CLEMSON, S.C. – After multiple weather delays and a switch to the indoor courts, the Clemson men’s tennis team (9-3) topped the UNCW Seahawks (3-2) on Saturday afternoon at the Duckworth Family Tennis Facility to improve their home record to 8-2 and conclude non-conference play.
“It was an excellent win for us today,” said Head Coach Robbie Weiss. “Coming into the match, Jorge was out and Ryuhei was limited with an injury, which was definitely a cause for concern against a very good UNCW team. We had to step up and dig deep, which all the boys did. I am incredibly proud of them for the way they competed and played. We need to get healthy as we prepare for the ACC season which kicks off next weekend. I am super excited to get rolling and go to battle with these boys.”
The Tigers started the afternoon off on the right foot as Nini Dica and Max Smith earned their first dual doubles win together, 6-3, on Court 2. Moments later, Trey Stinchcomb and Matt Pitts secured the doubles point for the Tigers on Court 3, 6-1, leaving Ryuhei Azuma and Spencer Whitaker’s match unfinished on Court 1.
Pitts did not take his foot off the gas in singles, handling UNCW’s Rasamatov, 6-4, 6-2. Azuma retired his match on Court 1 shortly after for an automatic Seahawk point, but Spencer Whitaker extended the Clemson lead to 3-1 after winning a tiebreak in the first set and dominating in the second set, 6-2. Dica struggled in the first set on Court 4 but quickly flipped a switch, winning 0-6, 6-3, 6-0. Stinchcomb was down 4-1 in the second set on Court 6 and battled back to a 7-6 win while Smith was up 3-0 in the third set on Court 5, which both went unfinished.
The Tigers open ACC play Friday, March 3 at 5 p.m. against NC State at the Duckworth Family Tennis Facility. Clemson will wrap up the weekend against Wake Forest on Sunday at noon.
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