Kogan, Menichini Set For NCAA Singles Play

Michael Kogan

Seniors Michael Kogan of Tulane and Alex Menichini of TCU begin the singles competition at the 2004 NCAA Men's Tennis Championship on Wednesday at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center at the University of Tulsa. Kogan, ranked No. 11 in the country, faces No. 32 Ante Matijevic from Texas A&M in his first match at 9 a.m. No. 48 Menichini will take on No. 24 Mark Van Elden of Oklahoma State at 10:30 a.m.

Tulane junior Dmitriy Koch and USF junior Uli Kiendl were also selected to compete in the Singles Championship, however, had to withdraw due to injury.

Kogan is competing for the fourth straight year in the team, singles and doubles championships. He is one of 21 players to be selected for all three championships this year. The four-time C-USA Player of the Year is a 9-16 seed in the singles tournament, which means he has already earned All-America recognition. It marks the third time in his career that he has been a singles All-American. He has earned that distinction twice in doubles.

Menichini brings a 14-15 record into the tournament and went 7-12 in dual matches this season. He is the first Horned Frog since All-American Trace Fielding in 2001 to compete in either of the individual championships. Should Menichini win two matches, he will garner All-America praise and become only the 20th Frog to hold such distinction.

Kogan and freshman teammate David Goulet will began doubles play at the NCAA Championship on Thursday. Ranked No. 12 in the nation, the Green Wave duo will face KC Corkery and Sam Warburg from Stanford, the eighth-ranked tandem in the country.