Oklahoma State University Athletics
No. 1 College Tennis Player Edges Out Puchkarov in Semifinals
November 04, 2006 | Cowboy Tennis
Puchkarov faced UCLA's Ben Kohlloeffel, the top-ranked player in college tennis and defending national champion, for the right to advance to Sunday's championship finale. Puchkarov qualified for the national championship by winning the Central Region earlier this month.
It was all Kohlloeffel in the first set as the Bruin rolled 6-3. Puchkarov responded in the second as he flipped the 6-3 score to his advantage to force a third set. In the third, it was back and forth as Puchkarov had two match points but could not close on Kohlloeffel. The set went to a tiebreaker, which Kohlloffel took 9-7 to advance to the finals on Sunday.
While Puchkarov's fall may be over, it is safe to say his ranking should skyrocket when the spring rankings are released later this winter. The junior was ranked No. 61 going into the fall. In the last two month, the Ukraine native advanced to the round of 16 at the prestigious Polo All-American championship, won the Central Region title and advanced to the semifinals of the National Indoor Championships.
Puchkarov will exit the fall with a 14-2 mark. His two loses came to eventual national champion Arnau Brugues and No. 1 ranked Ben Kohlloeffel.
2006 ITA National Indoor Championships
Columbus, Ohio • Columbus Racquet Center
Nov. 4, 2006 • Semifinals
#1 Kohlloeffel (UCLA) def. #61 Puchkarov (OSU); 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7)
