General college chat 2024/25

Lambda · Challenger level

RE: General college chat 2024/25

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Lambda wrote:
Her LTA profile has her playing for Chapel Allerton at 8 and 9, Ilkley from age 10 and Bolton Academy from age 15.

Ok, cool - Ilkley and Chapel A are two of the biggest clubs.

chapel a in Leeds used to have some of the best grass courts around, not sure they have them anymore. My old coach was a guy called Simon Ickringill, he was Ilkley Pro coach for many years, and played around the circuit - I recall he beat Aussie John Alexander 7-6 7-6 at Chapel A one year, early 80s, may have been the final of the old pre Wimbledon warm up there. Cant find any information on it though.

Lambda · Challenger level

Lambda wrote:

After being 1 match away from the NCAAs twice at the All-Americans, Sofia Johnson doesn't let her third chance slip as she eases into the NCAAs with another dominant display, 6-1 6-3. Congratulations. Job done. But if she wants to win first she has to get past 3rd seed #33 Katja Wiersholm (Cal) in the SFs.

Sofia will not be playing today.
She has a walkover to the final as Wiersholm withdraws ill.

There was some concern prior to this weekend that in these masters and sectionals, players would just withdraw once they qualified for the NCAAs. It's happened quite a bit in the earlier events, especially on the men's side.

the addict · Tennis legend

Chapel Allerton still has 4 grass courts (+11 other courts). Not an area of Leeds that I knew from my student days though.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

the addict wrote:
Chapel Allerton still has 4 grass courts (+11 other courts). Not an area of Leeds that I knew from my student days though.

the north Leeds and Chapel Allerton, roundhay, Moortown is all very prestigious and affluent - chapel A backs onto chapeltown, of course, which is less so, home of the riots in the 80s and next to Harehills which had the riots in the summer when the Roma community got in a bit of a pickle. Also Chapel Allerton has a great squash club, perhaps one of the best in the UK.

Lambda · Challenger level

Given Roach (and Alejandra Cruz) defeat Vanderbilt's Stammel and Ray to reach the final of the South sectional and qualify for the NCAA doubles Championships

Roan Jones (Alabama) wins his QF to also qualify for the NCAA singles championships.

-- Edited by Lambda on Saturday 9th of November 2024 04:48:59 PM

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Was Sofia Johnson the only player to get through the Conference Masters route?

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Lambda wrote:
Given Roach (and Alejandra Cruz) defeat Vanderbilt's Stammel and Ray to reach the final of the South sectional and qualify for the NCAA doubles Championships
Roan Jones (Alabama) wins his QF to also qualify for the NCAA singles championships.

-- Edited by Lambda on Saturday 9th of November 2024 04:48:59 PM

And did Lui Maxted get through in the doubles also?

Lambda · Challenger level

3 more NCAA qualifiers from the afternoon matches to add to the list

Highlight of the day was Savannah Dada-Mascoll and partner winning the Conference Masters S-F 6-3 6-1 to add to the list of womens doubles qualifiers. Such is the achievement for App State these were the biggest celebrations I've seen this weekend.

Grace Piper joins Sofia in the women's singles by winning her play-off match 7-5 6-2. She is already a doubles qualifier.

Lui Maxted+ also qualifies for doubles thanks to a walk over to the final
But Will Jansen+ will need to try again in the Doubles 3-4 play-off.

Alicia Dudeney almost stole a qualifying spot in her play-off match by saving match point at deciding point 4-5* in the second, a point she should have lost 3 times over, and then getting an early break in the third but couldn't quite get over the line as she falls 1-6 7-5 5-7.

So tomorrow, Sofia Johnson, Savannah Dada-Mascoll and Lui Maxted will all be playing in their respective finals and Will Jansen will be in the play-off for one of the 4 remaining NCAA doubles spots.

Lambda · Challenger level

If I was thinking I would've realised that Will+ would also have a walkover in his play-off match as they would be the opponents that withdrew through injury to give Lui+ a walkover. So Will also qualifies for the NCAAs.

So the our NCAA qualifiers are now complete (this weekends qualifiers in bold)

Mens Singles
Oliver Tarvet (San Diego), Lui Maxted (TCU), Jamie Connel (FSU), Roan Jones (Alabama)

Mens Doubles
Oliver Tarvet (San Diego), Luca Pow (Wake Forest), Henry Jefferson (Florida), Billy Blaydes & Will Nolan (Auburn), Lui Maxted (TCU), Will Jansen (Ohio State)

Women Singles
Sofia Johnson (ODU), Grace Piper (USC)

Women Doubles
Grace Piper (USC), Lily Hutchings (Tulsa), Alicia Dudeney (Florida), Given Roach (Georgia Tech), Savannah Dada-Mascoll (App State)

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Thanks Lambda - and for all the summaries. The finals are 19-24 Nov, right? Any idea who the top ranked participants will be?

Lambda · Challenger level

JonH comes home wrote:
Thanks Lambda - and for all the summaries. The finals are 19-24 Nov, right? Any idea who the top ranked participants will be?

I've not looked at the full lists yet.

Lambda · Challenger level

Sofia's opponent in the final today will be Oklahoma State sophomore Gracie Epps, a 5-8 seed. Gracie has, by her own admission, not played much tennis over the last 3 years and doesn't know anything about college tennis [in terms of other players]. She is a transfer from the NCAA runners-up Georgia Bulldogs team where she didn't play in the spring dual season and only played 5 matches last fall, with a 3-2 record. She's played 1 adult ITF in the last 3 years, this summer, losing to Bronte Murgett and has a JCH of 80 (Jan 22). The Cowgirl entered college as the 4th ranked American in her class.

Lui Maxted+ and their Rice University opponents have both withdrawn from their final.

Savannah+'s opponents will be an unseeded team from Xavier University who defeated the top ranked team of Vanderbilt's Mohr and Webster in the SF.

-- Edited by Lambda on Sunday 10th of November 2024 08:43:45 AM

Lambda · Challenger level

Sofia Johnson wins the ITA Conference Masters Championships 6-3 6-4.

In very windy conditions to start, she lost her opening 2 service games to go down 1-3* but then won 8 straight games to go up 6-3 3-0*. Epps played well during those straight games she lost and throughout the match, but had no answer to Sofia's play. It feels harsh to criticise a champion, but I do wish Sofia would not play the drop shot so much and not telegraph it when she does. It gave Epps a few cheap points that Sofia should have won.

Lambda · Challenger level

GB claim the double with the Mountaineers Dada-Mascoll and Romanichen winning the women's doubles ITA Conference Masters Championships.

Dada-Mascoll/Romanichen are the first doubles team from App State to ever qualify for the NCAAs.