Clemson Men’s Tennis to Face Florida State

April 1, 2004

Clemson, SC – The Clemson Men’s Tennis team will return to action on Friday afternoon as the Tigers play host to Florida State at the Hoke Sloan Tennis Center. The match is set to begin at 1:00 p.m.

Clemson is currently 17-10 on the season, and 1-4 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. On Wednesday, the Tigers defeated arch-rival 56th-ranked South Carolina by a 6-1 margin. Nathan Thompson recorded victories at number one singles and doubles in the match. Clemson was able to take the doubles point, winning two of three matches, before winning 5 of six matches in singles competition. Both Clement Reix and Brett Twente rallied from one set deficits to win in third set tiebreakers at the numbers five and six positions respectively.

The Tigers have battled tough competition this season, with each of their losses coming to opponents ranked 47th in the nation or higher in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s national poll. Clemson has been ranked as high as 24th in the ITA poll, and both Nathan Thompson and Jarmaine Jenkins have been ranked during the season in both singles and doubles rankings.

Florida State enters the match with a 10-7 overall record, 3-2 in the ACC, and a No. 29 national ranking. Clemson faced Florida State twice last year, defeating the Seminoles during the regular season in Tallahassee and then winning again in the ACC Tournament to advance to the tournament finals. Both matches were decided by a 4-3 score.

The Seminoles are led by reigning ACC Player of the Year Mat Cloer with a 12-5 dual match record this season, including a 4-1 record in ACC matches. Jeff Grolismond and Chris Westerhof are 12-5 in dual matches and ranked 41st in the nation in the latest ITA national poll.

Clemson is under the leadership of head coach Chuck Kriese in his 29th season. Kriese holds a 582-366 record, and is ranked as the sixth-winningest active coach in NCAA Division I. The two-time National Coach-of-the-Year has led the Tigers to 20 NCAA Tournament appearances.