Evan Burke – The Stanford Daily https://stanforddaily.com Breaking news from the Farm since 1892 Thu, 19 May 2016 08:55:19 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://stanforddaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/cropped-DailyIcon-CardinalRed.png?w=32 Evan Burke – The Stanford Daily https://stanforddaily.com 32 32 204779320 Men’s tennis seeks upset against UCLA in NCAA third round https://stanforddaily.com/2016/05/19/mens-tennis-seeks-upset-against-ucla-in-ncaa-third-round/ https://stanforddaily.com/2016/05/19/mens-tennis-seeks-upset-against-ucla-in-ncaa-third-round/#respond Thu, 19 May 2016 08:52:53 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1115348 After a thrilling first weekend of NCAA tournament action in Evanston, Illinois, Stanford men’s tennis (16-10, 4-3 Pac-12) has advanced to the Round of 16 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Their next match, which will take place on Friday, comes against a familiar foe for the Cardinal, the No. 2 UCLA Bruins (24-2, 7-0). UCLA has taken […]

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After a thrilling first weekend of NCAA tournament action in Evanston, Illinois, Stanford men’s tennis (16-10, 4-3 Pac-12) has advanced to the Round of 16 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Their next match, which will take place on Friday, comes against a familiar foe for the Cardinal, the No. 2 UCLA Bruins (24-2, 7-0).

UCLA has taken care of business so far, dominating both Weber State and San Diego at home to the tune of 4-0 shutouts. The Bruins have been one of the best teams in the nation all year, maintaining a top 10 ranking since early February, and are Pac-12 regular-season and tournament champions. They have unquestionably earned their No. 3 seed in the tournament and are a formidable matchup for any opponent.

The Cardinal have faced the Bruins three times already this season, with UCLA taking every match. The first, a fiercely contested 4-3 decision at Taube Tennis Stadium during Stanford’s early-season losing streak, was the closest the Cardinal came to a victory, with UCLA winning by a more comfortable 4-1 margin both at home in the regular season and in the semifinals of the Pac-12 Tournament. Still, the Stanford team that UCLA will face in Tulsa is not the same one that it has beaten three times this year.

The Cardinal are firing on all cylinders, kicking off their tournament run with their best team tennis of the year. A dominant first-round win over Notre Dame in Evanston signaled that Stanford could be a dangerous team in the tournament, and those signs were confirmed as the Cardinal notched their most impressive victory of the season in an epic 4-3 match two days later against No. 14 Northwestern.

Dropping the doubles point against a quality team like the Wildcats could have been disastrous for Stanford, but the team showed great poise and battled back to notch four singles victories, including an impressive three-set comeback victory by Fawcett at No. 1 singles. Two matches of excellent tennis doesn’t guarantee a victory against UCLA, but it does show that the Cardinal are locked in, elevating their game to a level they weren’t able to consistently reach in the regular season.

To give themselves a chance to win on Friday, Stanford will need to find that level again. Although the Cardinal have bested UCLA in doubles in each of their three matches this season, they have struggled in singles, so clinching that first point will be imperative. In singles, Stanford will have to find a way to improve on its past matches.

Fawcett, who has been ranked as highly as the No. 3 singles player in the country this year, will play UCLA’s No. 6-ranked Mackenzie McDonald at No. 1 singles. Fawcett has yet to defeat McDonald this year, but played excellently and came up clutch against Northwestern, clinching the match after going down a set, and Stanford will need him at his best yet again.

Nolan Paige and Michael Genender have both notched victories against UCLA this season, while David Wilczynski and Maciek Romanowicz have played the Bruins tough. All of them, and the rest of Stanford’s singles lineup, will need to give it their all Friday to have a chance to win, but given the way the Cardinal have been playing, and with everything on the line, there’s no reason to doubt Stanford will be ready to bring everything they’ve got in Tulsa.

Should the Cardinal pull off the upset, they will not only have knocked their rivals out of the tournament, but also will have have proved they have what it takes to play with and beat anyone, and will have established themselves as legitimate threats to win the title. The team has shown flashes of excellence this year, but its toughest test of the season will give them a chance to prove their merit and challenge for a national championship.

First serve is at 5 p.m. this Friday in Tulsa.

 

Contact Evan Burke at eburke3 ‘at’ stanford.edu.

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Men’s tennis travels to Evanston to face Notre Dame in NCAA Tournament https://stanforddaily.com/2016/05/13/no-29-mens-tennis-travels-to-evanston-to-face-no-40-notre-dame-in-ncaa-tournament/ https://stanforddaily.com/2016/05/13/no-29-mens-tennis-travels-to-evanston-to-face-no-40-notre-dame-in-ncaa-tournament/#respond Fri, 13 May 2016 09:53:24 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1115066 This Saturday, the No. 29 Stanford’s men’s tennis team (14-10, 4-3 Pac-12) will begin its postseason in Evanston, Illinois against No. 40 Notre Dame (15-13, 6-6 ACC) in the NCAA tournament. Stanford enters Evanston after a season full of highs and lows. The team’s rank has climbed as high as 17th and slid as low as 43rd. Its […]

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This Saturday, the No. 29 Stanford’s men’s tennis team (14-10, 4-3 Pac-12) will begin its postseason in Evanston, Illinois against No. 40 Notre Dame (15-13, 6-6 ACC) in the NCAA tournament.

Tom Fawcett. Stanford Men's Tennis v. CAL 02/20/16. Photo by Rahim Ullah
Leading Stanford into the NCAAs at the No. 1 spot will be sophomore Tom Fawcett (above), who has amassed a 14-5 dual record and 20-7 overall record this season. (RAHIM ULLAH/The Stanford Daily)

Stanford enters Evanston after a season full of highs and lows. The team’s rank has climbed as high as 17th and slid as low as 43rd. Its season includes a five-match losing streak, immediately followed by a five-match winning streak. With the grind of the regular season schedule behind them, however, the Cardinal have the opportunity now to start fresh in a match against an opponent that has never beaten them, as the Irish are 0-5 all time against Stanford.

Although the Cardinal have not been able to consistently demonstrate their dominance, they have undoubtedly shown they are capable of challenging any team in the country. Stanford played a notably difficult schedule this year, with each of its 10 losses coming to teams ranked within the top 30. It also dropped four 4-3 decisions to top-20 teams. In addition, Stanford is coming off a rather strong performance in the Pac-12 tournament, during which they were able to progress to the semifinals.

Each of the past four years Stanford, has played its opening NCAA Tournament match on the road, so the Cardinal are no stranger to high-pressure situations away from home. However, the team has struggled outside of Taube Tennis Center this season, amassing a 3-4 away record. The weather is also forecast to be unseasonably cold in South Bend on Saturday, and because Stanford’s players are used to the warmer West Coast weather, the cooler temperatures could present a challenge.

