[ColoradoTree]

Just as an update for those of you still interested in how things shake out:

Round of 16:

* UNC beat Cal 4-0 behind a quick doubles point and wins at 1, 4, and 5. Cal showed some signs of life, but UNC always had it under control.
* N.C. State beat USC 4-1 behind a similarly quick doubles point, an easy win at 5, and three setters on 3 and 4. USC was without Kulikov and Cheong, which hurt them, while Salma Ewing knocked off #6 Anna Rogers from NC State. If healthy, this match could have easily ended differently. 
* Pepperdine beat Michigan 4-0 
* UCLA beat Georgia Tech 4-0

Quarterfinals:

* Pepperdine and UCLA play today at 2:30pm PT, with the winner playing the (1) UNC-Duke winner (so, uh, that'll be UNC) in the semis. 
* N.C. State just knocked off (3) Georgia, so they'll play the winner of (2) Texas and (7) FSU in the semis. (Texas beat ASU, fwiw.)

This season has long been expected to result in UNC's coronation, with Texas and Georgia seen as the likeliest to knock them off. The Pepperdine/UCLA winner could give UNC a run, but UNC-Texas is by far the likeliest title matchup. I kind of hope UNC wins and those Tar Heels that could stick around for a fifth year decide to move on with their lives and go out on top.

[ColoradoTree]

Just as an update for those of you still interested in how things shake out:

Round of 16:

* UNC beat Cal 4-0 behind a quick doubles point and wins at 1, 4, and 5. Cal showed some signs of life, but UNC always had it under control.
* N.C. State beat USC 4-1 behind a similarly quick doubles point, an easy win at 5, and three setters on 3 and 4. USC was without Kulikov and Cheong, which hurt them, while Salma Ewing knocked off #6 Anna Rogers from NC State. If healthy, this match could have easily ended differently. 
* Pepperdine beat Michigan 4-0 
* UCLA beat Georgia Tech 4-0

Quarterfinals:

* Pepperdine and UCLA play today at 2:30pm PT, with the winner playing the (1) UNC-Duke winner (so, uh, that'll be UNC) in the semis. 
* N.C. State just knocked off (3) Georgia, so they'll play the winner of (2) Texas and (7) FSU in the semis. (Texas beat ASU, fwiw.)

This season has long been expected to result in UNC's coronation, with Texas and Georgia seen as the likeliest to knock them off. The Pepperdine/UCLA winner could give UNC a run, but UNC-Texas is by far the likeliest title matchup. I kind of hope UNC wins and those Tar Heels that could stick around for a fifth year decide to move on with their lives and go out on top.

[ColoradoTree]

Pepperdine beat UCLA 4-3, and the Pac-12 is done for the tournament.

Folks asked how talented a team we were this season, and we had Pepperdine on the ropes twice (and really should have had that first match at a minimum), and now the Waves are in the semis. We're not that far off our usual level. 

Good for Pepperdine--they've consistently underperformed in the NCAA tournament over the years, and it's good to see them do well. I'll be cheering them on vs. UNC, that's for sure.

[ColoradoTree]

Pepperdine beat UCLA 4-3, and the Pac-12 is done for the tournament.

Folks asked how talented a team we were this season, and we had Pepperdine on the ropes twice (and really should have had that first match at a minimum), and now the Waves are in the semis. We're not that far off our usual level. 

Good for Pepperdine--they've consistently underperformed in the NCAA tournament over the years, and it's good to see them do well. I'll be cheering them on vs. UNC, that's for sure.

[BostonCard]

Does that qualify as a bit of an upset?

BC

[BostonCard]

Does that qualify as a bit of an upset?

BC

[oldalum]

Does that qualify as a bit of an upset?

Not really in my book, unless you mean a really tiny weeny little bit. The teams are basically even. Pepperdine was seeded #5 and UCLA #4. UCLA was 2-1 vs. Pepperdine this season before the NCAAs, and the NCAA match was very close: the teams split singles 3 matches each, and the difference turned out to be a doubles tiebreaker on court 1 that Pepperdine won 10-8. So the teams ended up 2-2 against each other this season.

[oldalum]

Does that qualify as a bit of an upset?

