https://calbears.com/news/2023/11/2/womens-tennis-viller-moeller-moves-into-quarterfinals-at-fall-nationals.aspx

This is very impressive. I admit that I had written her off as only a reliable bottom-of-the-ladder player, someone who played with great consistency but was without any big weapons. But she has really transformed her game this year, and the results are fantastic! To make this jump as a senior is quite unusual.

The Bears qualified 2 singles players and 2 doubles teams to this tournament. Jessica Alsola lost in the first round but is still alive in the consolations. Both doubles teams (Viller Moeller/ frosh Mao Mushika, and Alsola/Katja Wiersholm) are out. But they should still benefit from these results and all will probably be ranked this Spring.

My guess, based on these early results, the line up will be: Viller Moeller, Alsola, Wiersholm, Mushika, Lan Mi (transfer), and Bertola Passola Folch. The Bears will need to find a third doubles team.

GO BEARS!

Hey, pearbear! HVM suggested that it was her improved serve that was allowing her improvement. I would agree with your singles lineup although I would probably flip #5 & #6. GO BEARS!

I watched No. 19 Cal's 4-3 win over No. 16 Oklahoma on Sunday, which allowed the Bears to move on the ITA Indoors Championships.

Here are my thoughts (caveat of course that I jumped around on the stream and thus only viewed short stretches of the different matches):

Calbears.com recap

Cal won the doubles, and both the #2 (Alsola/Ivanov) and #3 (Wiersholm/Passola Folch) pairs look solid. Interesting that Augustus has split up Alsola/Wiersholm, but this might benefit the team on the whole, as those two can now provide aggressive play to 2 different pairs. The top pair (Viller Moeller/Mushika) did not look good; yes, their opponent are #2 in the country, but the Cal team didn't show the game they did in the Fall.

In singles, the return of Ivanov allowed Cal to bump some players down, and Wiersholm, Mushika, and Mi at 4-6 will win a lot of matches. Wiersholm showed her characteristic fire to win the first set. Then her opponent (ranked 16th) started to up her game, but then was injured and needed to be carried off the court. Still, in general, when Wiersholm is in a match, I trust her to battle, so I would have still bet on her. Mushika is super fun to watch: she works to dictate points and just overwhelmed her opponent in this match; she reminds me of Maegan Manasse. Mi really settled in after losing the first set. She stayed down and hit through and collected errors, and in the third set never allowed her opponent to mount a real threat.

The problem on this day was at the top of the lineup. Alsola can play with anyone, but she lost the plot a little in the 3rd just as her opponent got brave on the big points. Viller Moeller and Ivanov did little to pressure their opponents; their serves left them so vulnerable, and their groundies didn't penetrate. I was hopeful, based on some recent results (Viller Moeller's fall tourneys, and Ivanov's last month), but I didn't see much difference from past seasons. Maybe it was just an off-day, but that level of play won't win matches against top teams, esp at the 1-3 positions.

So, in general, it was a good win, esp on the road--last season they lost in this round (at home). Now the Bears have earned the chance to face even better opponents--they're likely to face a top 5 team in the 1st round of the Indoors. They can improve, especially in doubles. In singles, the return of Ivanov gives Cal a solid top 6. But after Alsola, the players are pretty bunched together; Augustus will need a couple players to emerge and take over the top spots.

GO BEARS!

Good report. Viller Moeller has been losing most of her singles matches since starting back up in January. She stated that her improved serve was a key to vaulting to #2 in Cal's lineup in the fall. I found it interesting about your comment that her serve left her vulnerable. (I believe that you included the top three singles players).

pearbear said:

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https://calbears.com/news/2023/11/2/womens-tennis-viller-moeller-moves-into-quarterfinals-at-fall-nationals.aspx

This is very impressive. I admit that I had written her off as only a reliable bottom-of-the-ladder player, someone who played with great consistency but was without any big weapons. But she has really transformed her game this year, and the results are fantastic! To make this jump as a senior is quite unusual.

The Bears qualified 2 singles players and 2 doubles teams to this tournament. Jessica Alsola lost in the first round but is still alive in the consolations. Both doubles teams (Viller Moeller/ frosh Mao Mushika, and Alsola/Katja Wiersholm) are out. But they should still benefit from these results and all will probably be ranked this Spring.

My guess, based on these early results, the line up will be: Viller Moeller, Alsola, Wiersholm, Mushika, Lan Mi (transfer), and Bertola Passola Folch. The Bears will need to find a third doubles team.

GO BEARS!

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How is McKenna Thiel doing?

Appreciate the tennis report; keep 'em coming!8

thanks Pear Bear for your comments. haven't been following as i normally do. been playing alot more tennis and playing again senior tournaments. I will look at HVM serve and see how she is doing. I am disappointed in alsola's play. i expected her to have a big jump as a junior. Hopefully she can turn it around. Go Bears!!