Stanford should not take the Irish for granted despite the lopsided head-to-head record between the two teams. Before falling to eventual ACC champions Wake Forest in a hard-fought 4-3 match, Notre Dame had been playing some of its best tennis of the year and had won five matches in a row. If the Cardinal don’t bring their best tennis on Saturday, they could be looking at an early exit.

Should the Cardinal dispatch the Fighting Irish, the road will only get tougher. Evanston is home to the 14th-seeded Northwestern Wildcats (25-4), who loom as likely potential second round opponents. Other teams of note in Stanford’s section of the draw are third-seeded UCLA, a familiar foe for the Cardinal, and sixth-seeded Wake Forest, the same team that recently took out Notre Dame in the ACC tournament and won the conference championship.

Stanford tennis has a long and proud tradition of excellence, having won 17 national championships all-time and 15 since 1977. Though this year’s Cardinal may not have the same aura as some of those vaunted squads, all of them started where the team is now. Stanford is flying under the radar this year, but capable of taking out squads like UCLA and Wake should it get hot. With nothing to lose and everything to play for, these Cardinal will attempt to bring home championship No. 18 to The Farm, one match at a time.

 

Contact Evan Burke at eburke3 ‘at’ stanford.edu.

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Women’s water polo falls short in MPSF Championship finals, falling 8-5 to No. 1 USC https://stanforddaily.com/2016/05/03/womens-water-polo-falls-short-in-mpsf-championship-finals-falling-8-5-to-no-1-usc/ https://stanforddaily.com/2016/05/03/womens-water-polo-falls-short-in-mpsf-championship-finals-falling-8-5-to-no-1-usc/#respond Tue, 03 May 2016 08:32:57 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1114570 The No. 3 Stanford women’s water polo team (21-5, 4-2 MPSF) entered the MPSF Championship Tournament with a lot to prove, having fallen to No. 1 USC and No. 2 UCLA in their most recent meetings. This past weekend the Cardinal traveled to Bakersfield in search of that redemption. The team would knock off several […]

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The No. 3 Stanford women’s water polo team (21-5, 4-2 MPSF) entered the MPSF Championship Tournament with a lot to prove, having fallen to No. 1 USC and No. 2 UCLA in their most recent meetings. This past weekend the Cardinal traveled to Bakersfield in search of that redemption. The team would knock off several schools, including No. 2 UCLA, on their way to the championship match before ultimately falling to No. 1-ranked USC.

Driver Gurpreet Sohi #5. Photo by Rahim Ullah
Senior driver Gurpreet Sohi (above) was an offensive force during the MPSF Championships, recording four goals over the weekend in her final conference championship tournament. (RAHIM ULLAH/The Stanford Daily)

On Friday, Stanford played its first match against No. 13 San Jose State (18-15, 1-5). The first half was an offensive onslaught for the Cardinal; freshman Madison Berggren, sophomores Jordan Raney and Katie Dudley, junior Jamie Neushul and seniors Rachel Johnson and Anna Yelizarova all scored to give Stanford a 6-1 lead at the half. Such a thoroughly dominant and balanced performance allowed the Cardinal to cruise to a 10-6 victory against the overmatched Spartans. Berggren, Dudley and senior Gurpreet Sohi each finished with 2 goals.

Stanford then faced the No. 2-ranked UCLA Bruins in its next match on Saturday. The tilt came just a week removed from the two teams’ last match, an epic clash that UCLA won in sudden death overtime. The Cardinal would get their revenge this time, however, earning a 6-3 win and ousting the Bruins from the tournament. Julia Hermann had 14 saves on the day, the second most in a single game in the junior’s career.

The last seven came during a second half in which UCLA was held scoreless and the Cardinal were able to pull away. Junior Dani Jackovich and Neushul finished with 2 goals apiece, with Raney and freshman Kat Klass also finding the back of the net. The victory against UCLA, one of the best teams in the country, likely sealed a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the Cardinal and propelled them into the championship game against the Bruins’ crosstown rival, No. 1 USC.

Like it had against UCLA, Stanford came into the MPSF Championship having recently dropped a match to its adversary. This time, however, the Cardinal were unable to turn the tables, falling to the Trojans, 8-5.

Stanford was able to jump out to an early lead with goals from Sohi and Jackovich and held a 2-1 lead at halftime. The game remained tight in the third quarter, with goals from Raney and Sohi keeping the Cardinal on top after USC twice pulled even. The Cardinal, never having trailed in the game, took a 4-3 lead into the final frame.

It was there that USC would rally, scoring four unanswered goals and racing to a 7-4 advantage with a little over three minutes to go. The two teams would trade goals once more before the whistle sounded, allowing USC to clinch the MPSF Championship and the league’s automatic berth into the national tournament.

Though the Cardinal ultimately fell short in their bid for automatic qualification in the NCAAs, they have set themselves up for an at-large bid. Hermann proved her status as one of the MPSF’s elite goalkeepers, leading the tournament in saves and finishing third in save percentage.

The team will now await news of the seeding for the NCAA Tournament in Los Angeles, where it will in all likelihood be back in action in two weeks’ time.

 

Contact Evan Burke at eburke3 ‘at’ stanford.edu.

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Women’s tennis completes strong run at Pac-12 Championships https://stanforddaily.com/2016/04/26/womens-tennis-completes-strong-run-at-pac-12-championships/ https://stanforddaily.com/2016/04/26/womens-tennis-completes-strong-run-at-pac-12-championships/#respond Tue, 26 Apr 2016 08:30:28 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1114174 This weekend, the Stanford women’s tennis team participated in the Pac-12 Championships in Ojai, California. It was a strong showing for the Cardinal, with Melissa Lord and Carol Zhao making a run to the Doubles Championship Division final, and Caroline Lampl progressing to the final of the Singles Invitational Division. Though Zhao was a defending […]

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This weekend, the Stanford women’s tennis team participated in the Pac-12 Championships in Ojai, California. It was a strong showing for the Cardinal, with Melissa Lord and Carol Zhao making a run to the Doubles Championship Division final, and Caroline Lampl progressing to the final of the Singles Invitational Division.

Carol Zhao
Junior Carol Zhao (above) and doubles partner freshman Melissa Lord managed a second place finish at the Pac-12 Doubles Championship Division final, after only playing together nine times during the regular season. (NICK SALAZAR/The Stanford Daily)

Though Zhao was a defending Pac-12 doubles champion with Taylor Davidson, she and Lord were unranked coming into the tournament, likely due to a lack of experience playing with each other. The duo were first paired together on March 25 against Colorado, and only played together nine times during the regular season. When Zhao returned from injury, she was placed at No. 2 doubles with Lord, as the coaching staff was reluctant to break up either of the other two double teams. Davidson had formed an excellent pairing with Caroline Doyle at the No. 1 doubles spot and the No. 3 team of Lampl and Krista Hardebeck had played equally well.

