[ColoradoTree]

We have a very friendly relationship with Hawaii (we visit them every Thanksgiving and play an exhibition/friendly match against them) so I suspect Hawaii gave the OK to our lineup before the match. Lele knew yesterday that today's match might be rained out, so I suspect she wanted yesterday's lineup even with that possibility (and may have repeated the same lineup today if the match had been played). Which means our lineup against Hawaii is what she wants to use vs. UCLA, or that lineup with permissible 1-line changes. Maybe she likes how Lampl matches up vs. Hart, who I think is a powerful baseliner. Maybe she's messing with the UCLA coach's preparation for Friday. Maybe both, or none. I guess we'll find out soon.

In other news, Vandy helped us yesterday by eking out a 4-3 win vs. Florida at home. This after losing to South Carolina.

Oh, for sure, I don't think Hawaii would protest our lineup, but third-party challenges are allowed (Kansas State did that with the Arkansas shenanigans last year). That's more what I'm worried about, and though most schools may not be looking at it that closely, I'd be shocked if UCLA or USC didn't look up our lineup before the 72 hours lapses, just as part of normal prep for this weekend's matches. It might generate some bad blood for UCLA to file a protest, but UCLA has a conference title in its grasp, and if they feel like they have a better chance to win the dual match against Stanford playing Lord-Gordon-Lampl than Lampl-Gordon-Lord, then why not make the protest? (I have no idea as to the relationship between Lele and longtime UCLA head coach Stella Sampras-Webster, but it would certainly take a hit if UCLA protested. USC's coach is in her second year there, so Alison Swain's willingness to say something is an unknown.) The point of the rule is to avoid cheating and stacking, so generally if there's no whiff of that despite the technical violation of the one-line rule, it sure seems like most coaches ignore it and shrug it off. 

But let's say there's no protest, and let's say you're right that Lele wants this lineup for UCLA. I have to say, I don't hate it. Lampl played Hart twice last year, once at the Freeman Memorial Championships (Lampl won 6-7, 7-5, 7-5), and once in the regular-season dual match (Lampl won 6-2, 6-4). Gordon at #2 against Bolton could be a really fun match, and I assume Lord would take care of business at #3 against Altick (or Broomfield--both she and Altick have played a lot of #3 for UCLA this year). Like you said, we'll see soon enough!

[ColoradoTree]

We have a very friendly relationship with Hawaii (we visit them every Thanksgiving and play an exhibition/friendly match against them) so I suspect Hawaii gave the OK to our lineup before the match. Lele knew yesterday that today's match might be rained out, so I suspect she wanted yesterday's lineup even with that possibility (and may have repeated the same lineup today if the match had been played). Which means our lineup against Hawaii is what she wants to use vs. UCLA, or that lineup with permissible 1-line changes. Maybe she likes how Lampl matches up vs. Hart, who I think is a powerful baseliner. Maybe she's messing with the UCLA coach's preparation for Friday. Maybe both, or none. I guess we'll find out soon.

In other news, Vandy helped us yesterday by eking out a 4-3 win vs. Florida at home. This after losing to South Carolina.

Oh, for sure, I don't think Hawaii would protest our lineup, but third-party challenges are allowed (Kansas State did that with the Arkansas shenanigans last year). That's more what I'm worried about, and though most schools may not be looking at it that closely, I'd be shocked if UCLA or USC didn't look up our lineup before the 72 hours lapses, just as part of normal prep for this weekend's matches. It might generate some bad blood for UCLA to file a protest, but UCLA has a conference title in its grasp, and if they feel like they have a better chance to win the dual match against Stanford playing Lord-Gordon-Lampl than Lampl-Gordon-Lord, then why not make the protest? (I have no idea as to the relationship between Lele and longtime UCLA head coach Stella Sampras-Webster, but it would certainly take a hit if UCLA protested. USC's coach is in her second year there, so Alison Swain's willingness to say something is an unknown.) The point of the rule is to avoid cheating and stacking, so generally if there's no whiff of that despite the technical violation of the one-line rule, it sure seems like most coaches ignore it and shrug it off. 

But let's say there's no protest, and let's say you're right that Lele wants this lineup for UCLA. I have to say, I don't hate it. Lampl played Hart twice last year, once at the Freeman Memorial Championships (Lampl won 6-7, 7-5, 7-5), and once in the regular-season dual match (Lampl won 6-2, 6-4). Gordon at #2 against Bolton could be a really fun match, and I assume Lord would take care of business at #3 against Altick (or Broomfield--both she and Altick have played a lot of #3 for UCLA this year). Like you said, we'll see soon enough!