Not really in my book, unless you mean a really tiny weeny little bit. The teams are basically even. Pepperdine was seeded #5 and UCLA #4. UCLA was 2-1 vs. Pepperdine this season before the NCAAs, and the NCAA match was very close: the teams split singles 3 matches each, and the difference turned out to be a doubles tiebreaker on court 1 that Pepperdine won 10-8. So the teams ended up 2-2 against each other this season.

[BostonCard]

OK thanks.  I guess I was benchmarking against our own performance.  WE played Pepperdine much more competitively than we played against UCLA.  But sometimes, matchups matter, and sometimes you have a pretty good day on a big stage.

BC

[BostonCard]

OK thanks.  I guess I was benchmarking against our own performance.  WE played Pepperdine much more competitively than we played against UCLA.  But sometimes, matchups matter, and sometimes you have a pretty good day on a big stage.

BC

[ColoradoTree]

Of the final four teams (UNC, Texas, N.C. State, and Pepperdine), only Texas has ever won a national championship in women's tennis before. 

UNC's been the top seed a few times recently, but we've been the ones standing in their way.

[ColoradoTree]

Of the final four teams (UNC, Texas, N.C. State, and Pepperdine), only Texas has ever won a national championship in women's tennis before. 

UNC's been the top seed a few times recently, but we've been the ones standing in their way.

[ColoradoTree]

Pac-12 awards were announced, with Michaela Gordon on the first team and Angelica Blake and Emma Higuchi being named honorable mention (we had no second team selections). 

FWIW, UCLA had one first-team selection (Abigail Forbes), a second-team selection (Jada Hart), and two honorable mention selections (Vivian Wolff and Annette Goulak). Forbes was also the singles player of the year, while she and Hart were the doubles team of the year. 

Cal had a first-teamer (Haley Giavara), a second-team selection (Julia Rosenqvist), and four honorable mention selections (Anna Bright, Jada Bui, Hannah Viller Moeller, and Valentina Ivanov), plus the Pac-12 coach of the year in Amanda Augustus (who's been the head coach there for 14 years). 

Oregon freshman Janice Tjen was Freshman of the Year, and also nabbed a first-team nod. (Other first-team selections were USC's Salma Ewing and UW's Vanessa Wong.)

Congrats to Michaela, Angelica, and Emma!

[ColoradoTree]

Pac-12 awards were announced, with Michaela Gordon on the first team and Angelica Blake and Emma Higuchi being named honorable mention (we had no second team selections). 

FWIW, UCLA had one first-team selection (Abigail Forbes), a second-team selection (Jada Hart), and two honorable mention selections (Vivian Wolff and Annette Goulak). Forbes was also the singles player of the year, while she and Hart were the doubles team of the year. 

Cal had a first-teamer (Haley Giavara), a second-team selection (Julia Rosenqvist), and four honorable mention selections (Anna Bright, Jada Bui, Hannah Viller Moeller, and Valentina Ivanov), plus the Pac-12 coach of the year in Amanda Augustus (who's been the head coach there for 14 years). 

Oregon freshman Janice Tjen was Freshman of the Year, and also nabbed a first-team nod. (Other first-team selections were USC's Salma Ewing and UW's Vanessa Wong.)

Congrats to Michaela, Angelica, and Emma!

[BostonCard]

Here are the men's awards:

https://pac-12.com/article/2021/05/19/pa...nce-honors

Axel Geller was first team all-conference
Freshman Arthur Fery was second team all-conference

BC

[BostonCard]

Here are the men's awards:

https://pac-12.com/article/2021/05/19/pa...nce-honors

Axel Geller was first team all-conference
Freshman Arthur Fery was second team all-conference

BC

[Sakibomb25]

Does that qualify as a bit of an upset?

Not really in my book, unless you mean a really tiny weeny little bit. The teams are basically even. Pepperdine was seeded #5 and UCLA #4. UCLA was 2-1 vs. Pepperdine this season before the NCAAs, and the NCAA match was very close: the teams split singles 3 matches each, and the difference turned out to be a doubles tiebreaker on court 1 that Pepperdine won 10-8. So the teams ended up 2-2 against each other this season.

UCLA was also up 6-2 in that tie-break as well... tough loss for them to be *that* close.

[Sakibomb25]

Does that qualify as a bit of an upset?

