Buying into the system

Clemson's Yannick Maden returns a back-hand winner in his singles match Saturday against Wisconsin. Photo by Dawson Powers

Tigers rally behind Maden to beat Wisconsin

By Ashley Denny

CLEMSON — One thing Clemson Men’s Tennis Head Coach Chuck McCuen stressed to his team before they squared off against a competitive Wisconsin team on Saturday was the plus-neutral idea he had implemented into his coaching system this season.

“In the plus-neutral system I’ve taught the guys to try and remain positive throughout a match and in a worst case scenario, switch into neutral,” McCuen said. “I’ve told them to never get angry or down on themselves. By doing that it allows us to be successful and I think that it showed today.”

[Read more...]

Peaking early right on time for women’s tennis

In individual sports with multiple major championship events, coaches often talk about making sure that athletes compete in cycles. Training programs are designed to produce peak performances at key times. Falling behind schedule at any point could affect team success in sports like swimming and track and field.

[Read more...]

What a run!

Clemson's Josipa Bek and Keri Wong made a run to the National Title match in Palo Alto, CA. Photo by Rex Brown.

By Will Vandervort

CLEMSON — Josipa Bek and Keri Wong know they can compete with any doubles team in the country. And that’s exactly what they did at the NCAA Championships, which ran May 23-30 at Stanford University.

The tandem ran through the field, while knocking out some of the best teams in the country, including wins over Mississippi, Tennessee, No. 2 Florida, and No. 3 Southern Cal. The run ended, however, when Stanford downed them 7-6 (8-6), 6-0 in the championship match. [Read more...]

Signs of progress please McCuen

Clemson's Yannick Maden. Photo by Rex Brown.

By William Qualkinbush

CLEMSON — With a young team full of rich talent yet to be tapped into, Clemson men’s tennis coach Chuck McCuen fully expected to see improvement through the growing pains this season.

Despite a 15-12 record, he knows that beneath the surface, his team accomplished a lot in what he hopes are the final steps of the rebuilding process. [Read more...]

Bek, Wong in pursuit of history

Clemson's Josipa Bek and Keri Wong are set to make history. Photo by Rex Brown.

Clemson tandem advances to National Championship match

STANDFORD, CA — The Clemson women’s tennis program has been making history for more than a decade now, and Sunday was no different.

Josipa Bek and Keri Wong, one of the top doubles teams in the country, became just the second group of individuals in any sport at Clemson to advance to a National Championship match in a single-elimination tournament, thanks to a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Southern Cal’s Maria Sanchez and Kaitlyn Christian.

The Tigers will play for the National Championship this afternoon at Stanford’s Taube Tennis Center in Stanford, CA. Only former women’s tennis player Gigi Fernandez in 1983 has played for a national championship. [Read more...]

Tigers prove they belong

Clemson's Klara Vyskocilova and the Lady Tigers faced off against Florida during the NCAA Sweet 16. Photo by Rex Brown.

Clemson takes second-ranked Florida to point of elimination

More Images

By Will Vandervort

STANFORD, CA — Even a day after her Clemson Tigers fell to second-ranked Florida in the NCAA’s Round of 16 Friday, Clemson head coach Nancy Harris was still marveling about the way her women’s tennis team played the Gators. [Read more...]

Henry says goodbye

Clemson's Laurianne Henry leaves the Tiger program with great hopes for the future. Photo by Rex Brown.

Senior excited about tennis program’s future

By Will Vandervort

STANFORD, CA — Laurianne Henry is excited to begin her new life as a possible journalist and photographer, but the Anderson, SC native was saddened to know Friday’s loss to Florida in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament meant saying goodbye to her life as a Clemson Tiger.

“It has been an awesome experience,” she said. “I just finished my talk with the team. It is sad to leave everything, and not just the tennis. It’s sad to say goodbye to my teammates, the staff, the school and the whole atmosphere. [Read more...]

Belaya, Vyskocilova display Tigers’ fight

Clemson's Masha Belaya fights as the Tigers take on Florida during the NCAA Sweet 16. Photo by Rex Brown.

By Will Vandervort

STANFORD, CA — The only thing that kept Masha Belaya going on Friday during her Sweet 16 match in the NCAA Championships was Florida’s overpowering fan base.

“The crowd was making me mad,” the freshman said. “I didn’t want to give up. It was kind of pushing me forward.” [Read more...]

« Older Posts