Tulane University
TCU (C-USA)
Tulane Captures C-USA Men's Tennis Championship
Apr 19, 2003 | Men's Tennis
April 19, 2003
MILWAUKEE, Wis. - Tulane University completed a Conference USA tennis championship sweep as its men's team earned a 4-2 victory over 26th-ranked TCU in the title match on Saturday afternoon at Marquette's Helfaer Tennis Stadium.
On Tuesday, the Green Wave women had also defeated TCU to capture the C-USA Championship. The Tulane tennis squads also achieved the men's and women's sweep in 2001. In addition to this year and 2001, the Green Wave men also won the league championship in 1997.
Victor Romero's victory at No. 2 singles clinched the title for the Green Wave (19-5) on Saturday. The senior won four straight games in the third set to defeat TCU's Toni Gordon.
At No. 1 singles, Tulane's Michael Kogan, ranked No. 7 in the country, defeated No. 74 Alex Menichini of TCU 6-4, 6-3. Kogan won all three of his singles matches and all three of his doubles matches at the championship. In his three years at Tulane, Kogan has posted a 17-1 record in singles and doubles at the Conference USA Championship.
Tulane's Jorge Lievano jumped to a fast start in his No. 5 singles match before dropping the second set 6-2 to Jacob Martin. In the third set, Lievano regained control, winning the final five games to win the match.
Tulane clinched the doubles point when the No. 3 team of Mattias Westerberg and Jorge Lievano fought off a late rally from Rafael Abreu and Jacob Martin to win 8-5. At No. 1 doubles, Kogan and Romero won the final four games to defeat Toni Gordon and Fabrizo Sestini, 8-3.
The win gives Tulane the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, with first and second round matches scheduled for May 10 and 11 at a site to be determined. It will be the eighth straight NCAA appearance for the Green Wave.
April 19, 2003
Helfaer Tennis Stadium
Milwaukee, Wis.
No. 19 Tulane 4, No. 26 TCU 2
Doubles
1. #8 Kogan/Romero (Tulane) def. Toni Gordon/Fabrizo Sestini (TCU): 8-3
2. Alex Menichini/Daniel Scholten (TCU) def. Koch/Vasiljevic (Tulane): 8-6
3. Lievano/Westerberg (Tulane) def. Rafael Abreu/Jacob Martin (TCU): 8-5
Singles
1. #7 Michael Kogan (Tulane) def. #74 Alex Menichini (TCU): 6-4, 6-3
2. #104 Victor Romero (Tulane) def. Toni Gordon (TCU): 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
3. Dmitriy Koch (Tulane) vs. Fabrizio Sestini (TCU): 6-4, 2-6, 3-3, Did not finish
4. Jacopo Tezza (TCU) def. Mattias Westerberg (Tulane): 6-4, 6-2
5. Jorge Lievano (Tulane) def. Jacob Martin (TCU): 6-4, 2-6, 6-1
6. Rafael Abreu (TCU) def. Hannu Piiroinen (Tulane): 6-1, 6-3
Records:
Tulane (19-5)
TCU (15-8)
Players Mentioned
