Six C-USA Netters Earn NCAA Tennis Championship Berths

Victor Romero

CHICAGO – Six Conference USA players have been selected to participate in the singles and doubles portion of the 2003 NCAA Tennis Championships. Included among the players are Tulane’s Michael Kogan, the men’s player of the year, and Jenny Kuhn, also from Tulane, the women’s player of year.

Kogan, who received his third consecutive C-USA Player of the Year award this week, will participate in the singles competition as one of the top eight seeds and then team with partner, Victor Romero, for doubles play. Kogan, ranked 11th by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, is 19-2 this season in singles action, while he and Romero are the fifth-ranked tandem with a 21-1 mark.

Kuhn, who became the fourth player in league history to win both the player and freshman of the year awards earlier this week, and teammate Julie Smekodub were selected for both of the women’s singles and doubles draws. Kuhn sports an 18-2 dual match record and is ranked 61st by the ITA, while Smekodub is 8-7 this spring. In doubles action, the duo is ranked 10th nationally with a 12-4 record.

South Florida’s Paco Antelo and Renato Silveira were tabbed as an alternate team for the men’s doubles competition.

Prior to playing in the singles and doubles draws, all players will participate with their respective squads in the team competitions.

The NCAA Men’s Singles and Doubles Championship will take place at the University of Georgia in Athens, Ga., May 21-26 following the conclusion of the team championship (May 16-20). The NCAA Women’s Singles and Doubles Championship will begin May 19-24, following the team championship (May 15-18) at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Fla.