#25 Wake Forest Defeats Clemson 5-2

March 29, 2009

CLEMSON, SC–The #25 ranked Wake Forest Demon Deacons defeated Clemson 5-2 in an Atlantic Coast Conference men’s tennis match at Clemson, SC Sunday. Due to windy conditions, the match was played in the Hoke Sloan Indoor Tennis Facility.

With the win, Wake Forest improves to 14-6 overall and 4-1 in the ACC. Clemson falls to 9-10 overall and 1-6 in league play. The Demon Deacons are ranked 25th nationally according to the latest ITA poll.

Wake Forest won the doubles point as the Demon Deacons won all three double matches. At number one doubles, the nation’s number one ranked doubles team of Steven Forman and Cory Parr defeated Clemson’s Carlos Alvarez and Rok Bizjak 8-6.

In singles play, Parr defeated Alvarez at number one singles 7-5, 6-2 to give the Deacons a 2-0 advantage. However Clemson quickly tied the score 2-2 as Ike Belk defeated the Deacons’ David Hopkins 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 at number four singles. At number two singles the Tigers’ Rok Bizjak defeated Steven Forman 6-7, 6-1, 6-1.

Wake Forest took the lead 3-2 as Jonathan Wolff defeated the Tigers’ Kevin Fleck 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 at number three singles.

The Deacons clinched the match and took a 4-2 lead as Iain Atkinson defeated Kevin Galloway 1-6, 6-2, 6-4 at number five singles. Jason Morgenstern was victorious in the last match of the day as he defeated Clemson’s Wes Moran 6-4, 6-2 at number six singles.

“We played a #25 ranked team as close as you can without winning the match,” said Clemson Head Coach Chuck McCuen. “I feel as though we are starting to come together as a team, and this is showing on the court. We have grown so much in so many different ways. We need to keep working smarter. We had a great week of practice last week, and we are gaining more confidence.”

Clemson will play at Boston College on Friday, April 3. The Tigers will also play at Maryland on April 5.

The 2009 season marks the 100th year of men’s tennis at Tigertown. Clemson first sponsored men’s tennis in 1910 when two Tiger tennis players entered the annual state tournament. The first dual match Clemson played was in the 1921 season as the Tigers defeated Wofford 2-0 on April 28, in Spartanburg, SC.

Wake Forest 5, Clemson 2 Doubles 1. Steven Forman-Cory Parr (WF) d. Carlos Alvarez-Rok Bizjak (CU) 8-6 2. Iain Atkinson-Carlos Salmon (WF) d. Ike Belk-Kevin Fleck (CU) 8-5 3. Jason Morgenstern-Jonathan Wolff (WF) d. Wes Moran-Kevin Galloway (CU) 8-4 Order of finish: 3, 2, 1

Singles 1. Cory Parr (WF) d. Carlos Alvarez (CU) 7-5, 6-2 2. Rok Bizjak (CU) d. Steven Forman (WF) 6-7, 6-1, 6-1 3. Jonathan Wolff (WF) d. Ike Belk (CU) d. David Hopkins (WF) 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 5. Iain Atkinson (WF) d. Kevin Galloway (CU) 1-6, 6-2, 6-4 6. Jason Morgenstern (WF) d. Wes Moran (CU) 6-4, 6-2 Order of finish: 1, 4, 2, 3, 5, 6