Tennis: Tigers split Thursday’s doubleheader with Alabama State

CLEMSON, S.C. – The Clemson Tigers split Thursday’s doubleheader as they secured a 7-0 sweep over Alabama State and dropped a conference match to No. 3 Virginia with the Cavaliers taking a 5-2 victory.

Against Virginia, both Marko Mesarovic and Max Smith tabbed victories in singles.

Clemson 7, Alabama State 0

The Tigers brought the energy early against the Hornets as Clemson was quick to clinch the doubles point. Securing the first win was Marko Mesarovic and Matt Pitts as they defeated the Alabama State duo of Obrul and Lataste, 6-2. 

Sealing the next doubles victory for the Tigers was the No. 89 ranked duo of Max Smith and Noa Vukadin as they topped Grandinot and Bajracharya 6-3 to secure the doubles point for Clemson and take the 1-0 lead. 

Clemson continued to shine in singles as they were victorious on all six courts. Finishing first was Vukadin as he defeated his opponent 6-1, 6-1 on court three. Following Vukadin, four more Tigers recorded two-set singles victories over the Hornets as Pitts, Abderrahman, Mesarovic and Smith all tabbed wins on their respective courts.

Securing a comeback win was Ryuhei Azuma as the No. 104 ranked singles player defeated Grandinot, 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (11-9) to help Clemson record a 7-0 sweep. 

Clemson 2, Virginia 5

The Tigers battled early in doubles but the Virginia pairing of Kiefer and Dietrich were first to secure a 6-1 victory on court three. Following them was the duo of Montes and Graziani as they tabbed a 7-5 win on court two to steal the doubles point and give Virginia the 1-0 lead.

In singles, Mesarovic impressed as he was able to secure an electric two-set victory (6-2,6-2) over Virginia’s Dylan Dietrich to give Clemson their first point of the match. The victory marked the freshman’s 17th singles win of the season. 

Securing Clemson’s second point of the match was Smith as he recorded a 7-5, 6-3 win over Kiefer on court six, marking his fourth singles victory in-a-row. 

With wins on the other four courts, the Cavaliers took the 5-2 victory over the Tigers.

Up next, the Tigers will honor the senior class in their final home match of the season as they are set to host Virginia Tech at the Duckworth Family Tennis Facility on Saturday, April 13. The match is slated for 12 p.m. and will honor Ryuhei Azuma, Trey Stinchcomb and Spencer Whitaker.

RESULTS: 

No. 56 Clemson (12-12), 7 vs Alabama State (11-3), 0

Doubles

1. No. 89 Smith/Vukadin (CU) def. Grandinot/Bajracharya (ALST), 6-3
2. Abderrahman/Damm (CU) vs. Amir/Verlaguet (ALST), 5-3, unfinished
3. Pitts/Mesarovic (CU) def. Obrul/Lataste (ALST), 6-2

Order of Finish: 3, 1

Singles

1. No. 104 Ryuhei Azuma (CU) def. David J Grandinot (ALST), 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (11-9)
2. No. 95 Wissam Abderrhman (CU) def. Sam Bajracharya (ALST),  6-1, 6-4
3. Noa Vukadin (CU) def. Matis Amier (ALST), 6-1, 6-1
4. Marko Mesarovic (CU) def. Alexandre Verlaguet (ALST), 6-4, 6-1
5. Matt Pitts (CU) def. Kristofer Johnson (ALST), 6-3, 6-1
6. Max Smith (CU) def. Lun Obrul (ALST),  7-6 (7-3), 6-4

Order of Finish: 3, 5, 2, 4, 1, 6

No. 56 Clemson (12-13), 2 vs Virginia (19-4), 5

Doubles

1. No. 89 Smith/Vukadin (CU) vs. Rodesch/Schulenburg (UVA), 5-6 unfinished
2. Montes/Graziani (UVA) def. Abderrahman/Damm (CU), 7-5
3. Kiefer/Dietrich (UVA) def. Mesarovic/Pitts (CU), 6-1

Order of Finish: 3, 2

Singles

1. No. 7 Chris Rodesch (UVA) def. No. 104 Ryuhei Azuma (CU), 7-6 (7-5), 6-1
2. No. 36 Inaki Montes (UVA) def. No. 95 Wissam Abderrhman (CU), 6-1, 6-4
3. No. 53 Jeffrey von der Schulenburg (UVA) def. Noa Vukadin (CU), 7-5, 6-3
4. Marko Mesarovic (CU) def. Dylan Dietrich (UVA), 6-2, 6-2
5. Mans Dahlberg (UVA) def. Matt Pitts(CU), 6-3, 6-3
6. Max Smith (CU) def. Alexander Kiefer (UVA), 7-5, 6-