![Michael Kogan was named the Conference USA Men's Tennis Player of the Year for an unprecedented fourth year in a row. [File photo by Ned Dishman]](https://images.sidearmdev.com/resize?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdxbhsrqyrr690.cloudfront.net%2Fsidearm.nextgen.sites%2Ftulanegreenwave.com%2Fimages%2F2004%2F4%2F29%2Fkoganpose.jpg&height=300&type=webp)
Tulane Sweeps C-USA Men's Tennis Awards
Apr 29, 2004 | Men's Tennis
April 29, 2004
NEW ORLEANS, La. - Conference USA Men's Tennis Champion Tulane University continued its league dominance by sweeping all of the major post-season honors awarded by the league, it was announced on Thursday.
Leading the way for the 19th-ranked Green Wave was senior Michael Kogan, who earned league Player of the Year honors for an unprecedented fourth year in a row. In addition, David Goulet was named Freshman of the Year and Robert Klein was honored as the C-USA Coach of the Year for the fourth time in his career.
Kogan, a two-time All-American in both singles and doubles, is Tulane's all-time leader in victories with 113. This year, the 12th-ranked player in the nation has posted a 16-4 singles record, including 11 victories over nationally-ranked players. Kogan has not dropped a singles match since March 9. In doubles, he has teamed with Goulet for a 16-1 record without a loss since Feb. 14. The duo is ranked No. 15 in the country.
"This is a well-deserved honor for Michael," Klein said. "It has reached a point where you almost expect it, but anyone who has been involved in sports at this level understands how difficult it is to repeat and win four straight times. It speaks very highly of Michael, not only his excellence, but his consistency at an excellent level. It is phenomenal to have four seasons like he has, keeping that drive and motivation year after year; it just speaks volumes."
Goulet, meanwhile, led a group of four newcomers in the Green Wave lineup. In addition to his incredible success teaming with Kogan in doubles, the Canadian standout has anchored the No. 4 slot in the Tulane lineup, posting a 11-8 overall singles record. Goulet overall doubles record is tops on the team at 20-1 this spring, teaming with two other players in addition to Kogan.
"David came in this fall and worked hard," Klein said. "He put his time in the weight room and on the court. He made adjustments and he has gone out and battled every match this spring. For a freshman to step up at No. 1 doubles has been impressive and he has had some very big wins for us in singles. It was not easy to choose which freshmen to nominate but the award is well-deserved for David."
Klein has now guided the Green Wave to four Conference USA Championships (1997, 2001, 2003, 2004) and nine straight top-three finishes in the league. This year's league title assures the Wave of its eighth straight trip to the NCAA Tournament. With his team's 4-1 upset of top seed and 17th-ranked TCU, Klein earned his 200th career coaching victory in 14 years as a head coach. His mark in 11 years at Tulane stands at 175-91 (.658).
"Isn't it ironic how great players and assistant coaches can make a head coach look good?" Klein said. "It is a good feeling, but I didn't hit one tennis ball this year that mattered, this award is another one for the players."
Kogan was joined on the all-conference first team by junior Dmitriy Koch, the No. 50 ranked singles player in the nation. Koch, a second-team selection in 2003, has registered a 13-3 mark in singles this spring, playing primarily at No. 2.
On the all-league third team were Goulet and sophomore transfer Jacobo Hernandez. Hernandez, a transfer from Tecnologico de Monterrey in Mexico City, was also named one of two Outstanding Singles Players of the C-USA Tournament. Playing at No. 5 singles, Hernandez won all three of his matches, losing just eight games overall. For the season, the newcomer posted a 15-4 singles record.
"At this point, we don't know where our wins are coming from in the lineup, but we know our wins are coming," Klein said. "We know we will get 'A' effort and a high-level of play and performance from every member of the team. There is not a single position that is not capable of winning against any team in the country."
In the nine year history of Conference USA, Tulane has captured seven of its Men's Tennis Player of the Year honors. In addition to Kogan's four awards, former Green Wave great Robert Samuelsson was named Player of the Year three times.
NCAA Regional pairings and locations will be announced on Wednesday, May 5. Last year, the Green Wave hosted a Regional for the first time in school history, winning that event and advancing to the Sweet Sixteen in Athens, Ga. This year's round of 16 will be played at the University of Tulsa.
Players Mentioned