Not really in my book, unless you mean a really tiny weeny little bit. The teams are basically even. Pepperdine was seeded #5 and UCLA #4. UCLA was 2-1 vs. Pepperdine this season before the NCAAs, and the NCAA match was very close: the teams split singles 3 matches each, and the difference turned out to be a doubles tiebreaker on court 1 that Pepperdine won 10-8. So the teams ended up 2-2 against each other this season.

UCLA was also up 6-2 in that tie-break as well... tough loss for them to be *that* close.

[ColoradoTree]

It's definitely an upset that UCLA lost the doubles point (and being one point away for several points has to hurt), but yeah, I wouldn't call this an upset as far as the overall result. In singles, especially at the top with Bolton-Lahey and Failla-Hart--those are heavyweight bouts that could've gone either way. FWIW, I would've picked UCLA 4-3 if I'd had to, mainly based on how likely they'd be to win the doubles point. So, slightly against expectations, but where I would've been flipping a coin on the back three courts. 

The men's singles bracket is out, so we should be getting the women's singles and doubles brackets out later today.

[ColoradoTree]

It's definitely an upset that UCLA lost the doubles point (and being one point away for several points has to hurt), but yeah, I wouldn't call this an upset as far as the overall result. In singles, especially at the top with Bolton-Lahey and Failla-Hart--those are heavyweight bouts that could've gone either way. FWIW, I would've picked UCLA 4-3 if I'd had to, mainly based on how likely they'd be to win the doubles point. So, slightly against expectations, but where I would've been flipping a coin on the back three courts. 

The men's singles bracket is out, so we should be getting the women's singles and doubles brackets out later today.

[Canalejas]

Pepperdine downs the Tar Heels 4-3 and will face Texas in the finals.  That's a pretty big upset, no?

[Canalejas]

Pepperdine downs the Tar Heels 4-3 and will face Texas in the finals.  That's a pretty big upset, no?

[terry]

Pepperdine downs the Tar Heels 4-3 and will face Texas in the finals.  That's a pretty big upset, no?

I love this!

Congrats to the Pepperdine Waves!

It makes Stanford's loss look a little better.

North Carolina has been thwarted by mid-major schools in several NCAA tournaments this month -- IIRC they lost to Marshall in men's soccer, to Santa Clara in women's soccer, and now to Pepperdine in women's tennis. . . .

[terry]

Pepperdine downs the Tar Heels 4-3 and will face Texas in the finals.  That's a pretty big upset, no?

I love this!

Congrats to the Pepperdine Waves!

It makes Stanford's loss look a little better.

North Carolina has been thwarted by mid-major schools in several NCAA tournaments this month -- IIRC they lost to Marshall in men's soccer, to Santa Clara in women's soccer, and now to Pepperdine in women's tennis. . . .

[martyup]

Pepperdine downs the Tar Heels 4-3 and will face Texas in the finals.  That's a pretty big upset, no?

[martyup]

Pepperdine downs the Tar Heels 4-3 and will face Texas in the finals.  That's a pretty big upset, no?

[Lorcan]

It's definitely a major upset, and even more impressive is the fact that Pepperdine did it without Lahey or Faila winning in the top 2 spots. Interesting that every singles match was straight sets, and Pepperdine is on to face Texas.

[Lorcan]

It's definitely a major upset, and even more impressive is the fact that Pepperdine did it without Lahey or Faila winning in the top 2 spots. Interesting that every singles match was straight sets, and Pepperdine is on to face Texas.

[oldalum]

well, Texas won the championship in a close one, and I'm not happy that 5 of their 6 singles players are freshmen.

[oldalum]

well, Texas won the championship in a close one, and I'm not happy that 5 of their 6 singles players are freshmen.

[fullmetal]

All four of their two winning doubles teams were freshmen as well (from their fab five group).  Oof.

[fullmetal]

All four of their two winning doubles teams were freshmen as well (from their fab five group).  Oof.

[Spiny_Norman]

Stanford's season is officially over.

Gordon lost in singles to Katarina Kozarov from Furman 6-0, 6-2.

Gordon and Madurawe lost in doubles 7-5, 6-1 to a team from NC State.

[Spiny_Norman]

Stanford's season is officially over.

