Clemson Defeats Furman, 4-3

Feb. 11, 2009

CLEMSON, SC – Kevin Fleck defeated Jordan Walters at number five singles 7-6, 6-2 in clinching the match and giving Clemson a 4-3 win over Furman in a men’s intercollegiate tennis match at Clemson, SC Wednesday evening.

With the win, Clemson improves to 4-3 on the year, while Furman falls to 2-3 this year. Clemson is ranked 61st nationally, while Furman is ranked 70th. Furman’s head Coach Paul Scarpa is in his 46th season as a collegiate head tennis coach, 43rd season with the Paladins. He is the winningest active Division I head coach in America with 815 wins.

The doubles were played outside, but inclement weather forced the singles matches indoors.

Clemson won the doubles point when Kevin Galloway and Robert Pietrucha defeated Andrei Chvetsov and Chris Rhyne of Furman 9-8 at the number three position.

In Singles, Clemson took a 2-0 lead as Carlos Alvarez defeated Andy Juc of Furman 6-3, 6-3 at the number one position. Alvarez is now 4-3 in dual matches, 2-1 at the number one position .

At number two singles, Furman’s Bo Ladyman defeated Gera Boryachinskiy 7-6, 2-6, 6-2. This was Boryachinskiy’s first match at number two singles this season.

Clemson took a 3-1 advantage as Rok Bizjak defeated the Paladins’ Daniel Knause 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 at number three singles.

Philipp Fuelkell of Furman defeated Kevin Galloway 6-7, 6-4, 7-5 at number four singles narrowing the Tigers’ lead to 3-2.

Fleck clinched the match for the Tigers with a 7-6, 6-2 win over Walters at number five singles. Fleck, a senior from Statesville, NC now has a 6-6 record overall in singles.

Furman’s Sawyer Duncan defeated Derek DiFazio 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 at number six singles for the Paladin’s third team point.

“It is a honor to play Furman again and against their legendary Coach Paul Scarpa,” said Clemson Head Coach Kevin Fleck and Carlos Alvarez. Both of these players played great tennis. They are leaders and helped us secure the win.”

Clemson will play host to Alabama on Sunday, February 15, at 1:00 p.m. at the Hoke Sloan Tennis Center on the Tigers’ campus. This will be the 15th meeting between Clemson and Alabama on the tennis courts. Alabama leads the overall series 10-4. The series began on April 1, 1941 with the Crimson Tide winning the inaugural match 5-2 that year in Tuscaloosa, AL.

Clemson 4, Furman 3Doubles 1. Rok Bizjak-Gera Boryachinskiy (CU) d. Andy Juc-Chris Motes (F) 8-5 2. Bo Ladyman-Jordan Walters (F) d. Carlos Alvarez-Wes Moran (CU) 8-1 3. Kevin Galloway-Robert Pietrucha (CU) d. Andrei Chvetsov-Chris Rhyne (F) 9-8

Order of finish: 2, 1, 3

Singles 1. Carlos Alvarez (CU) d. Andy Juc (F) 6-3, 6-3 2. Bo Ladyman (F) d. Gera Boryachinskiy (CU) 7-6, 2-6, 6-2 3. Rok Bizjak (CU) d. Daniel Knause (F) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 4. Philipp Fuelkell (F) d. Kevin Galloway (CU) 6-7, 6-4, 7-5 5. Kevin Fleck (CU) d. Jordan Walters (F) 7-6, 6-2 6. Sawyer Duncan (F) d. Derek DiFazio (CU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-0

Order of finish: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6