Zhao and Lord finished the season with only a single defeat, and though each of their regular-season opponents had been unranked, any notions of an early exit for Stanford’s No. 2 doubles team were dispelled quickly. The two dispatched three nationally-ranked doubles teams on their way to the final, including a victory in the quarterfinals against UCLA’s Catherine Harrison and Kyle McPhillips, the nation’s No. 6 pairing.

Zhao and Lord eventually were eventually defeated in the final by Arizona State’s Alexandra Osbourne and Ebony Panoho. Tied 3-3 in the first set, Osbourne and Panoho were able to win nine of the next ten games for a 6-3, 6-1 win. Still, Zhao and Lord’s ability to gel together into such a formidable doubles team in just a month is an incredible achievement in itself. Should they stay together as a team and add to their already great success, Stanford will have a powerful doubles lineup to work with next year, with the nation’s No. 5-ranked pair of Davidson and Doyle also returning to The Farm.

Davidson and Doyle also participated in the Doubles Championship division, progressing to the quarterfinals before dropping a tight 7-5 set to Washington’s Nour Abbes and Maki Kobayashi. Elsewhere in the doubles division at Ojai, Krista Hardebeck and Carolina Lampl played in the Invitational Division tournament and made a run of their own to the semifinals.

Lampl and Lord also made considerable noise in the invitational singles tournament. Lord was able to make it to the semifinals before falling in a tough three-set battle to Cal’s Olivia Hauger. Lampl made it a step further, nearly taking home the title before losing to Hauger in the final.

The Cardinal clearly have two young, talented players in Lampl and Lord who aren’t afraid to step up in high-pressure situations. The pair have plenty of experience in big matches after the championships this weekend, and will only get better as their careers progress. The two freshmen will both return to Palo Alto with championship appearances under their belts, and both will be eager to get back to the same point next year to finish the job.

Stanford’s singles roster this year was characterized by its depth, and that rang true as the Cardinal put three players — Taylor Davidson, Caroline Doyle, and Krista Hardebeck — in the Singles Championship Division. They were unable to reach the same successes achieved in doubles action, but overall, the Cardinal had a solid tournament. Davidson fell in the Round of 16, while Doyle and Hardebeck were both able to reach the quarterfinals before being eliminated, with the former becoming the third Stanford player ever to win 20 matches in a season and the latter extending her incredible win streak to 17 before finally bowing out.

Next up for the team are the NCAA team and individual championships. The Cardinal are almost ensured to play their first rounds at home in Taube Tennis Stadium, where they will attempt to capitalize on a nearly pristine home record (10-1). Stanford’s prowess in Palo Alto, and its current hot streak – which falls right in line with the team’s reputation of saving its best tennis for last – suggests that a deep tournament run could be approaching. Stanford has shown that it can play with some of the best teams in the country, and the team’s resilience after an uncharacteristically rough start has been on display all season. With Pac-12s in the rear-view mirror, the NCAAs are the only competition remaining. It’s time to truly see how far the Cardinal can go.

The team awaits May 3, when the NCAA will announce the postseason tournament bracket.

Contact Evan Burke at eburke3 ‘at’ stanford.edu. 

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Women’s tennis pockets sweep of Washington schools in final road trip https://stanforddaily.com/2016/04/12/womens-tennis-pockets-sweep-of-washington-schools-in-final-road-trip/ https://stanforddaily.com/2016/04/12/womens-tennis-pockets-sweep-of-washington-schools-in-final-road-trip/#respond Tue, 12 Apr 2016 07:24:27 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1113448 This weekend, the No. 19 Stanford women’s tennis team (12-5, 7-1 Pac-12) traveled to the Pacific Northwest and took on No. 47 Washington (12-10, 3-6) and No. 57 Washington State (17-8, 2-7) in its last road matches of the regular season. Both matches ended in dominant wins for Stanford, as the Cardinal cruised 6-1 against Washington and 5-2 against Washington State.

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This weekend, the No. 19 Stanford women’s tennis team (12-5, 7-1 Pac-12) traveled to the Pacific Northwest and took on No. 47 Washington (12-10, 3-6) and No. 57 Washington State (17-8, 2-7) in its last road matches of the regular season. Both matches ended in dominant wins for Stanford, as the Cardinal cruised 6-1 against Washington and 5-2 against Washington State.

On Friday against Washington, the Court 3 team of senior Krista Hardebeck and freshman Caroline Lampl clinched the doubles point for the Cardinal before Carol Zhao, Taylor Davidson, Caroline Doyle, Hardebeck and Lampl all notched straight-set victories on Courts 1-5 to bury the Huskies in short order, with Lampl giving the team the fourth clincher of her career. Hardebeck’s victory marked her 13th straight, the longest such streak of her career.

Against the Cougars, the Cardinal again jumped out to an early lead, this time with Davidson and Doyle, the No. 4 ranked doubles team in the country, clinching the doubles point. Stanford then cemented the win with three straight singles victories from Melissa Lord, Lampl and Hardebeck, who upped her unbeaten streak to 14 matches. Washington State was able to get back two points in the singles matches after the contest was already in hand for Stanford with wins over Doyle on Court 2 and freshman Kimberly Yee on Court 5.

The two dominant wins, coupled with the very close loss to No. 1 Cal the previous week, signaled that the Cardinal are still playing some of their best tennis of the year, especially in light of their three-match shutout streak against Colorado, Utah and Oregon in late March. Before the two road wins over the weekend, the Cardinal had struggled on the road all season, with their only win away from the Taube Tennis Center having come against Arizona back in early March.

The trip to Washington moved Stanford’s Pac-12 record to 7-1, allowing the Cardinal to enter their final match of the season, a rematch with unbeaten Cal, with the confidence that they have dominated their conference schedule and have a legitimate chance to knock off the nation’s No. 1 team as the singles lineup gets comfortable with Zhao back at No. 1.

Additionally, Stanford will be playing Cal at Taube, where they have been nearly unbeatable this season. With the postseason approaching, and the possibility of hosting two rounds of the NCAA tournament still in play, the Cardinal will still have a lot to play for when they look for revenge against the Bears on Sunday. Stanford can clinch the Pac-12 regular season title with a win over the Bears and a USC loss to UCLA. 

 

Contact Evan Burke at eburke3 ‘at’ stanford.edu.

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Men’s tennis looks to break losing skid, while women seek fifth straight win https://stanforddaily.com/2016/03/03/mens-tennis-looks-to-break-losing-skid-while-women-seek-fifth-straight-win/ https://stanforddaily.com/2016/03/03/mens-tennis-looks-to-break-losing-skid-while-women-seek-fifth-straight-win/#respond Thu, 03 Mar 2016 09:48:43 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1112000 This weekend, No. 37 Stanford men’s tennis (5-6) will travel to La Jolla, California to both play in the Pacific Coast Doubles Tournament and take on No. 30 Rice, while the No. 20 women’s team (5-2) looks to extend its winning streak against Arizona and Arizona State. The two teams have been following opposite trajectories […]

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This weekend, No. 37 Stanford men’s tennis (5-6) will travel to La Jolla, California to both play in the Pacific Coast Doubles Tournament and take on No. 30 Rice, while the No. 20 women’s team (5-2) looks to extend its winning streak against Arizona and Arizona State.

