[Spiny_Norman]

To give you an idea of Coach Walker's dilemma, frosh Leigh Chien and Nora Sundberg played the tournament as individuals. Chien finished T5th overall. Sundberg finished 12th.

I was under the impression (a feeling I get that is often wrong) that the 5 players that count each week, at least until the end of the season, are determined by in-squad competition during the week.  If so, Walker gets out of making those choices -- and this year those competitions are going to be tough!

Indeed, yes! Stanford team qualifying for tournaments will probably be at least as pressured as playing in the tournaments, if not more so. Imagine a scenario in which 2 All Americans from last year's national champions cannot make the top 5. It is certainly possible.

But I think that Coach Walker reserves the right to make the final decision on the lineup for regionals and then (presumably) nationals. Once Stanford advances to the postseason, they can have 6 players on the squad, though one is the alternate each round. So that only leaves one of the 7 on the sidelines.

[Spiny_Norman]

To give you an idea of Coach Walker's dilemma, frosh Leigh Chien and Nora Sundberg played the tournament as individuals. Chien finished T5th overall. Sundberg finished 12th.

I was under the impression (a feeling I get that is often wrong) that the 5 players that count each week, at least until the end of the season, are determined by in-squad competition during the week.  If so, Walker gets out of making those choices -- and this year those competitions are going to be tough!

Indeed, yes! Stanford team qualifying for tournaments will probably be at least as pressured as playing in the tournaments, if not more so. Imagine a scenario in which 2 All Americans from last year's national champions cannot make the top 5. It is certainly possible.

But I think that Coach Walker reserves the right to make the final decision on the lineup for regionals and then (presumably) nationals. Once Stanford advances to the postseason, they can have 6 players on the squad, though one is the alternate each round. So that only leaves one of the 7 on the sidelines.