(Photo: Mason Kern/WCSN)
Arizona State brought in three new players via transfer prior to the start of its second season since being reinstated after a 10-year hiatus. With these new additions came one subtraction, as Pierre-Louis Dodens decided he would have a better chance to play elsewhere, transferring to Clemson.
The current junior, hailing from Geneva, Switzerland, had an inconsistent season last year as one of the founding members of ASU’s new program. He played in five dual matches, achieving an overall record of 2-3, and saw his role dwindle as the 2018 campaign progressed. After joining ASU in August of 2017, Dodens played his first match on the collegiate circuit in the team’s loss against then-No. 7 Texas A&M in January. He achieved his first victory in March against Cal Poly.
Dodens was expected to have an even smaller role this year with the infusion of new talent into the Sun Devils’ program: graduate transfer Justin Roberts from South Florida, junior Nathan Ponwith from Georgia and junior Dominik Kellovsky from B.I.B.S. BRNO International Business School in the Czech Republic. As a result, he wanted to look elsewhere to see where he would have a more immediate impact. Clemson ended up being the choice for Dodens.
According to a source directly affiliated with the program, the decision between Dodens and ASU was mutual. The staff even helped to find the best overall fit that would allow Dodens to get the most immediate court time, the source said.
Dodens is the second player ASU has lost since reinstatement, but the first via transfer. The Sun Devils’ ace from last year, Michaël Geerts, is also no longer with the program having graduated after playing out his lone season of eligibility.
Clemson advanced to the second round of the ACC Championships last year where its season ended in a defeat to then-No. 29 Duke. The Tigers finished No. 11 in the ACC (out of 13 in the conference) at 3-9, with an overall record of 9-13.