Nolan Paige. Photo by Rahim Ullah
Senior Nolan Paige (above) has been a reliable force in doubles this season, going 7-1 and helping the Cardinal earn the doubles point against UCLA and USC. The Cardinal will rely on his consistency as they try to stop their losing skid against Rice and in the Pacific Coast Doubles Tournament. (RAHIM ULLAH/The Stanford Daily)

The two teams have been following opposite trajectories as of late: The Stanford men have lost their last five matches after a 5-1 start to the season, while the women have not lost in over a month, rallying from their program’s first-ever sub-.500 record and sweeping a February homestand.

After tough losses to Southern California rivals USC and UCLA, both top 10 in the country, as well as other highly-ranked opponents, the men’s team must find a way to turn its season around ahead of opening Pac-12 play. Their first opportunity to rebound is against No. 30 Rice (12-3). The Owls appear to have struggled with consistency at times, picking up a 4-3 win against then-No. 30 LSU but being shut out in their most recent match against lower-ranked San Diego. Nevertheless, they are a good team who will present yet another tough test for Stanford.

The Cardinal appear to be the more talented team on paper, as Rice does not have a singles player ranked in the top 125 or a doubles team ranked in the top 60, whereas Stanford has multiple singles players and a doubles pairing ranked. While the team has had several disappointing close finishes lately, a strong all-around showing could provide the Cardinal a desperately-needed win and some momentum going into the weekend doubles tournament in La Jolla.

The Pacific Coast Doubles tournament will be another opportunity for Stanford to regain confidence for a mid-season rebound. Stanford’s doubles teams have seen recent success in the team’s skid, as the Cardinal won the doubles point in the matches against both USC and UCLA.

As for the women, they enter Pac-12 play against Arizona (9-3) and Arizona State (6-3) as winners of their last four matches, including a 4-3 thriller against Florida. Though the Cardinal actually moved down in the most recent rankings, the number next to their name belies the elite level of play that the Stanford women’s team has maintained throughout the month of February.

Stanford’s No. 1 player, Carol Zhao, is not expected to play this weekend. Zhao returned to the team for its match against Florida after taking several months off to train with the Canadian national team and compete on the women’s professional circuit. Head coach Lele Forood will likely put Taylor Davidson back on Court 1, where she has played for most of the season.

The U of A had been steadily moving up through the rankings for several weeks before a loss to LSU dropped them back to No. 64, while ASU checks in at No. 36. Though no match should be taken for granted, Stanford has shown that it can play with — and beat — some of the top teams in the country.

Stanford’s superior talent and big-match experience may the difference this weekend as the team tries to grab an early lead in the Pac-12 standings with a sweep of the Grand Canyon State.

 

Contact Evan Burke at eburke3 ‘at’ stanford.edu.

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Women’s tennis looks to keep momentum, men prepare for Big Slam clash https://stanforddaily.com/2016/02/18/womens-tennis-looks-to-keep-momentum-men-prepare-for-big-slam-clash/ https://stanforddaily.com/2016/02/18/womens-tennis-looks-to-keep-momentum-men-prepare-for-big-slam-clash/#respond Thu, 18 Feb 2016 09:37:15 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1111046 This weekend, the Stanford men’s and women’s tennis teams get back in action at the Taube Tennis Center, as the No. 13 women (3-2) will play No. 28 Fresno State (5-3) on Friday afternoon, while the No. 22 men (5-3) will meet arch-rival No. 18 Cal (4-1) on Saturday for the Big Slam. Since dropping […]

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This weekend, the Stanford men’s and women’s tennis teams get back in action at the Taube Tennis Center, as the No. 13 women (3-2) will play No. 28 Fresno State (5-3) on Friday afternoon, while the No. 22 men (5-3) will meet arch-rival No. 18 Cal (4-1) on Saturday for the Big Slam.

Since dropping under .500 for the first time in program history, the women’s team has quickly rebounded and is playing great tennis. The Cardinal’s last two matches have been dominant victories: 6-1 against St. Mary’s and a 7-0 shutout against No. 22 TCU. In this third match of a month-long homestand, the Cardinal will look to continue their high level of play as they work to reassert themselves as one of the top teams in the country.

Fresno State is currently riding a three-match win streak. The Bulldogs have shown that they can play with anyone, notching two victories against ranked opponents in their fist two matches, including an upset of then-No. 9 UCLA. Although they have since dropped their last two matches against ranked teams, Fresno State will enter the match against the Cardinal with confidence that they can score a big win on the road.

To avoid a stumble against the Bulldogs, Stanford will need to utilize its superior talent. The Cardinal have three players — juniors Taylor Davidson and Caroline Doyle, and senior Krista Hardebeck — in the ITA singles rankings to Fresno State’s one. Davidson and Doyle are also ranked as the No. 5 doubles team in the country. The Cardinal should feel confident that as long as they play up to their capability, they should be able to extend their current winning streak against the scrappy Bulldogs.

With a win against Fresno State, the Cardinal could be winners of their last three going into a tough match against Florida — one of the top teams in the country, and one of Stanford’s perennial rivals. Stanford will need to be at its best against the Gators, but a win against Fresno State would further boost the team’s confidence and ensure that it would enter the match against Florida ready to regain elite status as a tennis program.

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On Saturday, the men’s team will take on California in the Big Slam, in what promises to be a well-balanced and entertaining match. The Cardinal and the Golden Bears are ranked 22nd and 18th, respectively, but have been trending in opposite directions. In the Big 12/Pac-12 challenge, the Stanford men lost matches to No. 24 Texas and No. 3 TCU to fall to 5-3 on the season. Meanwhile, Cal extended its winning streak to four matches by beating both teams. The Bears will be confident coming into Palo Alto after the TCU upset and look to be a formidable opponent for the Cardinal.

The talent of both teams will be on full display, as Stanford and Cal have always had extra motivation to be at their best against each other as arch-rivals. The two teams are relatively equal in depth, though Stanford may have a slight advantage. Stanford has six singles players and two doubles teams ranked by the ITA, while Cal has five singles players and one doubles team ranked. Additionally, Stanford doubles teams have only lost one match all year.

The match to watch will be at No. 1 singles, where Stanford sophomore Tom Fawcett and Cal junior Andre Gorranson will face off as the third- and fourth-ranked singles players in the country. The players will be facing off for the second consecutive Big Slam, with Gorranson winning handily 7-5, 6-0 last year. However, Fawcett appears to have raised his game tremendously, having played excellent tennis this year with wins in his last seven dual singles matches.

