Clemson Upsets #38 N.C. State 5-2

March 27, 2009

CLEMSON, SC–Clemson won five of the six single matches and Wes Moran clinched the match point as the Tigers upset #38th-ranked N.C. State 5-2 in an Atlantic Coast Conference men’s tennis match at Clemson, SC Friday evening. Because of the rain, the match was moved indoors.

Clemson is now 9-9 overall and 1-5 in the ACC. N.C. State now has a 9-7 record overall and a 3-2 mark in the ACC. N.C. State is ranked 38th nationally according to the latest ITA poll.

Today’s match was the 60th in the series between Clemson and N.C. State on the tennis courts. Clemson now leads the series 50-10. The series began in 1940 as Clemson won the two matches played that season. The Tigers also have a 24-3 record against the Wolfpack when playing at Clemson.

N.C. State won all three doubles matches played and earned the team point. However, the Tigers quickly tied the match score as Ike Belk defeated Derek Stephens of N.C. State 6-2, 6-4 at number four singles.

The Wolfpack took a 2-1 lead as Jay Weinacker defeated Carlos Alvarez of Clemson 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 at number one singles. From this point, the Tigers won four straight singles matches. Rok Bizjak of Clemson defeated Christian Welte of N.C. State 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 at number two singles to tie the overall score 2-2.

The Tigers’ Kevin Fleck defeated Jaime Pulgar 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 at number three singles to give the Tigers a 3-2 advantage. In the clinching match, freshman Wes Moran defeated Akash Gujarati of N.C. State 6-1, 6-4 at number six singles.

Clemson’s Kevin Galloway defeated Julian Sullivan 7-6, 6-7, 6-4 at number five singles to make the final score 5-2 in the Tigers’ favor.

Clemson will play host to 25th-ranked Wake Forest on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. in the Tigers’ next action.

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.

Clemson 5, N.C. State 2 Doubles 1. Derek Stephens-Christian Welte (NCS) d. Carlos Alvarez-Rok Bizjak (CU) 8-6 2. Jaime Pulgar-Jay Weinacker (NCS) d. Ike Belk-Kevin Fleck (CU) 9-7 3. Justin Jendruch-Rob Lowe (NCS) d. Kevin Galloway-Robert Pietrucha (CU) 8-6 Order of finish: 2, *3, 1 *Clinched Doubles Point

Singles 1. Jay Weinacker (NCS) d. Carlos Alvarez (CU) 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 2. Rok Bizjak (CU) d. Christian Welte (NCS) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 3. Kevin Fleck (CU) d. Jaime Pulgar (NCS) 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 4. Ike Belk (CU) d. Derek Stephens (NCS) 6-2, 6-4 5. Kevin Galloway (CU) d. Julian Sullivan (NCS) 7-6, 6-7, 6-4 *6. Wes Moran (CU) d. Akash Gujarati (NCS) 6-1, 6-4 Order of finish: 4, 1, 2, 3, *6, 5 *Clinched Match Point