ITHACA, N.Y.—The Big Red women's tennis team opened its Ivy season with a 6-1 win over Columbia on Saturday afternoon at the Reis Tennis Center. Cornell moves to 5-9 overall and 1-0 in the Ivy League, while the Lions fell to 4-10 and 0-1 in conference action.

Cornell opened by sweeping doubles' play to earn the point. At No. 1 singles, Natalia Sanchez defeated Nicole Stanziola, 6-2, before her opponent retired to give her the win. Stephanie Kent picked up her first Ivy win with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Columbia's Natasha Makarova. At the No. 3 position, Elizabeth Googe defeated Eliza Matache, 6-3, 6-4. Senior Shayna Miller lost a hard-fought three-set match at the No. 4 spot. Marlena Hall won their first set, 6-4, but Miller rallied to tie the match at a set apiece. Hall picked up her team's only point with a 6-4 win in the third and deciding set. At the No. 5 position, Sinziana Chis defeated Carling Donovan, 6-2, 6-1, and Ruxandra Dumitrescu defeated Nina Suda, 6-4, 6-2.

The Big Red will continue Ivy action next weekend as it plays host to Dartmouth and Harvard.


1. Natalia Sanchez/Sinziana Chis (COR) def. Natasha Makarova/Nina Suda (COL), 8-6
2. Shayna Miller/Stephanie Kent (COR) def. Eliza Matache/Marlena Hall (COL), 8-4
3. Elizabeth Googe/Ruxandra Dumitrescu (COR) def. Carling Donovan/Natalia Christenson (COL), 8-2

Singles
1. Natalia Sanchez (COR) def. Nicole Stanziola (COL), 6-2, ret.
2. Stephanie Kent (COR) def. Natasha Makarova (COL), 6-2, 6-4
3. Elizabeth Googe (COR) def. Eliza Matache (COL), 6-3, 6-4
4. Marlena Hall (COL) def. Shayna Miller (COR), 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
5. Sinziana Chis (COR) def. Carling Donovan (COL), 6-2, 6-1
6. Ruxandra Dumitrescu (COR) def. Nina Suda (COL), 6-4, 6-2