aggiedrjdub said:

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Nicole really struggles to close out sets. She's been up 5-3 and every set and just cannot win those last few points.

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I feel like she's the better player, but like you said, closing these sets / games has been a challenge.

Can win it right here.

Mary runs out of time...

3-3. It all comes down to line 2.

aggiedrjdub said:

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Mary loses...

3-3. It all comes down to line 2.

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Nicole up 4-1 in the breaker.

Aggie Tennis said:

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aggiedrjdub said:

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Mary loses...

3-3. It all comes down to line 2.

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Nicole up 4-1 in the breaker.

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And the stream goes out up 4-2.

5-6 ugh.

Nicole was up 5-2 in the breaker.

5-5 now.

We lost. Brutal loss.

What is going on with women's tennis? They are struggling quite a bit compared to expectations.

We aren't a deep team. 2-5 are freshmen or soph. I'm sure they are learning. It's a huge wake up call compared to seasons past. Not signing another scholarship player is going to hurt for the longevity.

On a positive note, welcome to the party Mia! She's been a stud so far

Ag4eva95 said:

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We aren't a deep team. 2-5 are freshmen or soph. I'm sure they are learning. It's a huge wake up call compared to seasons past. Not signing another scholarship player is going to hurt for the longevity.

On a positive note, welcome to the party Mia! She's been a stud so far

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Lost too many solid-solid players and other girls have not stepped up. Mary just has to
carry this team.
Preaching to the choir on singles except Mary. And then there is doubles!

To be fair, this is a very young team. I think losing Jayci made more of an impact from a leadership perspective. I don't see a vocal leader in this team as of now. Mary seems more like the leader playing wise. But I think that's what this team lacks currently

Ag4eva95 said:

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We aren't a deep team. 2-5 are freshmen or soph. I'm sure they are learning. It's a huge wake up call compared to seasons past. Not signing another scholarship player is going to hurt for the longevity.

On a positive note, welcome to the party Mia! She's been a stud so far

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Agree - but I think you have to try something else at lines 5 and 6 singles. We're on year 3 now of the same results (especially at line 6). Give Ellie a shot. I don't think the freshman and sophomore thing is a valid excuse. At this level, there are freshmen playing lines 1 and 2 and winning. From my experience, those players that cannot mentally get over the hump, usually don't. I pray I'm wrong, but some just cannot win when it gets tight. Anyway - will definitely continue to support, but I've watched almost all of the matches (even if online), and we just don't have what we had the last few years. Bummer.

Good thing that Bjork left, because Aggie Athletics is abysmal in terms of overall performance and winning percentages this year.

I don't agree necessarily. Nicole is on a brand new team, new learning curves. Lucciana comes in with high expectations. We've been lucky to have had Jayci for 5 years and was a leader almost from the get go, confidence.

Look at Tatiana. She had a losing record at #4/5 in the lineup her freshmen year before turning into an all American her junior and senior years.

While I do have concerns, I think this season will be a coming of age. Just need the experience and need to let go of expectation pressure. The potential is absolutely there.

Many challenges this season, but the biggest miss in my mind, was leaving a scholarship open. Completely changes this team.

I do believe we are very strong 1-4. Tough loss for Nicole today, but she did beat Connie Ma from Stanford and is very good. She was up 5-2 in the breaker and lost a tough one. Mary had the momentum in the third but lost three killer deciding points to one of the best players in the nation.

We are going to be up and down all season. The talent for big wins (we almost beat Stanford), but clear weaknesses that expose us against average teams. And we've now lost to two average teams.

Maybe Gianna gets another shot at singles. She was better as a freshman than the results we are getting now. The most frustrating thing is Miami isn't deep and we still got rolled at the bottom of the lineup.

Ag4eva95 said:

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I don't agree necessarily. Nicole is on a brand new team, new learning curves. Lucciana comes in with high expectations. We've been lucky to have had Jayci for 5 years and was a leader almost from the get go, confidence.

Look at Tatiana. She had a losing record at #4/5 in the lineup her freshmen year before turning into an all American her junior and senior years.

While I do have concerns, I think this season will be a coming of age. Just need the experience and need to let go of expectation pressure. The potential is absolutely there.