Gordon lost in singles to Katarina Kozarov from Furman 6-0, 6-2.

Gordon and Madurawe lost in doubles 7-5, 6-1 to a team from NC State.

[ColoradoTree]

Final ITA singles and doubles rankings are out, and here's how the Pac-12 shook out:

Singles:

4. Abigail Forbes, UCLA
6. Janice Tjen, Oregon
23. Vanessa Wong, UW
27. Haley Giavara, Cal
28. Salma Ewing, USC
36. Michaela Gordon, Stanford
45. Ilze Hattingh, ASU
60. Jada Hart, UCLA
69. Michaela Bayerlova, WSU
80. Eryn Cayetano, USC
87. Sedona Gallagher, UW
100. Sara Nayar, Colorado
111. Naomi Cheong, USC
118. Elysia Bolton, UCLA
120. Angelica Blake, Stanford

Doubles:

28. Bolton/Hart, UCLA
50. Giavara/Ivanov, Cal
57. Goulak/Wolff, UCLA
79. Forbes/Hart, UCLA
82. Arbuthnott/Blake, Stanford
86. Argyrokastriti/Hampton, ASU

Just an absurd glut of SEC/ACC duos at the top of the doubles rankings. Sigh.

[ColoradoTree]

Final ITA singles and doubles rankings are out, and here's how the Pac-12 shook out:

Singles:

4. Abigail Forbes, UCLA
6. Janice Tjen, Oregon
23. Vanessa Wong, UW
27. Haley Giavara, Cal
28. Salma Ewing, USC
36. Michaela Gordon, Stanford
45. Ilze Hattingh, ASU
60. Jada Hart, UCLA
69. Michaela Bayerlova, WSU
80. Eryn Cayetano, USC
87. Sedona Gallagher, UW
100. Sara Nayar, Colorado
111. Naomi Cheong, USC
118. Elysia Bolton, UCLA
120. Angelica Blake, Stanford

Doubles:

28. Bolton/Hart, UCLA
50. Giavara/Ivanov, Cal
57. Goulak/Wolff, UCLA
79. Forbes/Hart, UCLA
82. Arbuthnott/Blake, Stanford
86. Argyrokastriti/Hampton, ASU

Just an absurd glut of SEC/ACC duos at the top of the doubles rankings. Sigh.

[oldalum]

Just an absurd glut of SEC/ACC duos at the top of the doubles rankings. Sigh.

I'm hoping that will change next year when there are more inter-conference matchups.

[oldalum]

Just an absurd glut of SEC/ACC duos at the top of the doubles rankings. Sigh.

I'm hoping that will change next year when there are more inter-conference matchups.

[ColoradoTree]

We knew Stanford had the top recruiting class, with 3 of the top 5 players in the class. But today we learned that for the first time in history, there is a unanimous top recruiting class as picked by the panel at Tennis Recruiting Network (goes back to 2006). 

https://www.tennisrecruiting.net/article...=356459180

Included is a quote from Lele expressing her excitement about all three players (Ma, Yepifanova, and Xu), which as far as I know is the first time she's publicly confirmed Xu's presence in the class. On Signing Day, Stanford announced Ma and Yepifanova, but not Xu, which I assumed was because of scholarship limitations. But presumably Xu is either paying her own way a year or Lele is anticipating having an extra scholarship for next year. Either way, it's an absurd coup of a class, and the absurdity reaches new heights when you have a top 5 player in the class paying her own way for a year. Just nuts.

[ColoradoTree]

We knew Stanford had the top recruiting class, with 3 of the top 5 players in the class. But today we learned that for the first time in history, there is a unanimous top recruiting class as picked by the panel at Tennis Recruiting Network (goes back to 2006). 

https://www.tennisrecruiting.net/article...=356459180

Included is a quote from Lele expressing her excitement about all three players (Ma, Yepifanova, and Xu), which as far as I know is the first time she's publicly confirmed Xu's presence in the class. On Signing Day, Stanford announced Ma and Yepifanova, but not Xu, which I assumed was because of scholarship limitations. But presumably Xu is either paying her own way a year or Lele is anticipating having an extra scholarship for next year. Either way, it's an absurd coup of a class, and the absurdity reaches new heights when you have a top 5 player in the class paying her own way for a year. Just nuts.