Clemson Defeats Boise State 4-3 in NCAA Tournament

KNOXVILLE, TN – Clemson’s Dominique Maden defeated Filipp Pogostkin at number-four singles in clinching the match and leading the #23 Tigers to a 4-3 victory over #42 Boise State in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Tennis Tournament at Knoxville, TN Friday afternoon.With the win, Clemson improves to 19-7 on the year, while Boise State falls to 20-10 this season.  Clemson will meet the winner of the Tennessee/S.C. State match on Saturday (May 11) at 1:00 p.m. in Knoxville TN.”I knew coming into this match that it was going to be very competitive,” said Clemson Head Coach Chuck McCuen.  “Boise State is a talented team and they are consistently in the NCAA Tournament.”This is the first NCAA appearance for Clemson since the 2007 season.  It also marks the 25th time that the Tigers have played in the NCAA Tournament since the event went to a team dual match format in 1977.  Over the years, Clemson has advanced to the NCAA Final eight on seven occasions and the NCAA Final 16 a total of 12 times.Clemson took an early lead when the Tigers took the doubles’ team point.  Clemson’s Zachary Rigsby and Ayrton Wibowo defeated Garrett Patton and Scott Sears, 8-4 at number-two doubles to clinch the team point.”I would say that our doubles team played the best tennis collectively today than any time during the year,” said McCuen.  This really helped us gain momentum as we headed into singles play.”The Broncos tied the score at 1-1 when Garrett Patton defeated Austin Ansari 6-4, 6-4 at number-six singles 6-4, 6-4.  Hunter Harrington of Clemson defeated Nathan Sereke of Boise State 6-4, 7-5 at number-two singles to give the Tigers a 2-1 advantage in the match.  Harrington is now 21-8 on the year in singles play.  He is 16-5 in dual matches this season.Thomas Tenreiro of Boise State defeated Rigsby at number-five singles 7-5, 6-2 to tie the match again 2-2.  Clemson’s Gerardo Meza defeated Sears of Boise State 6-4, 6-4 at number-three singles to give the Tigers a 3-2 lead.”Hunter Harrington continues to play well at number-two singles,” said McCuen.  Gerardo played a solid match and helped us keep the momentum during that critical point in the match.”At number-one singles, Andrew Bettles, ranked 40th in the country, defeated 26th-ranked Yannick Maden 6-4, 6-1 at number-one singles tying the team match score at 3-3. Maden falls to 25-8 on the year in singles and 19-4 in dual match play.  This set up the match-deciding contest at number-four singles.Dominique Maden clinched the match for the Tigers as he was victorious over Pogostkin 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 at number-four singles.  Maden improves his record at 9-10 overall and 8-6 in dual match play.”I can’t say enough about Dominique,” said McCuen.  After being down a set we changed the game plan and he executed so well.  He is very coachable and played brilliantly to win the second and third sets to clinch the match for us today.  I am proud of this team and they are doing everything right to prepare for tomorrow.”Clemson 4, Boise State 3

Singles1. #40 Andrew Bettles (BSU) def. #26 Yannick Maden (CU) 6-4, 6-12. #105 Hunter Harrington (CU) def. Nathan Sereke (BSU) 6-4, 7-53. Gerardo Meza (CU) def. Scott Sears (BSU) 6-4, 6-44. Dominique Maden (CU) def. Filipp Pogostkin (BSU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-15. Thomas Tenreiro (BSU) def. Zachary Rigsby (CU) 7-5, 6-26. Garrett Patton (BSU) def. Austin Ansari (CU) 6-4, 6-4Doubles 1. #11 D.  Maden/Y. Maden (CU) vs. Bettles/ Sereke (BSU) unfinished2. Rigsby/Ayrton Wibowo (CU) def. Patton/Sears (BSU) 8-43. Harrington/Meza (CU) def. Aidan Reid/Toby Mitchell (BSU) 8-1Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (6,2,5,3,1,4)