CLEMSON, S.C. | South Alabama got behind early and couldn't battle back, dropping their second match in a row to the Clemson Tigers.
Clemson got a quick win at number two doubles, with Jorge Plans Gonzalez and Max Smith of Clemson beating
Sébastien Collard and
Steyn Dippenaar 6-1. The Jags fought back to even it at 1 for doubles, with
Jack Clements and
Maxime St-Hilaire winning at number one, beating Ryuhei Azuma and Spencer Whitaker 6-3.
Clemson clinched the doubles point with a win at number three, with Trey Stinchcomb and Matt Pitts beating
Martin Bugaj Juan Accossatto 6-4 in a comeback win.
Clemson came out for singles very strong, with South being down on four of six courts. The Tigers extended their lead to 3-0 with wins at number two and five singles, with Jorge Plans Gonzalez beating
Jack Clements 6-2, 6-3 and Trey Stinchcomb defeating
Juan Accossatto 6-4, 6-3.
St-Hilaire put the Jags on the board with a comeback win at number three, beating Matt Pitts 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. The Jag momentum continued with a win at number, where
Martin Bugaj held off Spencer Whitaker 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.
With Clemson still up 3-2, attention turned to courts one and six, where South dropped each of the first sets, but won the second, sending both matches to three sets. Unfortunately, South couldn't secure the wins, dropping both courts, with #118 Ryuhei Azuma beating #123 Sebastien Collard 7-6 (10-8), 4-6, 7-5 and Nini Dica beating
Javier Montoya 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.
South looks to get back in the win column on Saturday, with a neutral site match against Nebraska at 11 a.m.
Match Results
January 27, 2023
2 pm – Clemson, S.C.
Singles
1. #118 Ryuhei Azuma (MCLEM) def. #123 Sebastien Collard (USA) 7-6 (10-8), 4-6, 7-5
2. Jorge Plans Gonzalez (MCLEM) def.
Jack Clements (USA) 6-2, 6-3
3.
Maxime St-Hilaire (USA) def. Matt Pitts (MCLEM) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
4.
Martin Bugaj (USA) def. Spencer Whitaker (MCLEM) 6-2, 3-6, 6-4
5. Trey Stinchcomb (MCLEM) def.
Juan Accossatto (USA) 6-4, 6-3
6. Nini Dica (MCLEM) def.
Javier Montoya (USA) 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
Doubles
1.
Jack Clements/
Maxime St-Hilaire (USA) def. Ryuhei Azuma/Spencer Whitaker (MCLEM) 6-3
2. Jorge Plans Gonzalez/Max Smith (MCLEM) def. Sebastien Collard/
Steyn Dippenaar (USA) 6-1
3. Trey Stinchcomb/Matt Pitts (MCLEM) def.
Martin Bugaj/
Juan Accossatto (USA) 6-4
Quotable from coach Nick Brochu
"This match was about three and half hours and both teams competed really hard. Since
Louis Delcour is still out of the lineup, we had to shuffle our teams and I was impressed how we were able to bond on such a short notice. Those guys competed hard. Max and Jack played some amazing tennis, both served really aggressively. They beat an excellent Clemson duo. At number two doubles, we just had an off day. At number three, we took the lead and were up a break but then got a little soft. We can't play not to lose, and I think that's what we did, we played a little soft and let Clemson come back.
In singles, I thought we competed well. We had some big matches. Yes, the score is 5-2, but if we look at some at the matches, they were tight sets. When it comes down to one break, it could easily be 5-2 for us. It was very well fought. Clemson came up big, especially at the end. They were very aggressive, and they took it. Our guys fought extremely hard. We've got to learn from this, but at the same time we fought so hard.
Martin Bugaj made a good comeback in the third to win the match, Max was playing good. Seb had a good match against a good Clemson player. Overall, I am very happy. These are great matches. You learn a lot from these."
Up Next
South Alabama stays in Clemson through the weekend, taking on Nebraska Saturday at 11 a.m.
Follow the Jags
For complete coverage of University South Alabama men's tennis, follow the Jaguars on social media @SouthAlabamaJaguars (Twitter), /SouthAlabamaMTN (Facebook), @southalabamamtn (Instagram) or visit the official home of South Alabama athletics at USAJaguars.com.
