Sectional Previews (2nd Round)
BY GUEST BLOG WRITER: Frankie Rho
The main slate of Sectionals tourneys takes place this weekend. Here are a few select tourneys that are worth paying attention to.
METRO EAST
In recent years, the Metro East has been kicked around on the national level, finishing no higher than 9th since 2004. This year, the fight for what should be two bids promises to be a fascinating one and could produce a legitimate contender for the title. Ottawa, Cornell, Maryland, NYU, Pittsburgh and all have legitimate hopes of procuring a bid and historically strong programs like Delaware, Penn St. and Penn cannot be overlooked.
Upstate NY
The Anton Chigurh of women’s ultimate is Ottawa. They mysteriously showed up at Trouble in Vegas and slaughtered the opposition. Since then, they haven’t been heard from. I guess that makes them sound more like Keyser Soze. Either way, they’re definitely for real and they get a solid opponent in Cornell as both teams prep for Regionals. This tourney should give a sense of whether the Lady Gee Gee’s deserve to be one of the frontrunners for Nationals.
Penn
Like Ottawa, Pittsburgh is a new face in the national picture and this tourney should be a warmup for Regionals in Princeton. Having placed 4th in the region last year, Lucy Gillespie, Amanda Virbitsky and the rest of the Danger crew should dispatch Penn St. and Penn without too much trouble. Their successful run at Centex may be the edge they need over Maryland and NYU.
Colonial
Maryland is the prohibitive favorite in the section. With two tourney wins under their belt (Roll Call and Huck of the Irish), they will be going into Regionals with as much confidence as anyone. While they have many quality wins (NYU, Illinois), the one knock on the crew led by Charlie Mercer, Jess Trinh and Heather Smith is that they are lacking games against elite competition.
ATLANTIC COAST
North Carolina
The favorites to qualify from the Atlantic Coast region come from this section. Wake Forest will battle with UNC to lay claim to the top team in the region. Kate Scott and Lucia Derks are two of the big names in the region and both teams will be relying heavily on them to take them to Boulder. They have split their two previous matchups, both of which were fairly convincing wins. Duke is capable of surprising either team though their lack of depth will be a problem come Regionals.
Blue Ridge
The Blue Ridge will always be worth covering for me simply because I’m from there. That said, this section is almost a complete mystery. Virginia and Tennessee are the top seeds and will be fending off challenges from William and Mary, James Madison and Richmond.
NORTHWEST
Bay Area
Stanford and Cal are generally perceived as being a sizeable notch below where they were last year. Both could be very dangerous opponents at Regionals, especially if the Pie Queens get Nat Wu back. Stanford also had a successful showing at DUI and they have a habit of making people pay when they are counted out. I’m convinced that Superfly is actually the Spawn of Rasputin.
Santa Cruz and Davis are both in rebuilding years, and they will be duking it out for third. Lillian Berla gives Sol an edge over Davis and their army of short Asian handlers.
Oregon/NorCal
Oregon has been flying under the radar a bit but they are making a strong case to be in consideration for the national title. Lewis and Clark and Humboldt are both decent tests for Fugue as they get ready for Regionals.
SOUTH
Ozarks
This is suddenly one of the more interesting sections in the country, a reflection of the growth in the South region that was once known as that region where Texas is. Truman State upended Texas last year, the first time since 2001 that Texas didn’t represent the region. While Texas has returned to its place as the favorite in the region, several other teams join Truman State as viable challengers to Melee including St. Louis, Washington University and Kansas.
Unfortunately for the South, the region will likely receive only one bid to Nationals. This tourney will be a vital step in determining who will be Texas’ main challenger.
The main slate of Sectionals tourneys takes place this weekend. Here are a few select tourneys that are worth paying attention to.
METRO EAST
In recent years, the Metro East has been kicked around on the national level, finishing no higher than 9th since 2004. This year, the fight for what should be two bids promises to be a fascinating one and could produce a legitimate contender for the title. Ottawa, Cornell, Maryland, NYU, Pittsburgh and all have legitimate hopes of procuring a bid and historically strong programs like Delaware, Penn St. and Penn cannot be overlooked.
Upstate NY
The Anton Chigurh of women’s ultimate is Ottawa. They mysteriously showed up at Trouble in Vegas and slaughtered the opposition. Since then, they haven’t been heard from. I guess that makes them sound more like Keyser Soze. Either way, they’re definitely for real and they get a solid opponent in Cornell as both teams prep for Regionals. This tourney should give a sense of whether the Lady Gee Gee’s deserve to be one of the frontrunners for Nationals.
Penn
Like Ottawa, Pittsburgh is a new face in the national picture and this tourney should be a warmup for Regionals in Princeton. Having placed 4th in the region last year, Lucy Gillespie, Amanda Virbitsky and the rest of the Danger crew should dispatch Penn St. and Penn without too much trouble. Their successful run at Centex may be the edge they need over Maryland and NYU.
Colonial
Maryland is the prohibitive favorite in the section. With two tourney wins under their belt (Roll Call and Huck of the Irish), they will be going into Regionals with as much confidence as anyone. While they have many quality wins (NYU, Illinois), the one knock on the crew led by Charlie Mercer, Jess Trinh and Heather Smith is that they are lacking games against elite competition.
ATLANTIC COAST
North Carolina
The favorites to qualify from the Atlantic Coast region come from this section. Wake Forest will battle with UNC to lay claim to the top team in the region. Kate Scott and Lucia Derks are two of the big names in the region and both teams will be relying heavily on them to take them to Boulder. They have split their two previous matchups, both of which were fairly convincing wins. Duke is capable of surprising either team though their lack of depth will be a problem come Regionals.
Blue Ridge
The Blue Ridge will always be worth covering for me simply because I’m from there. That said, this section is almost a complete mystery. Virginia and Tennessee are the top seeds and will be fending off challenges from William and Mary, James Madison and Richmond.
NORTHWEST
Bay Area
Stanford and Cal are generally perceived as being a sizeable notch below where they were last year. Both could be very dangerous opponents at Regionals, especially if the Pie Queens get Nat Wu back. Stanford also had a successful showing at DUI and they have a habit of making people pay when they are counted out. I’m convinced that Superfly is actually the Spawn of Rasputin.
Santa Cruz and Davis are both in rebuilding years, and they will be duking it out for third. Lillian Berla gives Sol an edge over Davis and their army of short Asian handlers.
Oregon/NorCal
Oregon has been flying under the radar a bit but they are making a strong case to be in consideration for the national title. Lewis and Clark and Humboldt are both decent tests for Fugue as they get ready for Regionals.
SOUTH
Ozarks
This is suddenly one of the more interesting sections in the country, a reflection of the growth in the South region that was once known as that region where Texas is. Truman State upended Texas last year, the first time since 2001 that Texas didn’t represent the region. While Texas has returned to its place as the favorite in the region, several other teams join Truman State as viable challengers to Melee including St. Louis, Washington University and Kansas.
Unfortunately for the South, the region will likely receive only one bid to Nationals. This tourney will be a vital step in determining who will be Texas’ main challenger.
posted by Gambler at 6:14 PM
3 Comments:
I'm making a mental note to be really nice to the Ottawa women at nationals. No matter which metaphor we choose, that does not sound like a team I want to fuck with.
not nearly enough hype about ottawa on youre blog, a new emerging womens program that will likely be around together for the next couple years if im not mistaken. Those other teams in the ME have no chance and if i was any of the big 3 teams (UBC, UW, UCLA) come nationals id be worried too
Texas A&M university won in the final against UT- melee at the Texas women sectionals ... so It looks like melee is not the favorite anymore .. It is just one of many good teams in the south
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