Clemson University Team Page
CLEMSON, SC - Zachary Rigsby defeated William Albanese at number-five singles in clinching the match and giving 25th-ranked Clemson a 4-3 win over Miami in an Atlantic Coast Conference men's tennis match at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center in Coral Gables, FL Friday afternoon.
With the win, Clemson improves to 12-2 overall, while Miami falls to 9-5. It was the conference season-opener for both teams.
Clemson won the doubles point to start the match. The Tigers’ number-one doubles team of Yannick and Dominique Maden, ranked 11th nationally by the ITA, had little trouble with Omar Aly and Wilfredo Gonzalez as the Clemson pair were 8-2 victors. The Maden brothers are now 17-3 overall, and 7-0 in dual match play.
Hunter Harrington and Gerardo Meza clinched the doubles point for the Tigers as the duo defeated Marco Stancati and Henrique Tsukamoto 9-8 at number-three doubles.
In singles action, Miami won two straight matches to take a 2-1 lead. At number-three singles, Gonzalez of Miami defeated Harrington 6-1, 6-2. At number-two singles, Gabriel Flores defeated Meza of Clemson 6-1, 6-4.
Clemson tied the match score 2-2 when #41 Yannick Maden defeated Diego Soto 6-4, 6-1. Maden now has an 18-4 singles record overall and a 12-1 mark in dual match play this season.
Miami took a 3-2 lead when Aly won over Ayrton Wibowo at number-four singles, 3-6, 6-3, 6-0.
The Tigers won the next two matches. Freshman Austin Ansari defeated William Albanese of Miami 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 at number-six singles to tie the match score 3-3. Rigsby defeated Stanciti 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 at number-five singles to clinch the match for the Tigers. Rigsby is now 8-2 on the year in singles play. The senior won the third-set tie breaker 7-5.
"I'm very proud of the team," said Clemson Head Coach Chuck McCuen, who celebrated his birthday on Friday. "I couldn't have asked for a better birthday present. I am very happy with the way we competed and fought. Miami has a good team and I have a lot of respect for their team.
"There's no question that Rigsby persevered today. He played with a lot of heart and kept fighting. I was very happy with the way the entire team performed."
Clemson will play ACC foe Florida State in Tallahassee, FL on Sunday, March 17 at 12:00 p.m. in the Tigers’ next action.
Clemson 4, Miami 3
Doubles
1. #11 Dominique Maden/Y. Maden (CU) d. Aly/Gonzalez (M) 8-2
2. Rigsby/Ansari (CU) vs. Soto/Flores (M) DNF
3. Harrington/Meza (CU) d. Stancati/Tsukamoto (M) 9-8
Order of Finish: 1, 3
Singles
1. #41 Yannick Maden (CU) d. Diego Soto (M) 6-4, 6-1
2. Gabriel Flores (M) d. Gerardo Meza (CU) 6-1, 6-4
3. Wilfredo Gonzalez (M) d. Hunter Harrington (CU) 6-1, 6-2
4. Omar Aly (M) d. Ayrton Wibowo (CU) 3-6, 6-3 6-0
5. Zachary Rigsby (CU) d. Marco Stancati (M) 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5)
6. Austin Ansari (CU) d. William Albanese (M) 6-2, 2-6, 6-1
Order of Finish: 3, 2, 1, 4, 6, 5
