Tulane University
ITA National Indoor Championships
Koepfer Reaches Second Straight National Championship Final
Nov 14, 2015 | Men's Tennis
ESPN3/WatchESPN Link | NIIC Homepage
FLUSHING, N.Y. - History continues to be made by Tulane men's tennis standout Dominik Koepfer, who booked his ticket into the final of the National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships (NIIC) on Saturday afternoon. In the semifinal of the third collegiate national championship tournament this fall, Koepfer defeated Virginia Tech's Joao Monteiro, 6-4, 6-4.
Koepfer is now the first player since Virginia's Mitchell Frank in 2011, to make back-to-back finals at the All-American Championships and National Indoor Intercollege Championships. Furthermore, the senior now joins 1999 graduate Robert Samuelsson as the lone Green Wave in program history to make the final of the NIIC's (Samuelsson fell in final to Pavel Kudrnac of Oklahoma State in 1998).
"I'm just really happy I've made the finals again," Koepfer stated. "I've tried to change what I did wrong in Tulsa (at All-Americans) and just keep going for my shots, no matter what the situation is. Whether I'm up or down in the set, I just go play my game and hopefully this time it works out for me in the final."
Koepfer opened on fire, earning a double break to jump out to a 4-0 lead. Monteiro then began to settle in and rally back, but by then it was too late, as Koepfer closed out the first set at 6-4.
In the second set, it was Monteiro who gained the early break, securing a 2-0 lead. However, Koepfer quickly retaliated and recaptured the momentum, earning a double break once again for a 4-2 lead. Later on, up 5-4, Koepfer served out for the 6-4 clincher.
Koepfer now has the chance to become Tulane's first men's tennis national singles champion since 1955, when Jose Aguero won the NCAA Singles Championship. In order to achieve the feat, the Germany native will have to best a familiar foe in California's Andre Goransson, whom Koepfer previously defeated 6-4, 6-4, in the semis of the All-American Championships last month.
Sunday's final is expected to begin around 11 am CT, airing on ESPN3 at the conclusion of the women's final. Patrick McEnroe and Stephen Amritraj will once again be on the call. Finally, be sure to follow Tulane men's tennis on Twitter @GreenWaveMTenn for more updates as Koepfer continues his quest for a national title.
Players Mentioned
