Clemson Wins 11th Match of Season with 5-2 Defeat of UNC Wilmington

CLEMSON, SC – #20 Clemson won its 11th match of the season with a 5-2 victory over UNC Wilmington in a men’s intercollegiate tennis match at Clemson, SC Saturday afternoon. The Tigers are now 11-2 on the season. The Tigers are ranked 20th in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) poll.  UNC Wilmington falls to 8-4 on the year.  The Seahawks were ranked as high as 37th earlier this season. Clemson’s brother combination of Yannick Maden and Dominique Maden won at number-one doubles with a upset victory over the 15th ranked doubles team of Kosta Blank and Chris Cooprider 8-2.  The Maden brothers are ranked 20th nationally by the ITA poll as a doubles team.  The victory today improved their record to 16-3 overall and 6-0 in dual matches.  However the Seahawks won the next two doubles matches to claim the team point.Yannick Maden continued his winning ways at number-one singles with a 6-2, 6-4 upset win over #22 Rafael Aita.  Maden improved to 17-4 overall in singles and 11-1 in dual match play. At number-five singles, Zachary Rigsby defeated the Seahawk’s Kave Pereira 6-2, 6-4, giving the Tigers a 2-1 lead in the match.  Rigsby is now 7-2 overall. The Seahawks’ Kosta Blank won over Dominique Maden 6-1, 6-3 at number-four singles to tie the match 2-2.  From this point, Clemson won the next three matches to gain the victory. At number-six singles, Clemson’s Austin Ansari stayed undefeated in dual match play as he improved his record to 9-0 with a victory over Zach Hublitz 6-1, 3-6, 6-4.  Ansari is 10-3 overall in singles play that also includes the individual fall tournaments. The Tigers’ Hunter Harrington defeated Sam Williams 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 as he improves his singles record to 12-5 overall and 8-2 in dual matches to clinch the team match for Clemson 4-2.  In the last match of the day, Gerardo Meza won over Chris Cooprider at number two-singles 6-3, 4-7, 6-0 as he improved his record to 9-6 overall and 6-3 in dual matches. “UNC Wilmington is a very good team,” said Clemson Head Coach Chuck McCuen.  “They have had close losses to some high-ranked teams this season.  They are well-coached and we have a lot of respect for their program.  Coming into the match, I told the team that they needed to be calm and steady.  I stressed to them that UNC Wilmington is a good team with good ball strikers.  I reminded our players to stay in their zone and be focused. “I was really proud of Hunter Harrington.  He was down 3-0 in the third set and he came back and won 6-4.  When he was down, I challenged him and had him change some strategy.  He listened and executed what I instructed him to do.  He is a very coachable player. “I also want to take this opportunity to thank our fans.  They have really come out and supported us this year.  It’s always great to have our fans supporting us,” said McCuen.  #20 Clemson 5, UNC Wilmington 2Singles 1. #57 Yannick Maden (CU) def. #22 Rafael Aita (UNCW) 6-2, 6-4 2. Gerardo Meza (CU) def. Chris Cooprider (UNCW) 6-3, 5-7, 6-0 3. Hunter Harrington (CU) def. Sam Williams (UNCW) 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 4. Kosta Blank (UNCW) def. Dominique Maden (CU) 6-1, 6-3 5. Zachary Rigsby (CU) def. Kave Pereira (UNCW) 6-2, 6-4 6. Austin Ansari (CU) def. Zach Hublitz (UNCW) 6-1, 3-6, 6-4

Doubles1. #20 Dominique Maden/Yannick Maden (CU) def. #15 Kosta Blank/Chris Cooprider (UNCW) 8-2 2. Rafael Aita/Sam Williams (UNCW) def. Austin Ansari/Zachary Rigsby (CU) 8-5 3. Santtu Leskinen/Kave Pereira (UNCW) def. Hunter Harrington/Gerardo Meza (CU) 8-6

Match NotesOrder of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (1,5,4,6,3,2)