CLEMSON, S.C. – The Clemson Tigers (5-2) defeated North Florida (1-4) on Sunday afternoon at Duckworth Family Tennis Facility by a score of 6-1. The Tigers claimed the doubles point and won the first three singles matches to clinch victory before Matt Pitts and Trey Stinchcomb won third-set tiebreakers in exhilarating fashion.
The doubles point was enthralling, as Jorge Plans Gonzalez and Max Smith took care of business 6-1 on Court 2. The matches on Courts 1 and 3 were each knotted at 4-4 at one point, but Trey Stinchcomb and Matt Pitts managed to come back from a 5-4 deficit to clinch the point for Clemson, 7-5 on Court 3.
It was Teodor Giusca who secured the first singles win of the afternoon, and he did so in convincing fashion on Court 2, taking down his opponent 6-2, 6-3. Max Smith followed suit with a 6-1, 6-4 win before moments later Jorge Plans Gonzalez clinched the match for the Tigers.
The remaining matches were played out and proved entertaining, as Matt Pitts entered a third-set 10-point tiebreak and pulled out the comeback, 4-6, 7-5, 11-9. Upon scoring the winning point he was mobbed by his teammates.
In the final match to reach its conclusion, Trey Stinchcomb battled for the first singles win of his Clemson career in a 10-point tiebreak on Court 5. After going down 9-7, Stinchcomb fought and ended up claiming the win 11-9. His teammates jumped in jubilation as the team celebrated its fifth win of the season and Stinchcomb’s first singles win in Clemson orange.
“It was a very solid win for us. North Florida is a well coached team and they compete very well,” said Head Coach Robbie Weiss. “I am proud of the boys for the way they competed and finished off the doubles point. North Florida are strong in doubles and it turned out to be a big point for us going into the singles. Really happy for Trey and Matt who saved 5 match points combined in their 3rd set tiebreakers and they both came out with wins. Overall, it was a good day for us and we are excited for a tough weekend ahead.”
Up next, the Tigers will take on UNC Charlotte at Duckworth Family Tennis Facility on Saturday, Feb. 19. First serve is slated for noon.
