ITHACA, N.Y. — The women's tennis team kicked off its quest at the ECAC Division I Women's Tennis Championship with a riveting upset victory over Yale, 4-0, on Friday at Reis Tennis Center. It was the first win of the dual season for sixth-seeded Cornell, and its first against third-seeded and 48th-ranked Yale since 1997.
 
Cornell (1-3) got on the board by winning the first two doubles matches to be completed, though it was also ahead in the third when play was halted with the victor already decided.
 
Alexandra D'Ascenzo kept the momentum rolling into the singles portion of the competition, rolling to a 6-2, 6-2 decision over Sherry Li. D'Ascenzo is now 3-0 in matches at the No. 4 singles position this year. Lizzie Stewart then wrapped up a similarly dominating 6-2, 6-0 win over Ree Ree Li at No. 3 singles, and the Big Red was suddenly up 3-0.
 
Junior captain Dena Tanenbaum then clinched the match from the No. 1 position, winning in a second-set tiebreaker against Hanna Yu. The Big Red was also ahead in the three singles matches that were not completed. It was just Cornell's fourth victory in 34 all-time meeting against Yale. The win broke a 17-game losing streak to the Bulldogs, marking the first victory since April 12, 1997.
 
The Big Red advances to the semifinals, where it will take on second-seeded and 39th-ranked Columbia at noon Saturday. Friday's victory also guarantees Cornell a third match this weekend. The loser of the Cornell-Columbia match in the third-place match at 9 a.m. Sunday, with the championship to follow at approximately noon.
 
CORNELL 4, No. 48 YALE 0
Friday's results; at Reis Tennis Center; Ithaca, N.Y.
Doubles
1. L. Stewart/Tanenbaum (C) def. Lynch/Yu, 6-3
2. Cusick/D'Ascenzo (C) def. Finke/S. Li, 6-1
3. Shah/J. Stewart (C) vs. R. Li/Shklover, 5-4 (DNF)
Singles
1. Dena Tanenbaum (C) def. Hanna Yu, 6-2, 7-6(2)
2. Marika Cusick (C) vs. Courtney Amos, 6-4, 3-6 (DNF)
3. Lizzie Stewart (C) def. Ree Ree Li, 6-2, 6-0
4. Alexandra D'Ascenzo (C) def. Sherry Li, 6-2, 6-2
5. Priyanka Shah (C) vs. Carol Finke, 7-6(6) (DNF)
6. Jane Stewart (C) vs. Valerie Shklover, 0-6, 7-5, 2-1 (DNF)