College Tennis News - Clemson Defeats Florida State 4-3

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Hunter Harrington defeated Jordan Kelly-Houston at number-two singles in clinching the match and leading #25 Clemson to a 4-3 victory over #28 Florida State in a men’s Atlantic Coast Conference tennis match at Tallahassee, FL Sunday afternoon.

Clemson improves to 13-2 overall, and 2-0 in the ACC. The Tigers were 4-3 winners over Miami Friday afternoon. This is the first time since 1999 that Clemson has won two ACC road matches to start the conference segment of the schedule. Clemson is ranked 25th nationally according to the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) poll. Florida State falls to 13-4 overall and 1-1 in league play. The Seminoles are ranked 28th nationally.

"FSU is one of the hottest teams in the country right now, and they just knocked off #7 Oklahoma on the road last week,” said Clemson Head Coach Chuck McCuen. “We felt their heat in doubles and in losing 5 of 6 first sets in singles. There is no quit in our team however, and we showed great character and poise rallying to get the win. I couldn't be more proud of this team, and there is no better feeling than success under pressure."

Florida State won the doubles team point claiming victories at number-two and number-three doubles. It would appear that the Seminoles were in control of the match after winning five first sets in the six singles matches. Benjamin Lock of Florida State defeated Gerardo Meza 6-4, 6-2 at number-three singles to put the Seminoles up 2-0.

Clemson, however, came roaring back winning the next two singles matches. The Tigers’ Austin Ansari defeated Anderson Reed 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 at number-five singles. Ansari is 13-3 overall in singles play this year and is undefeated in dual match action with a 11-0 mark.

At number-one singles, #41-ranked Yannick Maden had little trouble with #110-ranked Dominic Dontrone of Florida State as Maden won in straight sets 6-4, 6-3. Maden is 19-4 overall and 13-1 in dual matches this season.

Florida State took a 3-2 lead Blake Davis defeated Ayrton Wibowo 6-4, 6-4 at number-four singles. The Tigers then won the next two matches. Zachary Rigsby, who clinched the match for the Tigers in their win over Miami on Friday, defeated Michael Rinaldi 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 at number-six singles, setting up the number-two singles match as the deciding contest. This was Rinaldi’s first loss in dual match play this season.

Harrington won a three-set match over Jordan Kelly-Houston at number-two singles 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 to give the Tigers the hard-fought 4-3 victory. Harrington, a Spartanburg, SC native, is now 14-5 overall, and 10-3 in dual matches.

Clemson will play host to ACC-foe N.C. State on Friday, March 22 at 2:30 p.m. in the Tigers’ next action. The match will be played at the Hoke Sloan Tennis Center on the Tigers’ campus.
#25 Clemson 4, #28 Florida State 3

Singles
1. #41 Yannick Maden (C) def. #110 Dominic Cotrone (FS) 6-4, 6-3
2. Hunter Harrington (C) def. Jordan Kelly-Houston (FS) 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4
3. Benjamin Lock (FS) def. Gerardo Meza (C) 6-4, 6-2
4. Blake Davis (FS) def. Ayrton Wibowo (C) 6-4, 6-4
5. Austin Ansari (C) def. Anderson Reed (FS) 3-6, 6-1, 6-1
6. Zachary Rigsby (C) def. Michael Rinaldi (FS) 2-6, 6-1, 6-2

Doubles
1. #22 Andres Bucaro/Benjamin Lock (FS) vs. #11 Dominique Maden/Yannick Maden (C) 4-5, 40-40, unfinished
2. Anderson Reed/Jordan Kelly-Houston (FS) def. Austin Ansari/Zachary Rigsby (C) 8-3
3. Blake Davis/Dominic Cotrone (FS) def. Ayrton Wibowo/Hunter Harrington (C) 8-4

Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (3,5,1,4,6,2)