Tulane University
Vanderbilt
Green Wave Men's Tennis Upsets No. 8 Vanderbilt
Mar 30, 2003 | Men's Tennis
March 30, 2003
NEW ORLEANS, La. - A gutsy performance by senior Mattias Westerberg at No. 5 singles clinched a 4-1 victory for Tulane University against No. 8 Vanderbilt in men's tennis action at Goldring Tennis Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The win was the 21st in a row at home for the Green Wave.
Westerberg, who needed an injury timeout in the first set, which he lost 6-2, recovered and rallied for 6-4, 6-2 victories in the second and third sets to wrap up the win for Tulane, which is No. 27 in the country.
Junior Michael Kogan, who is ranked No. 23 in the nation, had a straight-set victory 6-4, 7-6 in a hard-hitting battle at No. 1 singles against Bobby Reynolds, who holds the No. 2 ranking in the country. Kogan, has not lost a match since March 5 and is now 16-2 in singles this season.
After Tulane won the doubles point, sophomore Dmitriy Koch cruised to a 6-2, 6-2 victory at No. 2 singles, giving the Wave a 2-0 advantage in the match.
Kogan teamed with Victor Romero for a convincing 8-2 triumph over Reynolds and Lewis Smith at No. 1 doubles. Kogan and Romero, how 17-1 this season, hold the No. 6 ranking in the nation, while Reynolds and Smith are No. 14. Jorge Lievano and Hannu Piiroinen also won in doubles with an 8-5 decision at No. 3.
The lone point for Vanderbilt came at No. 4 singles where 89th-ranked Matt Larkin had a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 win over the Wave's Jorge Lievano.
Two singles matches were not completed. At No. 2, Tulane's Romero held a slim 6-4, 4-6, 6-5 lead over 10th-ranked Chad Harris, while Piiroinen trailed 6-4, 5-7, 3-4 at No. 6 singles. The match was halted when Westerberg's win clinched the victory for Tulane, which improves to 14-5. Vanderbilt, which had defeated LSU, 5-2, on Friday, drops to 14-3 with the loss.
Tulane returns to action on Friday with its final home match of the season, hosting UL-Lafayette for Senior Day at 4 p.m. The Green Wave's three seniors: Lievano, Romero and Westerberg will be honored prior to the match.
March 30, 2003
Goldring Tennis Stadium
New Orleans, La.
No. 27 Tulane 4, No. 8 Vanderbilt 1
Doubles
1. #6 Kogan/Romero (Tulane) def. #14 Reynolds/Smith (VU): 8-2
2. Lockin/Harris (VU) def. Vasiljevic/Koch (Tulane): 8-1
3. Lievano/Piiroinen (Tulane) def. Brown/Dailey (VU): 8-5
Singles
1. #23 Michael Kogan (TU) def. #2 Bobby Reynolds (VU): 6-4, 7-6 (7-4)
2. Victor Romero (TU) vs. #9 Chad Harris (VU): 6-4, 4-6, 6-5
3. Dmitriy Koch (TU) def. Scott Brown (VU): 6-2, 6-2
4. #89 Matt Lockin (VU) def. Jorge Lievano (TU): 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
5. Mattias Westerberg (TU) def. Lewis Smith (VU): 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
6. Hannu Piiroinen (TU) vs. Zack Dailey (VU): 6-4, 5-7, 3-4
Records:
Tulane (14-5)
Vanderbilt (14-3)
Players Mentioned
