#21 Virginia Tech Defeats Clemson 4-3

April 16, 2010

CLEMSON, SC – Virginia Tech’s Luka Somen defeated Kevin Galloway of Clemson 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 at number two singles in clinching the match and giving the 21st-ranked Hokies a 4-3 win over Clemson in an Atlantic Coast Conference men’s tennis match at Clemson, SC Friday evening.

With the win, Virginia Tech improves to 14-5 overall and 7-3 in the ACC. Clemson falls to 17-8 overall and 3-7 in league play.

The Hokies won the doubles point and took a 2-0 lead after 60th-ranked Yoann Re defeated the Tigers’ Derek DiFazio at number one singles 6-1, 6-0.

Virginia Tech took a 3-0 advantage in the match as Patrick Daciek defeated Gera Boryanchinskiy 6-2, 6-4 at number four singles.

However, Clemson came roaring back as the Tigers took the next three points. Carlos Alvarez defeated the Hokies’ Corrado Degl’ Incerti Tocci at number three singles, 6-2, 2-6, 6-4.

Clemson’s Wes Moran defeated Sebastien Jacques 6-3, 6-4 at number six singles to narrow Virginia Tech’s lead to 3-2. Rok Bizjak of Clemson defeated Will Beck 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 to tie the team score 3-3 setting up the deciding match at number two singles.

Somen, ranked 66th nationally in singles, clinched the match with his win over Galloway.

“I felt as if we played like the Clemson of old,” said Tiger Head Coach Chuck McCuen. “We fought, competed and left everything we had out on the court. We couldn’t have competed any harder than we did tonight. The effort was there tonight as well as the second effort. We never went away in the match. I know we didn’t get the prize, but we made a big step in our development of this team. We grew a lot tonight, and I’m proud of our players in the way we fought against a very talented Virginia Tech team.”

Clemson will play host to the number-one ranked Virginia Cavaliers on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at the Hoke Sloan Tennis Center. This will be the last home match for the Tigers this season. Next week the Tigers compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference men’s tennis tournament in Cary, NC.

#21 Virginia Tech 4, #44 Clemson 3

Doubles 1. Derek DeFazio/Gera Boryanchinskiy (CU) d. Will Beck/Patrick Daciek (VT) 8-6 2. Sebastien Jacques/Yoann Re (VT) d. Wes Moran/Juan Bolona (CU) 8-5 3. Luka Somen/Corrado Degl’Incerti Tocci (VT) d. Rok Bizjak/Moritz Dettinger (CU) 9-8

Order of finish: 2, 1, 3

Singles 1. #60Yoann Re (VT) d. Derek DiFazio (CU) 6-1, 6-0 2. #66Luka Somen (VT) d. Kevin Galloway (CU) 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 3. Carlos Alvarez (CU) d. Corrado Degl’ Incerti Tocci (VT) 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 4. Patrick Daciek (VT) d. Gera Boryanchinskiy (CU) 6-2, 6-4 5. Rok Bizjak (CU) d. Will Beck (VT) 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 6. Wes Moran (CU) d. #123 Sebastien Jacques (VT) 6-3, 6-4

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