April 11, 2005

BLACKSBURG, Va. -- The Virginia Tech men's tennis team dropped a tight 4-3 decision to No. 24 Clemson Monday afternoon at the Burrows/Burleson Tennis Center on the Virginia Tech campus. The match was undecided until the Tigers won the No. 6 singles contest.

Tech (13-7, 4-4), ranked No. 45 in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association poll, dropped the tight doubles competition to fall behind 1-0, then split the six singles matches. Clemson improved to 23-8, 5-3 on the year.

In singles action, Stephan Rod (Sr., Lausanne, Switzerland), ranked No. 79 nationally, upset 22^nd-ranked Nathan Thompson 6-2, 7-6 (3) in the No. 1 match and Albert Larregola (Fr., Lleida, Spain) won his No. 3 match, 6-3, 6-2, versus Clement Reix. Tech's other singles win occurred as Angel Diankov (Sr., Yonkers, N.Y.) won his No. 5 contest, 1-6, 6-0, 7-6 (1) versus Brett Twente.

Arvid Puranan (So., Lulea, Sweden), ranked No. 111, lost 6-4, 6-1 at No. 2 against Sander Koning, Alexei Sergeev (Fr., Moscow, Russia) fell 7-5, 6-1 to Ryan Young in the No. 4 match, and Matthieu Leboucher (Fr., Le Perreux, France) lost 6-3, 6-4 at No. 6 to Clint Boling.

The Hokies lone win in doubles occurred in the No. 3 match as Larregola/Puranen defeated Ian Keeler/Twente 8-5. Clemson won the doubles point as Thompson/Young won the No. 1 contest, 8-5, against Rod/Sergeev, and captured a tight 9-8 (4) decision in the No. 2 match as Koning/Reix edged Diankov/Brent Wilkins (Jr., Richmond, Va.).

Tech plays it's final home match of the year on Wed., Apr. 13 when the Hokies battle No. 28 Wake Forest. Seniors Adel Abbas, Angel Diankov and Stephane Rod will be honored prior to the match.

No. 24 Clemson 4, No. 45 Virginia Tech 3

Singles
1. #79 Stephane Rod (VT) def. #22 Nathan Thompson (CU) 6-2, 7-6 (3)
2. Sander Koning (CU) def. #111 Arvid Puranen (VT) 6-4, 6-1
3. Albert Larregola (VT) def. Clement Reix (CU) 6-3, 6-2
4. Ryan Young (CU) def. Alexei Sergeev (VT) 7-5, 6-1
5. Angel Diankov (VT) d. Brett Twente (CU) def. 1-6, 6-0, 7-6 (1)
6. Clint Boling (CU) def. Matthieu Leboucher (VT) 6-3, 6-4

Order of finish: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6*, 5
*Clinching point
Doubles
1. Thompson/Young (CU) def. Rod/Sergeev (VT) 8-4
2. Koning/Reix (CU) def. Diankov/Wilkins (VT) 9-8 (4)
3. Larregola/Puranen (VT) def. Keeler/Twente (CU) 8-5

Order of finish: 1,3,2