Chandra Classic Preview

By: Badal Chandra, Ardin Lo, and Owen Egger

This weekend, the three top collegiate programs in the west go head-to-head at the Chandra Classic in Los Angeles. We take a look at what this means for the teams in the USQ season as well as how this shakes up the WCC.

Cal

Photo: Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group

The Chandra Classic will provide this season’s first glimpse at what a close to full-strength Cal squad look likes. At the Top of Utah Classic, Cal's roster of 15 rookies showed their inexperience in blowout losses to Utah State and the Nomads.

But with a host of returners including Maddi “No. 8” Erdall and Elijah Phipps making the trip to Los Angeles, expect the Golden Bears to showcase a more polished game against Utah State. Led by beater Ivan Avalos and chasers Eric Shen and Dara Gaeuman, Cal's rookie class should be able to support on both sides of the ball for against Utah State and the home Bruins.

Although the quaffle line of Pfenning, Erdall, and Phipps is supplemented by talented newcomers Victor Gomez, Jesse Stephens, and AJ Morgan, the Golden Bears will only go as far as their beating can take them this tournament. With key returners Kyle Berquist and Connor Hughes not making the trip, the Bears will have to rely on a host of rookies including Taylor Shimono, Jacquelyn Northcutt, and Chanun Ong to step up. It's up in the air as to whether these rookies can keep tempo against the veteran-heavy Utah State and always-dangerous UCLA.

UCLA

Photo: Madison Vaughn

With only 5 practices under their belt, and a media ranking of #7 nationally, UCLA has the most to prove at their home tournament. Facing off against the two toughest opponents in the West, both with multiple tournaments under their belt, UCLA will need to use the chaser chemistry built through 42 game last season to compete with the high-tempo Cal and Utah State quaffle games.

Having lost all the female beaters and most of the male beaters that allowed the Bruins to run a split set all the way to an Elite Eight finish, the team will need to reinvent a beater game anchored by returner Justin Van Ligten. With the transition of Ashley Gore to beating for the MLQ season combined with Ryan Harris and Tye Rush’s utility abilities, UCLA may be able to string a strong double-male set relying on Jonathan Rovetta and Elizabeth Ng’s offensive capabilities.

With a head-to-head record of 3-3 against UC Berkeley, the Bruins will look to avenge their Western Regionals heartbreak by banking on Rush’s abilities wearing a yellow headband. While a win against Utah State is expected, a win against Cal will allow the Bruins to establish their presence as a top collegiate team in the nation while lifting the Chandra Classic trophy back-to-back.

USQC

Photo: Matt Dwyer

With a strong showing in the WCC thus far, Utah State is quickly moving up the ranks nationally. After a statement win against Division 1 rivals ASU and holding an unprecedented Elo rating for a young program, Utah State aims to establish themselves as a top tier program. Utah State's abbreviated roster still looks powerful, based upon the play so far this season of its veterans. Look to Dru Smith and Anthony Snapp to play heavy minutes in the beater game.

In order to stake their claim as a D1 contender, Utah State will need to beat an unproven UCLA team while drawing on the advantage of already playing twelve games this season. Off the back of veterans Paul Marygold, Kellan Huber and their double-male set, USQC will look to play a consistent game, controlling tempo and using Huber to close out in-range games throughout the tournament.

UCLA (B)

Coming off two disappointing seasons with a combined record of 1-30 to begin a season playing with three other Division 1 opponents may not seem conducive to victory, but will surely provide the Wizards of Westwood with an opportunity to get a true sense of their strengths and weaknesses.

Unlike the previous season, Wizards has ten returners, allowing them to build off the previous season. They will rely heavily on captain Drew Caylor to control their quaffle game and make the most of their offenses. The veteran duo of Aly Lacko and Sam Park will also need to step up and serve as the primary beaters, bringing their experience to outplay the rookie beater rotations traveling teams may throw at them. While they will not be able to capture victories at Chandra Classic, they can use this opportunity to develop their style of play and give the traveling teams running rookie rotations trouble.