The men’s team will be looking to rebound from its showing at the Big 12/Pac-12 challenge and get its season back on track. A win against its biggest rival would do just that, and put Stanford back in the right mindset to make the best of what is still a young season.

Catch the Stanford women’s match on Friday at 1:30 p.m. and the men the following day at 1:00 p.m. Both matches will be played at Taube Stadium.

 

Contact Evan Burke at eburke3 ‘at’ stanford.edu.

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Women’s tennis looks to square up record this weekend against Gaels https://stanforddaily.com/2016/02/05/womens-tennis-looks-to-square-up-record-this-weekend-against-gaels/ https://stanforddaily.com/2016/02/05/womens-tennis-looks-to-square-up-record-this-weekend-against-gaels/#respond Fri, 05 Feb 2016 10:25:06 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1110347 On Friday, the No. 8 Stanford women’s tennis team (1-2, 0-0 Pac 12) will take on the No. 47 Saint Mary’s Gaels (1-3, 0-0 WCC) at the Taube Family Tennis Center.  The Cardinal have stumbled out of the gate at the start of this season, earning a 1-2 record in their first three matches.  It […]

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On Friday, the No. 8 Stanford women’s tennis team (1-2, 0-0 Pac 12) will take on the No. 47 Saint Mary’s Gaels (1-3, 0-0 WCC) at the Taube Family Tennis Center. 

Caroline Doyle (above) is one half the No. 10 doubles pair in the country, with her partner being teammate Taylor Davidson. The duo have gone  (NORBERT VON DER GROEBEN/isiphotos.com)
Junior Caroline Doyle (above) is one half of the No. 10 doubles pair in the country, her partner being teammate junior Taylor Davidson. The duo has amassed a 14-2 record playing together.
(NORBERT VON DER GROEBEN/isiphotos.com)

The Cardinal have stumbled out of the gate at the start of this season, earning a 1-2 record in their first three matches.  It is the first time in the history of Stanford women’s tennis — which has accumulated 1,032 matches over 42 years — that the Cardinal own a losing record. Stanford faced elite competition over the weekend while missing NCAA singles runner-up Carol Zhao and starting several freshman. After falling to No. 25 Mississippi on Friday afternoon in a heartbreaking 4-3 loss, Stanford was defeated by No. 1 Vanderbilt, the defending national champions, by a score of 4-1.

However, as the season is still very young and the team has plenty of time to strengthen its form before the tournament in May, the Cardinal are still in good shape. Zhao is expected to return in the spring and the youth on the team will improve with experience.

The match with St. Mary’s will be the Cardinal’s next chance to get back in the winner’s column and starts a four-match homestand for the team spanning the month of February.

The team is eager to put itself back on the winning track, and head coach Lele Forood has confidence that it will be able to rebound. Forood noted that one of the keys to Stanford’s turnaround will be strong doubles play from juniors Taylor Davidson and Caroline Doyle, who have amassed a 14-2 overall record playing together and are currently ranked as the nation’s No. 10 doubles team.

“[Taylor and Caroline have] won huge matches for us over their first two years and are established top-20 caliber players,” Forood said. “We will be relying on their experience.”

With Davidson and Doyle leading the charge, both separately in singles matches and together in doubles, Stanford has the leadership to quickly recover from a tough start to the season and notch a couple of quality wins this month.

During this upcoming stretch of home matches Cardinal will take on top teams like No. 3 Florida and No. 22 TCU. Despite the quality of the team’s opponents, these next four matches for Stanford all come with at least six days built in between, giving the team plenty of time to rest and prepare. Bolstered by this rare opportunity of time off in this part of the season, the team will therefore be viewing the matchup with Saint Mary’s as an opportunity to start building momentum for the future. If the Cardinal can turn that momentum into a winning streak, they could quickly reassert themselves as one of the country’s best squads by the end of the month.

The match against St. Mary’s will take place on Friday, Feb. 5 at 3 p.m. at Taube. You can watch the matches live online here.

 

Contact Evan Burke at eburke3 ‘at’ stanford.edu.

 

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Top three matchups: Stanford vs. California https://stanforddaily.com/2015/11/20/top-three-matchups-stanford-vs-california/ https://stanforddaily.com/2015/11/20/top-three-matchups-stanford-vs-california/#respond Fri, 20 Nov 2015 11:15:14 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1107790 The post Top three matchups: Stanford vs. California appeared first on The Stanford Daily.

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Fighting to keep season alive, men’s water polo heads to MPSF tournament https://stanforddaily.com/2015/11/19/fighting-to-keep-season-alive-mens-water-polo-heads-to-mpsf-tournament/ https://stanforddaily.com/2015/11/19/fighting-to-keep-season-alive-mens-water-polo-heads-to-mpsf-tournament/#respond Thu, 19 Nov 2015 09:02:02 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1107440 This weekend, the No. 5 Stanford men’s water polo team (20-7, 5-4 MPSF) will travel to Los Angeles to compete in the MPSF tournament as the No. 5 seed and will attempt to capitalize on its final chance to earn an NCAA tournament bid. Stanford’s title hopes took another hit on Sunday against No. 2 […]

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This weekend, the No. 5 Stanford men’s water polo team (20-7, 5-4 MPSF) will travel to Los Angeles to compete in the MPSF tournament as the No. 5 seed and will attempt to capitalize on its final chance to earn an NCAA tournament bid.

As Stanford kicks off the MPSF Tournament tomorrow against USC, it will need a strong showing from driver Adam Abdulhamid (above). The senior is currently second on the team with 54 goals. (NATHAN STAFFA/The Stanford Daily)
As Stanford kicks off the MPSF Tournament tomorrow against USC, it will need a strong showing from driver Adam Abdulhamid (above). The senior is currently second on the team with 54 goals. (NATHAN STAFFA/The Stanford Daily)

Stanford’s title hopes took another hit on Sunday against No. 2 Cal in the Big Splash — the Cardinal’s six-game winning streak came to an end as they fell to the Bears by a 13-8 margin and moved to 1-7 on the year against teams ranked in the top five.

Despite this setback, the dream of a national championship isn’t completely dead for Stanford — the MPSF winner earns an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

The MPSF is far and away the elite conference in men’s water polo.  The top eight seeded teams in the tournament draw — UCLA, Pacific, Cal, USC, Stanford, UC Santa Barbara, UC Irvine and Long Beach State — are also the top eight teams in the NCAA national rankings, in the same order.

On one hand, this means that Stanford will be facing the toughest competition in the nation, something that the team has struggled with this year. On the other hand, while a victory guarantees an NCAA berth, even a deep run into the MPSF tournament may be enough to bump the Cardinal into the top four and earn them an at-large bid to the championship.

