#19 North Carolina Defeats Clemson 4-3

April 8, 2011

CLEMSON, SC – William Parker defeated Robert Pietrucha 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 at number- five singles in clinching the match and leading 19th-ranked North Carolina to a 4-3 victory over Clemson in an Atlantic Coast Conference men’s tennis match at Clemson, SC Friday afternoon.

With the win, North Carolina improves to 11-5 overall and 6-1 in league play. Clemson falls to 15-8 overall on the season, and now has a 2-6 mark in the ACC. The Tar Heels are ranked 19th by the latest ITA poll, while Clemson is ranked 58th.

Clemson started the match by winning the doubles point. Clemson’s Yannick Maden and Zachary Rigsby upset 21st-ranked Brennan Boyajian and Jose Hernandez at number-one doubles 8-2. Juan Bolona and Dominique Maden of Clemson won over Cameron Ahari and Parker 8-5 to give the Tigers the first point of the day.

In singles, North Carolina knotted the score 1-1 as #38th-ranked Hernandez defeated Derek DiFazio 6-0, 6-4. The Tar Heels took a 2-1 lead when Stefan Hardy defeated the Tigers’ Kevin Galloway 6-1, 6-4 at number-three singles.

Clemson tied the score 2-2, as Yannick Maden defeated Brennan Boyajian of North Carolina 6-4, 6-0 at number two singles. Maden has a 12-4 record in singles play this season and a 7-1 mark at number-two singles.

North Carolina took a 3-2 advantage as Joey Burkhardt defeated Clemson’s Gerardo Meza 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 at number-four singles.

The Tar Heels’ Parker defeated Pietrucha 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 to clinch the match for North Carolina 4-2, at number-five singles.

Clemson’s Cal Hilsman won at number-six singles as he defeated Zach Hunter 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 making the final score 4-3 in the Tar Heels’ favor. The last three matches on the court went three sets.

“I’m disappointed in the loss, but I was pleased with the doubles play,” said Clemson Head Coach Chuck McCuen. “My assistant John Boetsch works hard with our doubles teams and their instincts are improving. Yannick Maden had a great match today. He continues to improve and looks very impressive. We will now prepare for Duke coming here on Sunday.”

Clemson will play host to Duke on Sunday, in the Tigers’ last home match of the 2011 season. Match time is set for 12:00 p.m. at the Hoke Sloan Tennis Center on the Clemson campus.

#19 North Carolina 4, #58 Clemson 3 Singles 1. #38 Jose Hernandez (NC) d. Derek DiFazio (CU) 6-0, 6-4 2. Yannick Maden (CU) d. Brennan Boyajian (NC) 6-4, 6-0 3. Stefan Hardy (NC) d. Kevin Galloway (CU) 6-1, 6-4 4. Joey Burkhardt (NC) d. Gerardo Meza (CU) 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 *5. William Parker (NC) d. Robert Pietrucha (CU) 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 6. Cal Hilsman (CU) vs. Zach Hunter (NC) 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2, 4, 5, 6 *Clinched Match

Doubles 1. Y. Maden/Zachary Rigsby (CU) d. #21 Boyajian/Harnandez (NC) 8-2 2. #59 Burkhardt/Hardy (NC) d.DiFazio/Pietrucha (CU) 8-3 3. Juan Bolona/Dominique Maden (CU) d. Cameron Ahari/Parker (NC) 8-5 Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3