Cal's Goransson advances to National Indoor final

Andre Goransson practices during the Tiburon (Calif.)
Challenger in September. Photo by Paul Bauman

   Andre Goransson could make Cal history on Sunday.
   The junior from Sweden will try to become the first Cal man to win the USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships when he meets third-seeded Dominik Koepfer of Tulane. Coverage will begin at 7 a.m. on WatchESPN.com.
   The 22nd-ranked Goransson edged No. 24 Chris Eubanks of Georgia Tech 7-5, 1-6, 7-5 today in the semifinals of the National Indoors in Flushing Meadows, N.Y.
   “(Eubanks) has a really big game, so at first I was just trying to be aware that when I get opportunities, I need to take advantage of them, because there aren't going to be many,” Goransson said on itatennis.com. "In the first set, I got some opportunities in the last two games and took advantage of them. In the second set, he came out strong, and I didn't make as many first serves and that gave him more chances to come in. In the third set, I was able to break back quickly and ended the match on a break.”
   Goransson is the third Cal man to reach the National Indoors final, according to gobears.com. Michael Bauer lost to Arkansas' Chip Hooper 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 in 1981, and Steve DeVries fell to USC's Luke Jensen 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 in 1987.
   Koepfer, ranked 10th, beat No. 70 Joao Monteiro of Virginia Tech 6-4, 6-4. Monteiro had ousted top-seeded Thai-Son Kwiatkowski of Virginia in the quarterfinals.
   Koepfer, a senior from Germany, defeated Goransson 6-4, 6-4 in the semifinals of the ITA All-American Tennis Championships early last month in Tulsa, Okla. It's the only loss of the fall season for Goransson (13-1).
    In the women's doubles semifinals, top-seeded Maegan Manasse and Denise Starr of Cal lost to third-seeded Mami Adachi and Aldila Sutjiadi of Kentucky 6-4, 6-2. Starr, a junior, is from nearby Brooklyn, N.Y.
   Goransson and Manasse swept the Sportsmanship Awards for Cal. 

USTA/ITA NATIONAL INDOOR INTERCOLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

In Flushing Meadows, N.Y.

Men's singles

Semifinals

   Andre Goransson, Cal, def. Chris Eubanks, Georgia Tech, 7-1, 1-6, 7-5.
   Dominik Koepfer (3), Tulane, def. Joao Monteiro, Virginia Tech, 6-4, 6-4.

Men's doubles

Semifinals

   Hugo Dojas and Felipe Soares, Texas Tech, def. Hayden Sabatka and Bart Van Leijsen, New Mexico, 4-6, 6-2 [11-9].
   Brett Clark and Robert Kelly (2), North Carolina, def. Alex Lawson and Quentin Monaghan, Notre Dame, 7-6 (3), 4-6 [10-6].

Women's singles

Semifinals

   Joana Eidukonyte, Clemson, def. Belinda Woolcock (7), Florida, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.
   Francesca Di Lorenzo, Ohio State, def. Stephanie Wagner (8), Miami, 6-4, 6-4.

Women's doubles

Semifinals

   Mami Adachi and Aldila Sutjiadi (3), Kentucky, def. Maegan Manasse and Denise Starr (1), Cal, 6-4, 6-2.
   Hayley Carter and Whitney Kay (4), North Carolina, def. Kristina Mathis and Taylor Ng, Dartmouth, 6-4, 6-4.