert. Then Bolton held quickly to 6-5, so Arbuthnott needs to force a third set tiebreaker here....

[ColoradoTree]

Arbuthnott was the most heavily overmatched player coming into this, so absolutely full credit to her for this, win or lose.

---

She had a couple of match points up 5-4 but couldn’t convert. Then Bolton held quickly to 6-5, so Arbuthnott needs to force a third set tiebreaker here....

[BostonCard]

Gordon lost 6-2, 6-4
Blake lost 6-4, 6-2
Higuchi lost 6-2, 6-1

The scoreboard is saying UCLA 6-0, but court 3 is still going on (Arbuthnott trailing 6-5 in the third set), Court 5 is still going on (Choy trailing 1-0 in the third set), and Court 4 looks to be going into a second set tiebreaker, or did I miss something?  Only Arbuthnott's match is updating.

BC

[BostonCard]

Gordon lost 6-2, 6-4
Blake lost 6-4, 6-2
Higuchi lost 6-2, 6-1

The scoreboard is saying UCLA 6-0, but court 3 is still going on (Arbuthnott trailing 6-5 in the third set), Court 5 is still going on (Choy trailing 1-0 in the third set), and Court 4 looks to be going into a second set tiebreaker, or did I miss something?  Only Arbuthnott's match is updating.

BC

[ColoradoTree]

Ugh. 7-0 it is.

---

Gordon lost 6-2, 6-4
Blake lost 6-4, 6-2
Higuchi lost 6-2, 6-1

The scoreboard is saying UCLA 6-0, but court 3 is still going on (Arbuthnott trailing 6-5 in the third set), Court 5 is still going on (Choy trailing 1-0 in the third set), and Court 4 looks to be going into a second set tiebreaker, or did I miss something?  Only Arbuthnott's match is updating.

BC

Choy’s match played out as a 10-point tiebreaker for the third set because UCLA already had four points (doubles plus courts 1, 4, and 6) when UCLA forced a third set there. Blake lost soon after, making it 5-0. Choy lost the match tiebreaker, making it 6-0, and Arbuthnott’s loss just now completed the sweep.

---

Shin lost 6-2, 6-0, so the scoreboard may have been acting up....

[ColoradoTree]

Ugh. 7-0 it is.

---

Gordon lost 6-2, 6-4
Blake lost 6-4, 6-2
Higuchi lost 6-2, 6-1

The scoreboard is saying UCLA 6-0, but court 3 is still going on (Arbuthnott trailing 6-5 in the third set), Court 5 is still going on (Choy trailing 1-0 in the third set), and Court 4 looks to be going into a second set tiebreaker, or did I miss something?  Only Arbuthnott's match is updating.

BC

Choy’s match played out as a 10-point tiebreaker for the third set because UCLA already had four points (doubles plus courts 1, 4, and 6) when UCLA forced a third set there. Blake lost soon after, making it 5-0. Choy lost the match tiebreaker, making it 6-0, and Arbuthnott’s loss just now completed the sweep.

---

Shin lost 6-2, 6-0, so the scoreboard may have been acting up....

[Spiny_Norman]

WVB did not make the NCAAs, Women's Tennis looks like they may be on the outside for NCAAs and Women's Soccer is only at .500 after going 1-3-2 in the last 6 matches. Tough year for 3 defending national championship programs.

[Spiny_Norman]

WVB did not make the NCAAs, Women's Tennis looks like they may be on the outside for NCAAs and Women's Soccer is only at .500 after going 1-3-2 in the last 6 matches. Tough year for 3 defending national championship programs.

[BostonCard]

WVB did not make the NCAAs, Women's Tennis looks like they may be on the outside for NCAAs and Women's Soccer is only at .500 after going 1-3-2 in the last 6 matches. Tough year for 3 defending national championship programs.

ColoradoTree is much more plugged in than I am, but I think the risk for the women's tennis team is that it doesn't host the first rounds (which seems likely now), not that they will miss the NCAA tournament entirely.

BC

[BostonCard]

WVB did not make the NCAAs, Women's Tennis looks like they may be on the outside for NCAAs and Women's Soccer is only at .500 after going 1-3-2 in the last 6 matches. Tough year for 3 defending national championship programs.

ColoradoTree is much more plugged in than I am, but I think the risk for the women's tennis team is that it doesn't host the first rounds (which seems likely now), not that they will miss the NCAA tournament entirely.

BC

[terry]

WVB did not make the NCAAs, Women's Tennis looks like they may be on the outside for NCAAs and Women's Soccer is only at .500 after going 1-3-2 in the last 6 matches. Tough year for 3 defending national championship programs.

Yes, exactly. This is a strange, sad, and somewhat alarming development.

[terry]

WVB did not make the NCAAs, Women's Tennis looks like they may be on the outside for NCAAs and Women's Soccer is only at .500 after going 1-3-2 in the last 6 matches. Tough year for 3 defending national championship programs.

Yes, exactly. This is a strange, sad, and somewhat alarming development.

