Boetsch Earns First Career Wins as Head Coach

CLEMSON, S.C. – The dynamic coaching duo of John Boetsch and Ryan Young came up big in their debuts with the Tigers with a 4-3 victory over Georgia Southern on Saturday morning. Also coming up big in his debut was freshman Carlos Kelaidis clinching the match for the Tigers on court six. The Tigers then went on to defeat The Citadel in the nightcap, 6-1.

In the first match of the day, The Tigers clinched the doubles point over Georgia Southern, winning on courts one and two. Robert Dudley and Carlos Kelaidis zipped through their match winning 6-0 on court two. Moments later Alex Favrot and Sam Edwards clinched the doubles point on court one with a 6-2 victory. On court three the two teams would play out their match that resulted in an 8-5 win for Georgia Southern.

In singles play, Clemson gained three points from courts one, two and six to clinch the victory over Georgia Southern and give Head Coach John Boetsch and Assistant Coach Ryan Young their first career wins at the helm of the Tigers. On court one Alex Favrot raced to a (6-1, 6-3) victory and Daffra Sanon was not far behind him winning (6-2, 7-5) on court two, giving the Tigers a 3-0 lead. Georgia Southern made things interesting when they took back two points on courts three and four to cut the Tigers lead to only one. The pressure was on freshman Carlos Kelaidis in his debut with the Tigers on court six to come up with the clinching point after he saw court five slipping away. Kelaidis came up in the clutch winning (6-2, 6-3) and helped the Tigers start the 2017 season 1-0.

In the Citadel match, Clemson swept the doubles matches. Sanon and Christian Harris bounced back from their morning defeat with a 6-1 victory on court three. Favrot and Edwards also won 6-1 to clinch the doubles point for the Tigers from court one. Dudley and Kelaidis finished their match in route to a 6-0 win, on the day the duo didn’t allow a single point.

Newcomer and Freshman Kelaidis continued his strong debut racing to a quick (6-0, 6-1) victory on court four, giving the Tigers a 2-0 lead. Sanon was asked to play at No. 1 for the nightcap and capitalized with a strong performance and a (6-2, 6-0) victory over Matt Henson of the Citadel. Senior Brent Lett went on to clinch the match at No. 5 with a strong showing winning (6-0, 6-0). In the remaining matches after the Tigers had clinched Dudley won (6-3, 6-2) at No. 2, freshman Marshall Dagostine fell (0-6, 3-6) and Edwards won (6-2, 7-5).

Clemson returns to the courts on Saturday, Jan. 21 when the Tigers travel to Davidson, N.C. to face Winthrop and Davidson. The Tigers face Winthrop at 9 a.m. and Davidson at 3 p.m.

Clemson 4, Georgia Southern 3

Singles:

1. Alex Favrot (CU) def. Dani Casablancas (GSU) 6-1, 6-3
2. #123 Daffra Sanon (CU) def. JC Alcala (GSU) 6-2, 7-5
3. Eddie Landin (GSU) def. Robert Dudley (CU) 0-6, 6-3, 6-3
4. Santiago Suarez (GSU) def. Sam Edwards (CU) 7-6 (7), 6-4
5. Artemie Amari (GSU) def. Christian Harris (CU) 6-4, 7-5
6. Carlos Kelaidis (CU) def. Stefano Di Aloy (GSU) 6-2, 6-3

Order of finish: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5*, 6

Doubles:

1. Alex Favrot/Sam Edwards (CU) def. Artemie Amari/Diego Finkelstein (GSU) 6-2
2. Robert Dudley/Carlos Kelaidis (CU) def. Dani Casablancas/Stefano Di Aloy (GSU) 6-2
3. JC Alcala/Eddie Landin (GSU) def. Daffra Sanon/Christian Harris (CU) 8-5

Order of finish: 2, 1, 3

Clemson 6, Citadel 1

Singles:

1. #123 Daffra Sanon (CU) def. Matt Henson (CIT) 6-2, 6-0
2. Robert Dudley (CU) def. Mike Anzalone (CIT) 6-3, 6-2
3. Sam Edwards (CU) def. Noah Nowabi (CIT) 6-2, 7-5
4. Carlos Kelaidis (CU) def. Trey Davis (CIT) 6-0, 6-1
5. Brent Lett (CU) def. Roy Hobson (CIT) 6-0, 6-0
6. Jack Pyritz (CIT) def. Marshall Dagostine (CU) 6-0, 6-3

Order of finish: 4, 1, 5*, 2, 6,

Doubles:

1. Alex Favrot/Sam Edwards (CU) def. Matt Henson/Mike Anzalone 6-1
2. Robert Dudley/Carlos Kelaidis (CU) def. Noah Nowabi/Isaac Stolar 6-0
3. Daffra Sanon/Christian Harris (CU) def. Roy Hobson/Connor Grady 6-1

Order of finish: 3, 1, 2