#23 Clemson Defeats #40 South Carolina 4-1

CLEMSON, SC – Alejandro Augusto defeated Thaigo Pinheiro at number-three singles in clinching the match and leading #23 Clemson to a 4-1 victory over #40 South Carolina in a men’s intercollegiate tennis match at Clemson, SC Wednesday afternoon. With the win, Clemson improves to 13-2 overall, while the Gamecocks fall to 7-6 overall this season. The Tigers have won 10 of their last 11 matches and is off to one of the better starts in school history. Today’s match was the 106th meeting between the two schools in a series that began in 1925. Clemson won the doubles point to start the match. The Tigers won at number-one and number-three doubles to secure the 1-0 advantage. “I thought by us winning the doubles point, that set the tone for the match,” said Clemson Head Coach Chuck McCuen. “We picked up momentum and we sent the message that we were here to compete.” South Carolina tied the match at 1-1 when Sam Swank defeated Brent Lett at number-six singles, 6-2, 6-0.  From this point the Tigers won the next three singles matches. “I was very proud of our team,” said McCuen. “I compare our team to a family. We rely on each other each day to improve. Hunter Harrington is like a businessman. He comes prepared each day and he practices and competes at the same high level.” Harrington gave the Tigers a 2-1 advantage in the match as he defeated his opponent Tsvetan Mihov 6-3, 6-4 at number-one singles. Hunter is now 16-6 overall and 9-3 in dual matches. Clemson took a 3-1 lead as Austin Ansari defeated Kyle Koch 7-6, 6-2, at number-four singles. Ansari is 11-5 in singles play and 9-2 in dual matches. Augusto clinched the match for the Tigers in his 6-4, 7-6 victory over Pinheiro at number-three singles. Augusto won his 10th match of the season against six setbacks this year.    He is 7-2 in dual matches. “We really executed in the fundamentals today,” said McCuen. “We stress this in practice each day. I am very happy to get the win. I am also happy for my coaching staff as they do a wonderful job preparing our team,” said McCuen. Clemson will play host to Miami on Friday morning in the first ACC contest of the season for the Tigers. Match time is set for 11:00 a.m. at the Hoke Sloan Tennis Center.#23 Clemson 4, #40 South Carolina 1  Singles 1. Hunter Harrington (CU) d. Tsvetan Mihov (SC) 6-3, 6-4 2. Dominique Maden (CU) vs. Andrew Adams (SC) UF 3. Alejandro Augusto (CU) d. Thaigo Pinheiro (SC) 6-4, 7-6 4. Austin Ansari (CU) d. Kyle Koch (SC) 7-6, 6-2 5. Luke Johnson (CU) vs. Chip Cox (SC) UF 6. Sam Swank (SC) d. Brent Lett (CU) 6-2, 6-0 Order of Finish:  6, 1, 4, 3  Doubles 1. Harrington/Maden (CU) d. Cox/Mihov (SC) 8-1 2. Adams/Koch (SC) d. Augusto/Dudley (CU) 8-4 3. Johnson/Ansari (CU) d. Pinheiro/Schafer (SC) 8-4 Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3