Stanford’s first match is at 11:30 a.m. on Friday against fourth-seeded USC (18-5, 6-3), the host of the tournament.  The Cardinal have played the Trojans three times this year already, winning the first encounter — their only top-five victory this year — but dropping the next two. Despite the loss to Cal, Stanford comes into the game with more momentum than the Trojans, who have lost three of their last four games, including a loss in their annual rivalry game against UCLA.

Friday will be incredibly important for both teams.  If USC wins, it would likely have a lock for an NCAA berth and Stanford’s season will essentially be over.

However, if Stanford wins, not only will USC be out of the MPSF tournament, but also the Trojans’ NCAA berth would be in jeopardy, as the Cardinal — directly behind USC in the national rankings — could jump them with a win. Those odds of moving past Southern Cal in the rankings will grow with each Stanford win in the MPSF tournament.

Essentially, both teams are playing for their postseason lives, and the atmosphere inside USC’s Uytengsu Aquatics Center should be electric when the Cardinal and the Trojans face off.

Should Stanford prevail in its first match, the road will likely only get tougher. No. 1 UCLA (25-0, 9-0), the only undefeated team in the NCAA, is on the Cardinal’s side of the draw.  No. 2 Pacific and No. 3 Cal loom as potential finals opponents should Stanford advance that far. In the regular season, the Cardinal weren’t often up to the task of playing against these other elite MPSF schools, as they posted a combined 0-3 record against the two teams.

To find success in the MPSF tournament, the Cardinal will need to play their best water polo of the season. Stanford has maintained all season that it belongs among the NCAA’s best, but has yet to prove it; this weekend will be its last — and best — chance to do so, and to fulfill its preseason aspirations of postseason success. The stakes have never been higher for the Cardinal; it’s time to see if they are up to the task.

 

Contact Evan Burke at eburke3 ‘at’ stanford.edu.

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Men’s water polo takes on Cal in regular season finale https://stanforddaily.com/2015/11/13/mens-water-polo-takes-on-cal-in-regular-season-finale/ https://stanforddaily.com/2015/11/13/mens-water-polo-takes-on-cal-in-regular-season-finale/#respond Fri, 13 Nov 2015 11:11:16 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1106985 In its final match of the regular season, No. 5 Stanford men’s water polo (20-6, 5-3 MPSF) will take on No. 2 Cal (20-5, 6-2) on Sunday in front of a home crowd at Avery Aquatic Center. Stanford’s latest encounter with its archrival presents a golden opportunity for the Cardinal to cement their regular season résumé […]

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In its final match of the regular season, No. 5 Stanford men’s water polo (20-6, 5-3 MPSF) will take on No. 2 Cal (20-5, 6-2) on Sunday in front of a home crowd at Avery Aquatic Center.

Senior Bret Bonanni (above) leads the team with 82 goals, nearly 30 more than anyone else on the team. To beat No. 2 Cal, he will have to step up and have a stronger performance than the one he had last time the two teams matched up, when Cal limited him to only 2 goals. (MACIEK GUDRYMOWICZ/isiphotos.com)
Senior Bret Bonanni (above) leads the team with 82 goals, nearly 30 more than anyone else on the team. To beat No. 2 Cal, he will have to step up and have a stronger performance than the one he had last time the two teams matched up, when Cal limited him to only 2 goals. (MACIEK GUDRYMOWICZ/isiphotos.com)

Stanford’s latest encounter with its archrival presents a golden opportunity for the Cardinal to cement their regular season résumé with a quality win, enhancing their chances of making the NCAA tournament. Stanford could move back into the top four of the NCAA rankings with a victory, or at the very least enter the MPSF tournament with confidence.

All season, the team has maintained that it is talented enough to be the best in the nation. In the past six games, Stanford has looked like a premier squad. Behind hat tricks from seniors Bret Bonanni and Adam Abdulhamid, the team put on an utterly dominant performance in its most recent 20-0 victory over No. 17 Santa Clara, its second shutout in its last three games and its second consecutive 20-goal match. With the offense firing on all cylinders and the defense playing stingy, Stanford appears to be rounding into postseason form.

However, the Bears should provide a significantly tougher test. The Bears are coming off a weekend of games in which they were defeated 11-10 by Pacific, with whom they share the No. 2 ranking, but rebounded quickly and obliterated No. 9 Pepperdine, 26-3. Despite the loss to Pacific, Cal fields one of the best teams in the nation, as evidenced by its record and ranking, and it has already defeated Stanford once this year, 14-11.

That loss came during Stanford’s four-game slide in the middle of October, and while the Cardinal have since rebounded, the Golden Bears remain formidable opponents. Stanford will need to bring its best in order to win and keep its postseason hopes alive; a loss could doom its championship hopes for good. Luckily for Stanford, and for spectators on Sunday, the Cardinal are playing some of their most dominant water polo of the year and appear ready for the challenge.

Neither team will need any more motivation than the thought of playing its rival, but with championship aspirations on the line, both Stanford and Cal will be prepared for another hard-fought, high-stakes match in this long and storied series.

Stanford will play Cal at 1 p.m. on Sunday at the Avery Aquatic Center.

 

Contact Evan Burke at ebruke3 ‘at’ stanford.edu.

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Men’s and women’s golf end fall play with promising showings https://stanforddaily.com/2015/11/06/mens-and-womens-golf-end-fall-play-with-promising-showings/ https://stanforddaily.com/2015/11/06/mens-and-womens-golf-end-fall-play-with-promising-showings/#respond Fri, 06 Nov 2015 09:47:32 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1106435 Earlier this week, Stanford men’s and women’s golf returned to action for their final tournaments of the fall season. At the Gifford Collegiate, the men’s team posted their best result of the season, placing second out of 15 competitors despite windy conditions. Junior Maverick McNealy led the way for Stanford once again, clinching the ninth win […]

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Earlier this week, Stanford men’s and women’s golf returned to action for their final tournaments of the fall season.

Stanford, California - March 28, 2015: Stanford Men's Golf during The Goodwin Tournament at Stanford Golf Course.
Sophomore Jeffrey Swegle (above) finished tied for 12th place at the Gifford Collegiate, matching the best finish of his Stanford career. Swegle’s impressive performance helped vault the Cardinal to second place at the event (CASEY VALENTINE/isiphotos.com)

At the Gifford Collegiate, the men’s team posted their best result of the season, placing second out of 15 competitors despite windy conditions. Junior Maverick McNealy led the way for Stanford once again, clinching the ninth win of his career by tying for first place. It was McNealy’s third medaling finish in his last four events, and his nine career victories leave him only two behind the Cardinal’s all-time leaders in wins, Tiger Woods and Patrick Rodgers.

