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Women’s Tennis: UCSB and the Washington schools - Printable Version

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Women’s Tennis: UCSB and the Washington schools - ColoradoTree - 03-26-2021

Hey all, sorry I didn’t post anything earlier, but I’m on vacation, so my posting abilities are limited. But we can use this as a spot to discuss the matches this week against UCSB, WSU, and UW, at least. 

On Wednesday, we saw UCSB come to town, and that’s a team we should have demolished at every spot in the lineup. So, how did we do? Ana Geller was out of the lineup again in favor of Angelica Blake (I’m assuming Geller is fine and this is Lele trying to figure out the bottom of the lineup), so we still have yet to see our best 6 on court at the same time. Choy also took the day off, meaning the back half was Shin-Madurawe-Higuchi. After a concerningly tight doubles point, we got solid-to-dominant wins from Courts 1-3 and 5-6. The exception, as usual, is Janice Shin, who got bageled in the second set before eking out a 10-8 win in the deciding supertiebreaker. Bageled! At #4 singles against UCSB! That’s fairly shocking, even with Shin’s disappointing run of play. 

Then today was Wazzu. Really liked the quick doubles point leading into singles, where our lineup was Gordon-Arbuthnott-Blake-Choy-Shin-Higuchi, so basically what seems to be Lele’s standard lineup (we’re only allowed either Blake or Geller, apparently). Then we saw the top 3 take care of business, with Arbuthnott rolling over a very good Sato, and Gordon clinching with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Bayerlova, who is a legit excellent player. That’s all great stuff, and a really encouraging showing from our top two. Choy chipped in a solid win at 4, and Higuchi bounced back from a tight first set to take control in the second. And then there’s Janice Shin, who lost 7-6, 6-4 to yet another lesser player. I am just struggling to see the rationale for continuing to put her in the lineup, folks. She did great as a freshman for us, and seemed to progress as a sophomore, but this just isn’t the same player. With our depth, points at 5 and 6 against the bottom half of the conference should be near-automatic. And yet. And yet....

Tomorrow is UW, which hasn’t impressed this year but did just come close against Cal, losing 4-3. Coming close might be the theme of the Huskies this year, nearly getting wins against USC, Baylor, ASU, and now Cal. Excited to see what tomorrow holds for us, and maybe we’ll even get to see Geller and Blake on court at the same time!

RE: Women’s Tennis: UCSB and the Washington schools - terry - 03-27-2021

Thanks for the update.

Geller has missed three straight matches . . . injury?

RE: Women’s Tennis: UCSB and the Washington schools - ColoradoTree - 03-27-2021

(03-27-2021, 10:52 AM)terry Wrote:  Thanks for the update.

Geller has missed three straight matches . . . injury?

If it is, it’s one from practice. It’s either that or a sense that Lele knows her pecking order in her top 4, and she wants to see more matches from the group that’s currently the back half of the singles lineup. She would have wanted to get more matches for Blake before Pepperdine/UCLA/USC/Cal, so I do think there was some injury/illness issue with Blake earlier. But with Geller now? For some reason, I buy the “Lele knows what she has with Geller, but she doesn’t yet know the pecking order among Shin/Madurawe/Higuchi, so she’s going to get more matches for them to let that play out” theory.

But having both in the lineup is necessary for us to make a move this year. 

Tight doubles so far against UW.  Courts 1 and 3 on serve, with Court 2 up a break.

RE: Women’s Tennis: UCSB and the Washington schools - ColoradoTree - 03-27-2021

Ask and ye shall receive, folks! (Eventually. Maybe eventually you receive.) Stanford leads 1-0 after doubles and our singles lineup is Gordon-Arbuthnott-Blake-Geller-Choy-Higuchi. 

1. Gordon leads 4-2 (Wong is a good player, top 50ish caliber)
2. Arbuthnott leads 3-1
3. Blake leads 4-1
4. Geller leads 5-1
5. Choy tied 3-3
6. Higuchi leads 5-1

RE: Women’s Tennis: UCSB and the Washington schools - magnus - 03-27-2021

I believe 4-0 but remaining are playing it out

RE: Women’s Tennis: UCSB and the Washington schools - ColoradoTree - 03-27-2021

Stanford 4, Washington 0

1. Gordon leads 6-4, 6-5
2. Arbuthnott tied 6-2, 4-6 (3-3 in the match tiebreaker so far)
3. Blake won 6-2, 6-0
4. Geller won 6-2, 6-1
5. Choy leads 6-4, 6-5
6. Higuchi won 6-1, 6-0

Not much to dislike there. Wrap up the match win quickly, while you’re leading or tied in the others. As always, I would prefer Arbuthnott having an easier time of it, but you see what having her at 2 buys you at 3 and 4: dominating victories.
5-0 as Choy wraps up a 6-4, 7-5 win.

Arbuthnott leads the match tiebreaker 6-5, while Gordon is just starting a second set tiebreaker (up 2-0)
10-10 for Arbuthnott, and 6-6 for Gordon (who was up 6-2, so this will be a disappointment if she doesn’t pull out the win).
Gordon loses 6 straight points to lose the second set. Oof.

Meanwhile, Arbuthnott is 12-12. Silliness.
Arbuthnott loses 14-12 in the match tiebreaker, and it’s 5-1 Stanford. Gordon is 6-6 in her match tiebreaker.

RE: Women’s Tennis: UCSB and the Washington schools - ColoradoTree - 03-27-2021

Gordon up 9-7, so she’s got a couple more match points.
Now 9-9. Goodness, Michaela. God-awful finishing here.
12-10 Gordon and she finally closes the door! 6-1 is your final score, and while Arbuthnott again disappointed, I’m happy overall. I’d feel differently if Gordon lost, but struggling to finish and then finally getting across the line is useful experience.

RE: Women’s Tennis: UCSB and the Washington schools - BostonCard - 03-27-2021

Losing 6 games total from 3, 4, 6 reminds me of the days when Melissa Lord, Caroline Lampl, and Higuchi were nearly automatic from the 2, 3, and 6 spots.

BC

RE: Women’s Tennis: UCSB and the Washington schools - martyup - 03-27-2021

Should we assume Shin will not be in our starting lineup, or will they move her down?

RE: Women’s Tennis: UCSB and the Washington schools - Lorcan - 03-28-2021

I don't think we can make any assumptions about the lineup at this juncture given all the changes outside of Gordon is our #1. We can likely expect to see continued shuffling. Higuchi getting time at the #6 spot consistently seems to indicate that she might be our go to at that spot, but really everything else seems to be up in the air -- especially given who Arbuthnott has lost to.