[ColoradoTree]

WVB did not make the NCAAs, Women's Tennis looks like they may be on the outside for NCAAs and Women's Soccer is only at .500 after going 1-3-2 in the last 6 matches. Tough year for 3 defending national championship programs.

ColoradoTree is much more plugged in than I am, but I think the risk for the women's tennis team is that it doesn't host the first rounds (which seems likely now), not that they will miss the NCAA tournament entirely.

BC

I think that’s right. We won’t be seeded in NCAAs—for the first time in program history—but we’ll be in the tournament. 

There are some indications that the NCAA might be moving away from seeded teams hosting and instead having teams present bids to host the early rounds, but that’s not clear right now. If the rules are what they have been, I don’t see a path to us being a top 8/16 team anymore.

[ColoradoTree]

WVB did not make the NCAAs, Women's Tennis looks like they may be on the outside for NCAAs and Women's Soccer is only at .500 after going 1-3-2 in the last 6 matches. Tough year for 3 defending national championship programs.

ColoradoTree is much more plugged in than I am, but I think the risk for the women's tennis team is that it doesn't host the first rounds (which seems likely now), not that they will miss the NCAA tournament entirely.

BC

I think that’s right. We won’t be seeded in NCAAs—for the first time in program history—but we’ll be in the tournament. 

There are some indications that the NCAA might be moving away from seeded teams hosting and instead having teams present bids to host the early rounds, but that’s not clear right now. If the rules are what they have been, I don’t see a path to us being a top 8/16 team anymore.

[Jamesy]

Saw that India Houghton played at #6. What's her deal? Came in as the #2 recruit nationally and can barely make the lineup? Other similarly ranked recruits play at #1 their whole career.

[Jamesy]

Saw that India Houghton played at #6. What's her deal? Came in as the #2 recruit nationally and can barely make the lineup? Other similarly ranked recruits play at #1 their whole career.

[BostonCard]

At least we beat USC 6-1

We took the doubles point with wins at 1 and 3.
Choy then won 6-2, 6-0
Higuchi won 6-1, 6-3
Blake Clinched in three sets 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
Gordon lost in a third set tiebreaker 6-4, 4-6, 0-1 (3-10)
Arbuthnott won in a third set tiebreaker 5-7, 7-6, 1-0 (10-3)
Houghton won 3,6, 6-2, 7-5

BC

[BostonCard]

At least we beat USC 6-1

We took the doubles point with wins at 1 and 3.
Choy then won 6-2, 6-0
Higuchi won 6-1, 6-3
Blake Clinched in three sets 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
Gordon lost in a third set tiebreaker 6-4, 4-6, 0-1 (3-10)
Arbuthnott won in a third set tiebreaker 5-7, 7-6, 1-0 (10-3)
Houghton won 3,6, 6-2, 7-5

BC

[ColoradoTree]

Saw that India Houghton played at #6. What's her deal? Came in as the #2 recruit nationally and can barely make the lineup? Other similarly ranked recruits play at #1 their whole career.

I mean, not often here. Even Nicole Gibbs played lower in the lineup her first year. It happens sometimes, sure, but we’ve got a long history of top recruits playing lower. (That said, I also figured Houghton would have immediately played more often, displacing Choy/Shin/Higuchi. But team tennis can be a weird adjustment for some folks.)

[ColoradoTree]

Saw that India Houghton played at #6. What's her deal? Came in as the #2 recruit nationally and can barely make the lineup? Other similarly ranked recruits play at #1 their whole career.

I mean, not often here. Even Nicole Gibbs played lower in the lineup her first year. It happens sometimes, sure, but we’ve got a long history of top recruits playing lower. (That said, I also figured Houghton would have immediately played more often, displacing Choy/Shin/Higuchi. But team tennis can be a weird adjustment for some folks.)

[Jamesy]

True. Gibbs and zhao both played at #3 their frosh year then #1 the remainder of their career. Gordon, Barte and Liu were at #1 from their frosh year. I'm mostly amazed that Houghton can't even break into the lineup.

[Jamesy]

True. Gibbs and zhao both played at #3 their frosh year then #1 the remainder of their career. Gordon, Barte and Liu were at #1 from their frosh year. I'm mostly amazed that Houghton can't even break into the lineup.

[Sakibomb25]

WVB did not make the NCAAs, Women's Tennis looks like they may be on the outside for NCAAs and Women's Soccer is only at .500 after going 1-3-2 in the last 6 matches. Tough year for 3 defending national championship programs.

You really aren't being fair to either volleyball or soccer team, especially if you have been paying attention.

With women's volleyball, not practicing has really hurt them. They have the talent, and you can see the damage they can do with more time together (taking No. 8 Washington to 16-14 in the fifth on the Husky's homecourt isn't an easy task). Add to the injuries they have had (McClure to start off the season, then throw in Cambell, L. Smith, Lougeay, and Kendall Kipp and that's three starters right there). It wasn't the prettiest seasons for sure, but I'm going to give them a pass because it's something completely out of their control.

