Tulane Posts 1-1 Mark at NCAA Championship

CHICAGO - Three weeks after winning its first Conference USA title, No. 51 Tulane defeated its highest-ranked opponent ever when it upended No. 16 Texas A&M, 4-3 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in South Bend, Ind. on May 12. However, the Green Wave suffered a 4-0 loss to No. 8 Notre Dame in the second round of the tournament to finish the season at 14-12.

Tulane freshman Nancy Kockott was the hero of the Texas A&M match, defeating the Aggies’ Leah Killen, 6-4, 6-7, (7-1), 7-6 to win the No. 4 singles match and clinch the Green Wave’s first-ever opening round NCAA victory. Although Texas A&M won the doubles point, Anna Monhartova (No. 1), Julie Morris (No. 2), Kockott and Anneli Axsater (no. 5) each won their singles match. Monhartova, Houston’s Sarah Borwell and UAB’s Mirela Vladelesu have each been selected to compete in the NCAA Individual Singles Championship May 17-20 in Stone Mountain, Ga. . Borwell, currently No. 49 in the nation, earned first team all-conference honors after beating three nationally ranked players. Vladulescu was named Conference USA’s Player of the Year for the third consecutive season after posting an overall record of 21-3 in singles play. She is currently No. 20.