Cohen Captures 2006 ITA Indoor Championships
Nov. 5, 2006
COLUMBUS, OH.– No.1 ITA ranked junior Audra Cohen won her first ITA Indoor championship title. Going into the tournament, Cohen was seeded #2. She is currently 10-1 on the season.
“Winning a collegiate national title is a huge accomplishment”, said head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews. “I am so proud of the way Audra competed this past week”.
Cohen defeated Fresno Pacific’s junior Jelena Pandzic 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 Sunday to win the women’s singles at the ITA National Indoors at Columbus, Oh.
Prior to Fresno Pacific, Cohen’s opponent Jelena Pandzic attended Fresno State where she was an NCAA finalist. Following that season she was declared ineligible by Division I college tennis for professional reasons. Pandzic moved on to Fresno Pacific, an NAIA school, and won the small college championships to get her berth into the ITA Indoors. Every year, the ITA takes one small college champion to compete in the ITA Indoors. Pandzic reached the ITA Indoors women’s singles final as the first player from a non-Division I school.
Cohen’s road to the championship included victories over No.36 Ann Lubinsky of Texas A&M (first round 6-1, 6-2) No.21 Natalie Frazier of Georgia (second round 6-4, 6-3), and No.9 Diana Srebrovic of Florida (quarterfinals 6-4, 6-2).
She reached the finals by defeating No.19 Melanie Gloria of Fresno State, 6-2, 6-2 Saturday afternoon in the semi-finals. It was the second time this season the two faced each other. Their last match took place early September in the semifinal round of the Riviera ITA Championships, marking Cohen’s only loss on the season.
“I was most proud of the level of professionalism Audra carried on the court for the entire tournament”, commented Yaroshuk-Tews.
“She’s played some of the best tennis I’ve seen her play since she arrived at the University of Miami”.
With this victory, Cohen is now Miami’s second indoor champion in the last three years. In 2004, Megan Bradley won the ITA Indoors defeating Suzi Babos of California, 6-2, 6-2.