The soccer team also got hit with a bunch of injuries and graduations. Not only did Stanford lose Macario (a generational talent) a year early, they also lost Sophia Smith two years ahead of schedule. Add on losing Naomi Girma, their anchor on defense and one of the best defensive players in college, it's no wonder they havent' done as well as they have. They just don't have the talent we are accustomed to. It will be interesting to see how recruiting shapes up to see if this is the new norm, or if it really was the early departures of Macario and Smith that really hurt us.

[Sakibomb25]

WVB did not make the NCAAs, Women's Tennis looks like they may be on the outside for NCAAs and Women's Soccer is only at .500 after going 1-3-2 in the last 6 matches. Tough year for 3 defending national championship programs.

You really aren't being fair to either volleyball or soccer team, especially if you have been paying attention.

With women's volleyball, not practicing has really hurt them. They have the talent, and you can see the damage they can do with more time together (taking No. 8 Washington to 16-14 in the fifth on the Husky's homecourt isn't an easy task). Add to the injuries they have had (McClure to start off the season, then throw in Cambell, L. Smith, Lougeay, and Kendall Kipp and that's three starters right there). It wasn't the prettiest seasons for sure, but I'm going to give them a pass because it's something completely out of their control.

The soccer team also got hit with a bunch of injuries and graduations. Not only did Stanford lose Macario (a generational talent) a year early, they also lost Sophia Smith two years ahead of schedule. Add on losing Naomi Girma, their anchor on defense and one of the best defensive players in college, it's no wonder they havent' done as well as they have. They just don't have the talent we are accustomed to. It will be interesting to see how recruiting shapes up to see if this is the new norm, or if it really was the early departures of Macario and Smith that really hurt us.

[Maple Leaf]

WVB did not make the NCAAs, Women's Tennis looks like they may be on the outside for NCAAs and Women's Soccer is only at .500 after going 1-3-2 in the last 6 matches. Tough year for 3 defending national championship programs.

You really aren't being fair to either volleyball or soccer team, especially if you have been paying attention.

With women's volleyball, not practicing has really hurt them. They have the talent, and you can see the damage they can do with more time together (taking No. 8 Washington to 16-14 in the fifth on the Husky's homecourt isn't an easy task). Add to the injuries they have had (McClure to start off the season, then throw in Cambell, L. Smith, Lougeay, and Kendall Kipp and that's three starters right there). It wasn't the prettiest seasons for sure, but I'm going to give them a pass because it's something completely out of their control.

The soccer team also got hit with a bunch of injuries and graduations. Not only did Stanford lose Macario (a generational talent) a year early, they also lost Sophia Smith two years ahead of schedule. Add on losing Naomi Girma, their anchor on defense and one of the best defensive players in college, it's no wonder they havent' done as well as they have. They just don't have the talent we are accustomed to. It will be interesting to see how recruiting shapes up to see if this is the new norm, or if it really was the early departures of Macario and Smith that really hurt us.

Very well said.

[Maple Leaf]

WVB did not make the NCAAs, Women's Tennis looks like they may be on the outside for NCAAs and Women's Soccer is only at .500 after going 1-3-2 in the last 6 matches. Tough year for 3 defending national championship programs.

You really aren't being fair to either volleyball or soccer team, especially if you have been paying attention.

With women's volleyball, not practicing has really hurt them. They have the talent, and you can see the damage they can do with more time together (taking No. 8 Washington to 16-14 in the fifth on the Husky's homecourt isn't an easy task). Add to the injuries they have had (McClure to start off the season, then throw in Cambell, L. Smith, Lougeay, and Kendall Kipp and that's three starters right there). It wasn't the prettiest seasons for sure, but I'm going to give them a pass because it's something completely out of their control.

The soccer team also got hit with a bunch of injuries and graduations. Not only did Stanford lose Macario (a generational talent) a year early, they also lost Sophia Smith two years ahead of schedule. Add on losing Naomi Girma, their anchor on defense and one of the best defensive players in college, it's no wonder they havent' done as well as they have. They just don't have the talent we are accustomed to. It will be interesting to see how recruiting shapes up to see if this is the new norm, or if it really was the early departures of Macario and Smith that really hurt us.

Very well said.

[oldalum]

The soccer team also got hit with a bunch of injuries and graduations. 

Also add in Madison Haley (#7 pick in the NWSL draft) who has missed a bunch of games (I assume injuries); out of our last 5 games (1-3-1 record), she played in only one, and just as a sub in that one.
Earlier I had pegged this as a rebuilding as opposed to reloading year for all 3 teams, which has been borne out.

[oldalum]

The soccer team also got hit with a bunch of injuries and graduations. 

Also add in Madison Haley (#7 pick in the NWSL draft) who has missed a bunch of games (I assume injuries); out of our last 5 games (1-3-1 record), she played in only one, and just as a sub in that one.
Earlier I had pegged this as a rebuilding as opposed to reloading year for all 3 teams, which has been borne out.