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I don't disagree with you about the potential, but we've been touting Jeanette's potential for years now. All we can go on is results. The reality is, though, she doesn't win consistently at line 6 and isn't in the mix for doubles. As for Tati, playing line 4 a freshman is way different than line 6 for the 3rd year and still struggling to learn how to close out matches. If I were coaching, I'd move on and try something different. But, I'm not and Mark has his hands full. Daria has to learn to win more consistently too but as a sophomore there's still time.

Doubles is an absolute crap shoot. I agree that this year will probably not measure up to previous years. With the Exception of Mary, I do believe we are playing a line up 2-6 in singles.

I think Fitch is a good fit for 3 doubles. Daria tries to play singles with another player on the court. They continually lobbed to her and poached. She never saw it coming.

Jeanette can't seem to get rolling. I'd love to see Pittman get a shot, and she may.

Fitch is a good doubles player. I bet she'd play well with Nicole or Lucianna at line 2, also. Fitch and Pittman might be the answer.

What's up with the women's tennis team for us that don't know the sport well? Seems like the team was suppose to be good at #2

Room40 said:

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What's up with the women's tennis team for us that don't know the sport well? Seems like the team was suppose to be good at #2

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Well, room, it's not going well. Lots of responses above, but the team just isn't as strong as the last few years.

Looking at the roster, we are not that young. The problem is Mary is the only older girl that is producing. We are having to play our very talented freshman and sophomore's.
I still feel we have the ability to beat almost anyone but lose to a team like San Diego and Miami. The National Indoors is going to be very exciting!

Seems like we are just one player short or just need to get a little stronger in a few positions. We could have just as easily won all of these matches. All road matches as well against good teams and it's very early in the season. Seems like Mark is pretty set in his ways and also the lineup. Who is else there to put in based on results? Looks like nobody to me. Pittman hasn't proven herself in college matches nor outside of college matches. Pielet hasn't played well since her freshman year and hasn't beaten anyone good in college or outside tournaments as well in two years. Smetannikov and Mireles need to step it up in order for the team to have another great year. Number 3 doubles needs to be more consistent. I'm sure if there was someone else to put in Mark would see that in practices and give them a shot. Don't think any coach would keep going with the same lineup not unless there were no other good alternatives. The bar has been set so high over the last 10 years or more, but is it really that bad? Seems like they have just lost a few close matches and will figure things out. National indoors will be another road challenge not necessarily to our favor as well. I wish the team the best and looking forward to watching them play in person soon.

I do also think you have to listen to Mark in his interviews. He will say "we are getting better every day." That's not a coach that is overly confident with where we are right now. Line 3 was destined to lose yesterday with Noel playing line 3 doubles. They were just outclassed if we are being honest. One option might be to move Daria to 6 and throw Pittman at 5. Or leave Daria at 5 and throw Pittman at 6. We are losing those lines anyway. Why not give it a shot? Gianna was a better doubles player when she also played singles. There are definitely options and this lineup should not feel safe or set. The frustration that I find with lines 5 and 6 is that they have the tools but just seem to have no game plan. At line 6 it's just rally balls and then going for an occasional winner. I don't see her finding a weakness and working to break it down throughout the match. The serve is just something to get into play to start the point. There is a little more development and firepower at line 5, and so, I see potential if she can rein it in mentally. But she will struggle against girls that are backboards when she's having an off day. Having said all of this, obviously you don't give up on them as teammates. The mental side of this sport is just a big ol B and sometimes makes great players look average when things get tight.

San Diego just upset #16 USC.

t-sips (still without late addition Lieberman) beat georgia indoors in austin taking the doubles 1 & 3 and singles 3, 4, & 5.

Anchorhold said:

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t-sips (still without late addition Lieberman) beat georgia indoors in austin taking the doubles 1 & 3 and singles 3, 4, & 5.

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Hopefully means Georgia is susceptible.

Remember this time last year when we were all taking about Shnaider making the decision to attend NC State and delay her pro career?

She's as good as we thought she was. Just won her first WTA title at only 19 year old.

Shnaider, 19, stuns Zhu in Hua Hin to win first WTA title

I understand the indoors part being that true indoors don't exist in the BCS.

Hopefully it works and we get some good reps before going to the PNW!

edit - posted in wrong forum. delete thread ban user

Oh good Lord.

bigfoot10s said:

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tu first round

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I like this draw. Bring it!