#25 Clemson Defeats Miami 4-3

CLEMSON, SC – Zachary Rigsby defeated William Albanese at number-five singles in clinching the match and giving 25th-ranked Clemson a 4-3 win over Miami in an Atlantic Coast Conference men’s tennis match at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center in Coral Gables, FL Friday afternoon. With the win, Clemson improves to 12-2 overall, while Miami falls to 9-5.  It was the conference season-opener for both teams.   Clemson won the doubles point to start the match.  The Tigers’ number-one doubles team of Yannick and Dominique Maden, ranked 11th nationally by the ITA, had little trouble with Omar Aly and Wilfredo Gonzalez as the Clemson pair were 8-2 victors.  The Maden brothers are now 17-3 overall, and 7-0 in dual match play.   Hunter Harrington and Gerardo Meza clinched the doubles point for the Tigers as the duo defeated Marco Stancati and Henrique Tsukamoto 9-8 at number-three doubles.   In singles action, Miami won two straight matches to take a 2-1 lead.  At number-three singles, Gonzalez of Miami defeated Harrington 6-1, 6-2.  At number-two singles, Gabriel Flores defeated Meza of Clemson 6-1, 6-4.   Clemson tied the match score 2-2 when #41 Yannick Maden defeated Diego Soto 6-4, 6-1.  Maden now has an 18-4 singles record overall and a 12-1 mark in dual match play this season. Miami took a 3-2 lead when Aly won over Ayrton Wibowo at number-four singles, 3-6, 6-3, 6-0. The Tigers won the next two matches.  Freshman Austin Ansari defeated William Albanese of Miami 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 at number-six singles to tie the match score 3-3.  Rigsby defeated Stanciti 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 at number-five singles to clinch the match for the Tigers.  Rigsby is now 8-2 on the year in singles play.  The senior won the third-set tie breaker 7-5. “I’m very proud of the team,” said Clemson Head Coach Chuck McCuen, who celebrated his birthday on Friday.  “I couldn’t have asked for a better birthday present.  I am very happy with the way we competed and fought.  Miami has a good team and I have a lot of respect for their team. “There’s no question that Rigsby persevered today.  He played with a lot of heart and kept fighting.  I was very happy with the way the entire team performed.” Clemson will play ACC foe Florida State in Tallahassee, FL on Sunday, March 17 at 12:00 p.m. in the Tigers’ next action.   Clemson 4, Miami 3 Doubles 1. #11 Dominique Maden/Y. Maden (CU) d. Aly/Gonzalez (M) 8-2          2. Rigsby/Ansari (CU) vs. Soto/Flores (M) DNF 3. Harrington/Meza (CU) d. Stancati/Tsukamoto (M) 9-8 Order of Finish:  1, 3   Singles 1. #41 Yannick Maden (CU) d. Diego Soto (M) 6-4, 6-1   2. Gabriel Flores (M) d. Gerardo Meza (CU) 6-1, 6-4        3. Wilfredo Gonzalez (M) d.  Hunter Harrington (CU) 6-1, 6-2   4. Omar Aly (M) d. Ayrton Wibowo (CU) 3-6, 6-3 6-0      5. Zachary Rigsby (CU) d. Marco Stancati (M) 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5)          6. Austin Ansari (CU) d. William Albanese (M) 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 Order of Finish:  3, 2, 1, 4, 6, 5