October 15, 2004
USI’s Joe Epkey advances to championship match
Epkey brothers to play for fifth in consolation bracket
FT. MEYERS, FL – University of Southern Indiana sophomore Joe Epkey (Greenwood, Indiana) advanced to the championship match of the Wilson/Intercollegiate Tennis Association Small College National Championships Thursday in Ft. Meyers, Florida. The championships are hosted by Florida Gulf Coast University.
Epkey raised his record to 13-2 this fall with a straight set victory over second seeded Eduardo Rincon of Valdosta State University. He won the first set, 6-1, and was ahead in the second set, 4-2, when Rincon retired due to an injury. Epkey will play top-seeded Dante Cipulli of Southwest Baptist University Saturday for the Division II singles championship. Cipulli defeated University of Central Oklahoma’s Tomas Hladil in straight sets 6-3, 6-0.
If Epkey win the championship on Saturday, he advances to the ITA “Small College Super Bowl,” which includes the champions from Division II, Division III, NAIA, and junior/community colleges. The winner of the “Small College Super Bowl” will earn a berth in the ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships, a Division I event hosted by the University of Michigan, November 4-7 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
In doubles action, Joe and his brother, Jarrod, got back on track with a tie-breaker win over Brian Bogus and Kyle Dougherty of Bloomsburg University. The Epkeys lost the first set, 6-3, but bounced back to win the second set, 7-5, and the pro-set tiebreaker, 10-7.
The brothers, who are 15-1 this year, will play Mario Quintero/Kendall Smashey, St. Edward's University Saturday in the fifth place match.
ITA CHAMPIONSHIP
SINGLES:
Joe Epkey (USI) def. Eduardo Rincon (VSU) 6-1, 4-2 (retired)
DOUBLES CONSOLATION:
Joe Epkey/Jarrod Epkey (USI) def. Brian Bogus/Kyle Dougherty (BU) 3-6, 7-5, 10-7
Ray Simmons, USI Sports Information
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