Clemson Defeats N.C. State 5-2

March 27, 2011

CLEMSON, SC – Gerardo Meza defeated Rafael Paez of N.C. State at number three singles 6-3, 7-6, clinching the match and leading Clemson to a 5-2 victory over N.C. State in a men’s Atlantic Coast Conference men’s tennis match at Clemson, SC Sunday afternoon.

With the win, Clemson improves to 14-5 overall, and 1-3 in the ACC. N.C. State falls to 8-8 overall and 0-4 in league play. The Tigers are ranked 58th, while N.C. State is ranked 59th nationally according to the latest ITA poll. The match was played indoors at the Hoke Sloan Tennis Center due to inclement conditions.

Clemson clinched the doubles point as Derek DiFazio and Robert Pietrucha defeated Julian Sullivan and Sean Weber 9-8 at number-two doubles.

The Wolfpack tied the match 1-1, as Dominic Hodgson defeated DiFazio at number- one singles 6-0, 6-3.

The Tigers won the next three singles matches to claim the match 4-1. The Tigers’ Yannick Maden defeated Sullian 6-3, 6-3 at number-two singles. Clemson’s Dominique Maden was victorious over Dave Thomson 6-2, 7-6 at number-four singles giving the Tigers a 3-1 advantage in the match.

Meza defeated Rafael Paez of N.C. State 6-3, 7-6 at number-three singles to clinch the match for the Tigers and giving Clemson a 4-1 lead in the match. Wesley Moran gave the Tigers a 5-1 lead when he defeated Weber at number-six singles, 6-3, 6-0. Ivan Sanchez Gomez defeated Kevin Galloway in the last match off the court 6-2, 6-4 at number-five singles.

“This was the best we competed and focused from start to finish all year long,” said Clemson Head Coach Chuck McCuen. “While we have a lot of things to do to improve, we continue to make strides and improve as a whole. Dominique Maden and Gerardo Meza did a great job closing out their matches today.

“We told the players going into the match to make the most of their opportunities when they arise, and focus throughout the match, not just at the end. I thought we showed a lot of improvement in that area from Friday to the match today. I thought that we kept our composure when times got tough today,” said McCuen.

Today’s match was the 62nd meeting between Clemson and N.C. State on the tennis courts. The Tigers now lead the series 51-11. The Tigers are also 25-3 against the Wolfpack when playing at Clemson. The series started in 1940.

Clemson will play host to ACC-foe Georgia Tech on Wednesday, March 30 at 2:30 p.m. at the Hoke Sloan Tennis Center in the Tigers’ next action. This will be the 51st meeting between the two schools in a series that began in 1925. The Tigers lead the overall series 26-24.

Singles 1. Dominic Hodgson (NCS) d. #106 Derek DiFazio (CU) 6-0, 6-3 2. Yannick Maden (CU) d. Julian Sullivan (NCS) 6-3, 6-3 *3. Gerardo Meza (CU) d. Rafael Paez (NCS) 6-3, 7-6 (8-6) 4. Dominique Maden (CU) d. Dave Thomson (NCS) 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) 5. Ivan Sanchez Gomez (NCS) d. Kevin Galloway (CU) 6-2, 6-4 6. Wesley Moran (CU) d. Sean Weber (NCS) 6-3, 6-0 Order of Finish: 1, 2, 4, 3, 6, 5 *Clinched Match

Doubles 1. Hodgson/Rob Lowe (NCS) d. Zachary Rigsby/Galloway (CU) 8-6 2. DiFazio/Robert Pietrucha (CU) d. Sullivan/Weber (NCS) 9-8 3. Juan Bolona/D. Maden (CU) d. Dave Thomson/Matt Thomson (NCS) 8-1 Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2