ITHACA, N.Y. — The men's tennis team started receiving votes for the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's Top 25 this week — then the Big Red backed it up Saturday with a 6-1 victory over three-time defending Big East champion St. John's at Reis Tennis Center.

The No. 1 doubles team of seniors Bernardo Casares Rosa and Chris Vrabel started the day with a victory to improve to 5-0 on the season, then the No. 3 tandem of senior Dylan Brown and freshman Lev Kazakov clinched the doubles point to give Cornell a 1-0 lead.

Senior Colin Sinclair improved to 5-0 in singles, easily winning from the No. 3 spot. Kazakov also had little trouble in his match at the top spot and the Big Red suddenly enjoyed a 3-0 lead. Freshman Pietro Rimondini clinched the win with a straight-set decision at No. 5.
 
With the win, Cornell improved to 6-0 on the season and continued its best start to a dual season since 2004. The Big Red is now 17-1 all-time against the Red Storm.
 
CORNELL 6, ST. JOHN'S 1
Singles
1. Lev Kazakov (C) def. Andrei Crapcenco, 6-2, 6-2
2. Roberto Livi (SJ) def. #62 Chris Vrabel, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2
3. Colin Sinclair (C) def. Luka Sucevic, 6-1, 6-3
4. Daniel Grunberger (C) def. Alan Nunez Aguilera, 6-3, 3-2
5. Pietro Rimondini (C) def. Ognjen Trejgut, 6-4, 6-3
6. Bernardo Casares Rosa (C) def. Alex Roszkowski, 7-6, 6-3
Doubles 
1. Casares/Vrabel (C) def. Crapcenco/Sucevic, 6-3
2. Rohan Sikka/Sinclair (C) vs. Livi/Nunez, DNF
3. Dylan Brown/Kazakov (C) def. Roszkowski/Trejgut, 6-3