[ColoradoTree]

We lost all 6 first sets. Can't remember that ever happening before -- has it?

So, I looked into this. The match that stood out to me as a possibility was the 7-0 loss we took at Vanderbilt two years ago, but in that one, both Gordon (at 1) and Lampl (at 3) took first sets. Against Texas later that same season, we lost 5 of 6 first sets (Shin was the only one to book one). The answer, as best I could tell, is February 2015, when we lost 4-3 to Florida. We won a tight doubles point, but then dropped all first sets in singles. Now, Zhao (at 1) and Davidson (at 2) both came back to win their matches, but that 4-3 loss to Florida appears to be the last time a Stanford women's tennis team dropped all six first sets in singles in a losing effort. FWIW, that season saw Stanford lose 4-1 to Georgia in the NCAA quarterfinals. 

This wasn't comprehensive, as I just looked at matches we lost, thinking there would be a higher likelihood of it happening there. But I suppose it's possible that something close to that 2015 Florida match happened in a 4-3 win rather than a 4-3 loss.

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yowza indeed. The team will spend the next month gearing up to beat UCLA on March 7 at Taube, which I think is possible though tough. But I'm ready to concede the national title to UNC at this point.

This underscores how impressive our 5-2 win vs. UNC was in the national semifinal last year. UNC's team this year is the exact same as last year's with the sole exception of losing graduated senior Jessica Aney at #5 singles and replacing her with frosh Elizabeth Scotty at #4 singles.

It is indeed hard to see how we measure up to UNC this year, given that talent differential. But it's worthwhile to consider what a "down year" means for this program, at least recently, looking at how this team has finished in each year under Lele:

2019: NCAA Champions
2018: NCAA Champions
2017: NCAA Runner-Up
2016: NCAA Champions
2015: NCAA Quarterfinals
2014: NCAA Semifinals
2013: NCAA Champions
2012: NCAA Quarterfinals
2011: NCAA Runner-Up
2010: NCAA Champions
2009: NCAA Round of 16
2008: NCAA Quarterfinals
2007: NCAA Semifinals
2006: NCAA Champions
2005: NCAA Champions
2004: NCAA Champions
2003: NCAA Runner-Up
2002: NCAA Champions
2001: NCAA Champions

Crazy to think that the one NCAA Round of 16 appearance is the very worst this team has done in recent memory. In 19 season, that's 10 titles, 3 runner-up finishes, 2 times we lost in the semis, and 3 times we've lost in the quarters.  

This sure looks like one of those quarterfinal-type years. But the last two times Stanford has lost in the quarters, they won the national title the next year. Not to close the book on this year yet, but UNC loses Graham, Daavettila, and Jones after this year. They'll still be great, but they won't be this good. (UCLA, though, returns everyone except for Jada Hart, so I'm rooting for an early departure for Bolton or Forbes. I'm not relishing facing that top two for two more years after this.)

[ColoradoTree]

We lost all 6 first sets. Can't remember that ever happening before -- has it?

So, I looked into this. The match that stood out to me as a possibility was the 7-0 loss we took at Vanderbilt two years ago, but in that one, both Gordon (at 1) and Lampl (at 3) took first sets. Against Texas later that same season, we lost 5 of 6 first sets (Shin was the only one to book one). The answer, as best I could tell, is February 2015, when we lost 4-3 to Florida. We won a tight doubles point, but then dropped all first sets in singles. Now, Zhao (at 1) and Davidson (at 2) both came back to win their matches, but that 4-3 loss to Florida appears to be the last time a Stanford women's tennis team dropped all six first sets in singles in a losing effort. FWIW, that season saw Stanford lose 4-1 to Georgia in the NCAA quarterfinals. 

This wasn't comprehensive, as I just looked at matches we lost, thinking there would be a higher likelihood of it happening there. But I suppose it's possible that something close to that 2015 Florida match happened in a 4-3 win rather than a 4-3 loss.

---

yowza indeed. The team will spend the next month gearing up to beat UCLA on March 7 at Taube, which I think is possible though tough. But I'm ready to concede the national title to UNC at this point.

This underscores how impressive our 5-2 win vs. UNC was in the national semifinal last year. UNC's team this year is the exact same as last year's with the sole exception of losing graduated senior Jessica Aney at #5 singles and replacing her with frosh Elizabeth Scotty at #4 singles.

It is indeed hard to see how we measure up to UNC this year, given that talent differential. But it's worthwhile to consider what a "down year" means for this program, at least recently, looking at how this team has finished in each year under Lele:

2019: NCAA Champions
2018: NCAA Champions
2017: NCAA Runner-Up
2016: NCAA Champions
2015: NCAA Quarterfinals
2014: NCAA Semifinals
2013: NCAA Champions
2012: NCAA Quarterfinals
2011: NCAA Runner-Up
2010: NCAA Champions
2009: NCAA Round of 16
2008: NCAA Quarterfinals
2007: NCAA Semifinals
2006: NCAA Champions
2005: NCAA Champions
2004: NCAA Champions
2003: NCAA Runner-Up
2002: NCAA Champions
2001: NCAA Champions

Crazy to think that the one NCAA Round of 16 appearance is the very worst this team has done in recent memory. In 19 season, that's 10 titles, 3 runner-up finishes, 2 times we lost in the semis, and 3 times we've lost in the quarters.  

This sure looks like one of those quarterfinal-type years. But the last two times Stanford has lost in the quarters, they won the national title the next year. Not to close the book on this year yet, but UNC loses Graham, Daavettila, and Jones after this year. They'll still be great, but they won't be this good. (UCLA, though, returns everyone except for Jada Hart, so I'm rooting for an early departure for Bolton or Forbes. I'm not relishing facing that top two for two more years after this.)