12-14-2021, 07:33 PM
The spring schedule is out! Rather than start a new thread, I figured I'd just drop it here.
January 14-16: Freeman Memorial in Las Vegas; Torero Tennis Classic in San Diego
ITA Kick-Off Weekend (in Charlottesville, VA)
Fri., Jan. 28: vs. Arkansas
Sat., Jan. 29: at UVA/James Madison
Thurs., Feb. 3: vs. USF
February 11-14: ITA National Women's Team Indoor Championship ("Indoor Nationals"), if we qualify by beating UVA
Fri., Feb. 18: vs. St. Mary's
Fri., Feb. 25: vs. Texas
Sat., Feb. 26: vs. UNLV
Fri., Mar. 4: vs. Oregon
Sun., Mar. 6: at Pepperdine
Mar. 11-13: Weekend off
Fri., Mar. 18: vs. Colorado
Sun., Mar. 20: vs. Utah
Tues., Mar. 22: vs. UCSB
Fri., Mar. 25: vs. USC
Sat., Mar. 26: vs. UCLA
Wed., Mar. 30: vs. Hawaii
Fri., Apr. 1: at Arizona
Sat., Apr. 2: at Arizona State
Fri., Apr. 8: at Washington
Sun., Apr. 10: at Washington State
Sat., Apr. 16: at Cal
April 20-23: Pac-12 Championships in Ojai, CA
Quick Thoughts
Our non-conference schedule has two elite teams (Texas and Pepperdine) and then some teams that won't do a whole lot to boost our ranking. Kick-Off Weekend adds a third elite team in UVA (that we are very likely but not certain to play), and if we win that match, it opens up a few more elite non-conference matches at Indoor Nationals. But as usual, our schedule is a bet that we win nearly every match, which will put us in good position to host and be a top 4-5 seed. But it's not hard to imagine a couple of Pac-12 losses, losing at UVA and losing to either Texas or Pepperdine and all of a sudden we're barely a top 25 team and we're on the road at a top seed again. You play more teams ranked in the teens and twenties and you give yourself more of a margin for error.
The Pac-12 is top-heavy. We've got four great teams in Stanford, Cal, USC, and UCLA. It's unclear whether we'll see challenges from the other teams. I'm relieved we get USC/UCLA at Taube, but I'm not looking forward to finishing the regular season with five straight on the road. Wouldn't be surprised at all if the match at Cal decides the top seed in the conference tournament.
January 14-16: Freeman Memorial in Las Vegas; Torero Tennis Classic in San Diego
- These are two tournaments--sort of a continuation of the fall season. The Freeman usually has an impressive entry field, so I'd expect our top group to go to Vegas and the bottom half of the roster to head to San Diego, with possible exceptions for doubles pairs Lele wants to keep together.
ITA Kick-Off Weekend (in Charlottesville, VA)
Fri., Jan. 28: vs. Arkansas
Sat., Jan. 29: at UVA/James Madison
Thurs., Feb. 3: vs. USF
February 11-14: ITA National Women's Team Indoor Championship ("Indoor Nationals"), if we qualify by beating UVA
Fri., Feb. 18: vs. St. Mary's
Fri., Feb. 25: vs. Texas
Sat., Feb. 26: vs. UNLV
Fri., Mar. 4: vs. Oregon
Sun., Mar. 6: at Pepperdine
Mar. 11-13: Weekend off
Fri., Mar. 18: vs. Colorado
Sun., Mar. 20: vs. Utah
Tues., Mar. 22: vs. UCSB
Fri., Mar. 25: vs. USC
Sat., Mar. 26: vs. UCLA
Wed., Mar. 30: vs. Hawaii
Fri., Apr. 1: at Arizona
Sat., Apr. 2: at Arizona State
Fri., Apr. 8: at Washington
Sun., Apr. 10: at Washington State
Sat., Apr. 16: at Cal
April 20-23: Pac-12 Championships in Ojai, CA
Quick Thoughts
Our non-conference schedule has two elite teams (Texas and Pepperdine) and then some teams that won't do a whole lot to boost our ranking. Kick-Off Weekend adds a third elite team in UVA (that we are very likely but not certain to play), and if we win that match, it opens up a few more elite non-conference matches at Indoor Nationals. But as usual, our schedule is a bet that we win nearly every match, which will put us in good position to host and be a top 4-5 seed. But it's not hard to imagine a couple of Pac-12 losses, losing at UVA and losing to either Texas or Pepperdine and all of a sudden we're barely a top 25 team and we're on the road at a top seed again. You play more teams ranked in the teens and twenties and you give yourself more of a margin for error.
The Pac-12 is top-heavy. We've got four great teams in Stanford, Cal, USC, and UCLA. It's unclear whether we'll see challenges from the other teams. I'm relieved we get USC/UCLA at Taube, but I'm not looking forward to finishing the regular season with five straight on the road. Wouldn't be surprised at all if the match at Cal decides the top seed in the conference tournament.