STANFORD, Calif. - There is no better time for No. 17 Stanford to make a statement about its postseason chances than Saturday, when the Cardinal hosts No. 1 California in a 12 p.m. tilt at Taube Family Tennis Stadium.
Stanford (12-5, 7-1 Pac-12) hasn’t been ranked among the top-10 since early February, and the Cardinal is unlikely to climb that high even with an upset of California (19-0, 7-0 Pac-12).
But a win on Saturday would vault Stanford into contention for the Pac-12 title, and possibly force the addition of a make-up match next week prior to the start of the Pac-12 Championships in Ojai, California. A Stanford victory coupled with a UCLA win over USC would result in the Cardinal winning the conference outright. A Stanford triumph combined with a USC win over UCLA would result in the Cardinal and Trojans facing off next Wednesday at a neutral site.
At this point, another signature victory really couldn’t hurt. Stanford, which already owns notable wins over Florida, TCU and UCLA, remains in the mix to serve as a possible host site for NCAA Championships first and second rounds. However, hosting duties are limited to the nation’s top 16 programs as determined by the selection committee. A strong schedule will likely enhance Stanford’s resume, but all the guesswork can be eliminated by knocking off the Golden Bears, who are enjoying their best start in school history.
Here’s the thing: Stanford actually matches up well against California, with the Cardinal having won 10 of the last 15 meetings, including each of the last two seasons in dramatic fashion during the NCAA Championships round of 16. The Golden Bears posted a 4-3 win two weeks ago in Berkeley, but that match did not factor into the conference standings and the Cardinal rallied to close the gap after trailing 4-1.
If it’s possible to consider an opponent ranked outside the nation’s top-15 as “dangerous”, that would be Stanford. The Cardinal has won 10 of its last 12 NCAA Tournament matches when seeded lower than its opponent, including four in a row on the way to becoming the lowest-seeded squad (No. 12) to capture a national championship in 2013.
Krista Hardebeck was a freshman on that NCAA title team, and she’s also Stanford’s hottest player as of late. Hardebeck (20-5 overall, 16-1 duals) is riding a 14-match winning streak in her senior campaign since suffering her most recent loss on Jan. 30.
Stanford’s lineup has also received a boost with the addition of Carol Zhao (6-1 overall, 6-1 duals). The Cardinal boasts a 6-1 record with Zhao in the lineup compared to a 6-4 mark when the 2015 NCAA Singles runner-up and three-time All-American does not play. Zhao missed the entire fall as she had been training with the Canadian National Team and competing in pro tournaments. Zhao attended classes in the fall and has been enrolled in full-time units this quarter.
The Cardinal has been particularly strong in doubles, losing the point in only three matches this season. Two doubles teams are ranked, including the nation’s No. 4 duo of Taylor Davidson and Caroline Doyle (21-4 overall, 9-3 duals).