Defending Champions Iowa City West is back into the field and joined by Ames, Dowling and Cedar Falls. This MVC/CIML clash of semi-finals should be some really good tennis tomorrow and I really think all of these teams have a chance to lift the trophy tomorrow afternoon. It has been a crazy fun year, lots of great results throughout the season and we even have almost had an indoor season this spring! Ladies and Gentleman, buckle up because this is one of the last days of the 2019 season.
Semi-Finals
Why Ames can win: Why can't they? Anybody has a chance and thats why we go out and play the matches. On the real, Ames has arguably been the best team this year, top two nonetheless. What haven't the Little Cyclones done? They have beaten Dowling, Johnston, Urbandale and Waukee, four ranked foes this spring. State singles runner-up Arunadee Fernando leads this Ames team and they finally have the chance tomorrow to get back to the title match where they fell ever so short last year. This is a deep team and with one of the best in Fernando at the top, the Little Cyclones are going to be hard to stop.
Why Cedar Falls can win: Cedar Falls has one loss on the year coming at the hands of IC West. Sisters Krisha and Mira Keeran are coming off a 3rd place finish in state doubles yesterday. While Cedar Falls has only played three ranked opponents, they are no slouches themselves. Krisha is an up and coming player in the state on the heels of the likes of Naanep and Fernando and she could give Arunadee a run for her money come tomorrow. For CF to pull off the upset, they will need the top of their lineup to come up big and get some points on the board as the lower half may be a little out matched against Ames.
Matches to watch:
Arunadee Fernando (Ames) vs Krisha Keeran (CF) #1 Singles
Chloe Wilson (Ames) vs Jamie Knox (Cedar Falls) #4 Singles
Fernando/Couves (Ames) vs Keeran/Keeran (Cedar Falls) #1 Doubles
Prediction: Ames def. Cedar Falls 5-1
Why West can win: The Women of Troy are your defending state champions. They know what it takes to come out on top and once again, they are undefeated on the year. West has not had the toughest schedule as some of the other teams have had this year, but there is nothing to take away from them as they have been impressive all year. Emma Koch was sidelined this fall with an ACL tear and this team has not missed a beat. Jessica Moonjely took over the top spot and has done an outstanding job all year, and she teamed with Audrey Koch to take runner-up in state doubles yesterday. Much of this team has state tournament experience and they will need the top half of their lineup to ball out this weekend.
Why Dowling can win: Dowling has been as equally as impressive as top two Ames and West. They narrowly lost to Ames to round out the regular season 4-5. The Maroons are a deep team led by newly doubles state champions Kaylyn Chleborad and Allison Szalay. #3 player Sofia Sackett also took home 3rd place in state singles, so this team is good. Chleborad/Szalay just proved they can take out the top duo from West, and their depth may be troubling for the Women of Troy. Dowling has a real shot at this years title and they will have to play two great meets to make that happen, they have what it takes.
Matches to watch:
Kaylyn Chleborad (Dowling) vs Jessica Moonjely (IC West) #1 Singles
Mackenzie Klein (Dowling) vs Caroline Chandler (IC West) #4 Singles
Chleborad/Szalay (Dowling) vs Moonjely/Koch (IC West) #1 Doubles
Prediction: I am having a hard time picking who I think will win this, because I really think this is going to be that close. #1 doubles is going to be the decider in a 4-4 meet and based on my coin flip, IC West it is.
Finals
Like the 1A preview, I can't say who will be in the final as the meets need to be played, but for the sake of this preview I will take the two teams I predicted. That leaves Ames and IC West. Rematch of 2018s state title meet. Both teams have pretty much the same players back (minus Emma Koch for West) and another battle this will be. Both teams have great firepower at the top. I think Fernando takes the top spot and Audrey Koch takes the two spot. After those top two, I think its anybody's game and thats where someone can make or break their teams title hopes. Ames is deeper and West is a bit stronger in the upper part of the lineup, except the #1 spot, and that is nothing against Moonjely, she is a really good player, Fernando is just a bit stronger as the moment. If West wants to repeat, they will probably need a 4-2 lead and their fifth point from #1 doubles . Ames I think will take 3-3 going into singles and should feel good about their chances in doubles, they are a bit deeper in the 2 and 3 doubles slots.
Prediction: Ames def. West 5-3
Comentarios