With McNealy’s exemplary play setting the tone, his teammates were able to step up their own games and propel the team to a runner-up finish. Senior David Boote finished tied for fifth place overall at one stroke under par for the tournament. Sophomore Jeff Swegle matched his career-best finish, tying for 12th place at three over par. Swegle was in second place after opening with two under-par rounds, but fell back on the last day after shooting a seven-over 78.

The conditions in Carlsbad, Calif. were tough; every player faced significant challenges due to the elements, but Stanford should feel confident in the way its team was able to play despite the weather-induced adversity. The fact that Stanford achieved its best result of the fall in such a windy environment suggests that the team as a whole is improving.

“If you look at all three days, we had really solid team contributions,” head coach Conrad Ray said. “Jeff really had two great rounds and has a lot to be excited about. Everyone kicked in this week, which is the key for us as we move forward, looking for the success we want.”

Meanwhile, in Atlanta, Ga., all four semifinalists from last year’s NCAA Women’s Championships were in action on Monday at the East Lake Invitational. Third-ranked Stanford took on No. 2 Duke, while last season’s runner-up Baylor battled Southern California.

Stanford’s semifinal against the Blue Devils was delayed by rain and was finished on Tuesday morning. The Cardinal were defeated 4-1 but were able to re-group, beating Baylor 4-0-1 in the consolation match to capture third place.

After faltering against Duke, the Cardinal got themselves together quickly against the Bears, as junior Quirine Eijkenboom and senior Lauren Kim were able to cruise to several-shot victories. Sophomore Shannon Aubert and junior Casey Danielson pulled away on the back nine and clinched wins themselves, while senior Mariah Stackhouse secured a halve in a hard-fought match.

While the women were unable to get a win in Atlanta, they did record wins in two of their four matches during the fall, including the Stanford Intercollegiate, during which they finished seven strokes ahead of USC, the No. 1 ranked team in the country and the victors of the East Lake Invitational. The Cardinal have shown that they can defeat some of the top teams in the country; expect them to be in the chase for the national championship again come spring.

The men’s team will return to action in the Amer Ari Invitational (Feb. 4-6) in Waikoloa, Hawaii, while the women will make their spring debut at home when they host the Peg Barnard Invitational on Feb. 13-14.

 

Contact Evan Burke eburke3 ‘at’ stanford.edu.

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Men’s water polo rebounds from four-game loss streak with two statement wins https://stanforddaily.com/2015/10/26/mens-water-polo-rebounds-from-four-game-loss-streak-with-two-statement-wins/ https://stanforddaily.com/2015/10/26/mens-water-polo-rebounds-from-four-game-loss-streak-with-two-statement-wins/#respond Mon, 26 Oct 2015 08:52:08 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1105684 The No. 5 Stanford men’s water polo team (16-6, 2-3 MPSF) notched two wins this weekend, defeating No. 6 UC Santa Barbara (13-8, 2-4) 10-8 on Saturday and San Jose State (3-19,0-6) 17-4 on Sunday. The victories broke a four-game losing streak for the Cardinal, which had lost to four tough top-five opponents during that […]

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The No. 5 Stanford men’s water polo team (16-6, 2-3 MPSF) notched two wins this weekend, defeating No. 6 UC Santa Barbara (13-8, 2-4) 10-8 on Saturday and San Jose State (3-19,0-6) 17-4 on Sunday. The victories broke a four-game losing streak for the Cardinal, which had lost to four tough top-five opponents during that stretch.

At the Avery Aquatic Center on Saturday, Stanford started the match slowly and found itself down two goals early in the first quarter. Santa Barbara had several other quality chances to extend its lead, but spectacular saves from junior Drew Holland kept the Gauchos at bay while Stanford rallied. The Cardinal, however, eventually took a 4-2 lead in the second quarter with two goals apiece from seniors Adam Abdulhamid and Bret Bonanni.

“We weren’t making the passes we needed to make in the first quarter,” said sophomore Cody Smith, who had two goals on the day. “We knew we were going to just keep fighting back, and once we tied it up, I think that’s when we really stared to get confident.”

Still, UCSB would not go away. The Gauchos tied the game at 4 in the second quarter before Bonanni scored in the final seconds to put Stanford up one going into halftime. The Cardinal had several opportunities in the third quarter to extend their lead, including two penalty shots, but were only able to score one goal. Despite its offensive struggles, the team was able to keep its focus, and Stanford’s tough defense limited UCSB’s chances and allowed the Cardinal to take a 6-5 lead into the final period.

“It’s always frustrating when you don’t see shots fall,” said Smith. “But definitely in the third quarter, we were just making sure they didn’t score because even if we’d only won by one goal that’s enough for us. “

In the fourth quarter, Stanford found its offensive rhythm, extending its lead to 9-5 with three unanswered goals. Defensive lapses allowed UCSB to rally in the game’s final minutes, but the Cardinal were able to hold on for the 10-8 win.

The next day, Stanford carried its momentum from the UCSB victory to San Jose State where it dominated the Spartans for the second time this season. It was a clinical win that showcased Stanford’s offensive ability and potential as an elite water polo team.

Nine players scored for the Cardinal, including hat tricks from Bonanni, Smith, and freshman Kyle Weikert. Stanford never trailed in the game, and the closest that SJSU was able to come was a 5-3 deficit with 2:13 to go in the second quarter after consecutive scores.

After those two goals, the Spartans didn’t find the back of the net again until the 6:03 mark in the fourth quarter, at which point Stanford had turned the game into a 16-3 blowout with 11 unanswered goals of its own. SJSU was only able to halt the barrage temporarily though, as Stanford would score once more for its 17th and final time of the game.

With his three goals Sunday, Bonanni is now one goal shy of tying the all-time Stanford scoring record, held by Tony Azevedo. That’s rare company for the senior — Azevedo was recently named the Pac-12 Men’s Water Polo Player of the Century and is considered one of the greatest American water polo players of all time.

The wins this weekend give Bonanni and the rest of the Cardinal confidence as they continue through the final stretch of the regular season, knowing that one loss could kill their championship hopes. They will play again next weekend at No. 8 Long Beach State and at No. 7 UC Irvine.

 

Contact Evan Burke at eburke3 ‘at’ stanford.edu.

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Men’s water polo looks to end losing streak as postseason approaches https://stanforddaily.com/2015/10/23/mens-water-polo-looks-to-end-losing-streak-as-postseason-approaches/ https://stanforddaily.com/2015/10/23/mens-water-polo-looks-to-end-losing-streak-as-postseason-approaches/#respond Fri, 23 Oct 2015 07:52:26 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1105519 No. 5 Stanford men’s water polo (14-6, 0-3 MPSF) will look to break a four-game losing streak this weekend with matches against No. 6 UC Santa Barbara (12-7, 1-3) and San Jose State (3-15, 0-3). As the final stretch of the regular season approaches, Santa Barbara and Stanford find themselves in similar situations. Though neither […]

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No. 5 Stanford men’s water polo (14-6, 0-3 MPSF) will look to break a four-game losing streak this weekend with matches against No. 6 UC Santa Barbara (12-7, 1-3) and San Jose State (3-15, 0-3).

(RICHARD C. ERSTED/isiphotos.com)
Senior driver Bret Bonanni (above) leads a Stanford attack that recorded 20 goals earlier this season against San Jose State. (RICHARD C. ERSTED/isiphotos.com)

As the final stretch of the regular season approaches, Santa Barbara and Stanford find themselves in similar situations. Though neither school is out of contention, the Cardinal and the Gauchos are both on the outside looking in for an NCAA tournament berth. Both teams are looking for wins against quality opponents in hope of sparking winning streaks down the stretch and into the postseason.

Given the stakes, Stanford should undoubtedly expect Santa Barbara’s best in this game, and its best is certainly formidable; the Gauchos have narrowly lost two matches against No. 2 USC, one of the top teams in the nation. UCSB was nearly able to tie the game at the end of the second match, proving that it is a dangerous squad that is able to compete with any team.

The Cardinal’s NCAA title hopes have been jeopardized by their recent slide, and the pressure is on for the team to deliver in each of its remaining contests. Stanford has struggled in big games this season, with all of its six losses coming against teams ranked in the top five. In order for the Cardinal to mount a postseason run, they are going to have to find ways to win in important matches. This critical test against Santa Barbara is as good a time as any for this to start, and according to senior Bret Bonanni, the team is unfazed by its struggles and ready for UCSB.

“We don’t dwell on our past losses, anything like that,” said Bonanni. “We definitely go into these games knowing that they’re huge games for us, but we don’t let the past dictate our emotions, or be scared against certain opponents, because we have nothing to be scared of if we just play the way we can play.”

Stanford’s second match of the weekend could prove substantially easier. San Jose State has struggled mightily this year, and the Cardinal blew them out 20-5 in September. It was a win so dominant for Stanford that a whopping 13 players found the back of the Spartan net in a game that showcased the form that Stanford has been struggling to find during its current slide.

Still, nothing is guaranteed. The Spartans are coming off a big win of their own against Connecticut College, and the 25 goals they scored in that match could provide the confidence the team needs to step up its game and challenge Stanford. San Jose State actually plays Santa Barbara before traveling to Palo Alto, which should give the Cardinal a good look at both opponents for the weekend.

As Stanford tries to find its best form, the team will need to be ready and focused for each and every game, starting this weekend. Despite the recent slump, the players still believe that they can get the season back on track in time to make a push for a championship.

“We know we can be the best team and it’s time to start showing that, time to start believing,” said Bonanni. “We’ve done it in the past, there’s no reason we can’t do it this year. We’re going to go back to the basics a little bit, acknowledge some of the little details of the game, and start building.”

Stanford will face Santa Barbara at Avery Aquatics Center on Saturday at 4 p.m., before traveling to San Jose State for the Sunday match at noon.

 

Contact Evan Burke at eburke3 ‘at’ stanford.edu.

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Women’s golf struggles, men’s golf finishes fourth https://stanforddaily.com/2015/10/14/womens-golf-struggles-mens-golf-finishes-fourth/ https://stanforddaily.com/2015/10/14/womens-golf-struggles-mens-golf-finishes-fourth/#respond Wed, 14 Oct 2015 08:10:12 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1104858 After their first few weeks of competition, it appears that both the men’s and women’s golf teams have a long ways ahead if they want to build upon their historic successes from last year and win national titles. The No. 9 Stanford women’s golf team traveled to Kissimmee, Florida for a disappointing showing at the […]

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After their first few weeks of competition, it appears that both the men’s and women’s golf teams have a long ways ahead if they want to build upon their historic successes from last year and win national titles.

Santa Cruz, California, 04-12-2014: Stanford Men's golf during the 68th Annual Western Intercollegiate Golf Tournament at Pasatiempo Golf Club.
Junior Maverick McNealy (above) led Stanford to a fourth place finish at the Nike Golf Collegiate Invitational, finishing the weekend with a 66-72-68 score. (CASEY VALENTINE/isiphotos.com)

The No. 9 Stanford women’s golf team traveled to Kissimmee, Florida for a disappointing showing at the ANNIKA Invitational on Sept. 27-29, placing 10th out of 12 teams, while last week the No. 6 Stanford men’s golf team traveled to the Nike Golf Collegiate Invitational in Portland, Oregon, where it tied for fourth out of 15 teams.

The Stanford women’s team struggled coming off a victory in its first tournament. The defending national champions didn’t appear to be sharp as they finished with a 9-over par total of 873 for the tournament.

Senior All-Americans Mariah Stackhouse and Lauren Kim led Stanford as they finished tied for 19th. Sophomore Shannon Aubert also recorded a team-low of 72 on the final day and finished tied for 28th.

The women were unable to gain much ground on their opponents, finishing with the 10th-most birdies of the field and no eagles.

“Our patience wore thin on and around the greens, and that took a toll on our ability to make birdies,” said head coach Anne Walker after the final day of play.

Though it was a tough tournament, the Stanford women are still the reigning Division I champions and a formidable team full of talented players. They will look to rebound to their previous form on home soil at the Stanford Intercollegiate, beginning Sunday, Oct. 18.

The Stanford men’s team on the other hand had a strong showing in Portland and notched its second top-five finish of the season, finishing fourth.

If freshman Brandon Wu felt any pressure during the final round of his first collegiate golf match, he certainly didn’t show it. Wu exhibited a veteran’s poise as he birdied his last five holes to finish the day at 3 under par. Wu cut his 18-hole score each day of the tournament, ending the final day with a 3-under 69. His impressive debut was a part of a strong and steady effort from the team overall.

Junior Maverick McNealy led the way for Stanford with a three-day score of 206, including bookend 5-under and 4-under par rounds on the first and third days of the tournament, for a fifth place finish. Senior David Boote, who matched McNealy’s opening 66 and tied for 19th, and sophomore Jeff Swegle, who finished tied at 31st at 2-under, also turned in strong performances.

For both teams, the start of the season has brought high expectations. However, no successes or failures in October mean anything in the springtime, when the NCAA champion will be crowned. Replicating strong performances from last year is no easy task, but both teams are talented enough to do so and will look to be competitive late in the season once again.

The Stanford men now look to carry their momentum into the United States Collegiate Championship in Atlanta, Georgia from Oct. 16-18. The field includes a strong USC squad and Nike Invitational winner Wake Forest.

The women will return to The Farm for the Stanford Intercollegiate from Oct. 18-20, hosted by former Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Dr. Condoleezza Rice. No. 1 USC, No. 3 Georgia, No. 4 Northwestern and No. 6 Arizona will all be in attendance.

Contact Evan Burke at eburke3 ‘at’ stanford.edu.

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