NORMAN, Okla. — For the first time in program history, the men's tennis team knocked off a Top-10 team when it rallied for a 4-3 victory over seventh-ranked Oklahoma on Sunday afternoon at Headington Family Tennis Center.
 
Cornell (14-2) stormed back after dropping the doubles point to win all three singles matches that went to three sets, capped by freshman Lev Kazakov's 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win at the No. 2 position. The clinching point can be seen here.

"To beat a team of Oklahoma's caliber at their place without the doubles point is not an easy feat," said Silviu Tanasoiu, the Savitt-Weiss Head Coach of Men's Tennis. "We are very encouraged of how well we competed across the board and put ourselves in a position to win. We have a very special group of guys that have fully invested themselves in our process, and it is great to see it paying off." 

Oklahoma (10-4), an NCAA finalist last year and fixture among the Intercollegiate Tennis Association elite, asserted its standing by taking the doubles point and opening a 2-0 lead with a win from the nation's 21st-ranked singles competitor, Spencer Papa, at the No. 1 position. But the resilient Big Red fired back with senior Colin Sinclair pushing his singles record to a perfect 12-0 with a two-set victory at No. 3. Senior Chris Vrabel stayed hot with a three-set victory at No. 4 to both tie the match and push his personal winning streak to six straight tilts.

The Sooners took back the lead at No. 6, but the Big Red continued to excel in the third set with freshman Pietro Rimondini tying the match with a three-set victory at No. 5. That set the stage for Kazakov to clinch a match for the second straight day, after he closed out Cornell's win Saturday at Wichita State.

"Give credit to Cornell today," Oklahoma head coach Nick Crowell told SoonerSports.com. "They came into our place and took it to us on a lot of different courts. We tried to make a run in the middle of the match but we fell short at the end." 

Cornell will remain idle next weekend before its final non-league match March 25 against Drake at Reis Tennis Center in Ithaca, N.Y.

#21 CORNELL 4, #7 OKLAHOMA 3
Singles
1. #21 Spencer Papa (O) def. David Volfson, 7-5, 6-1
2. Lev Kazakov (C) def. #101 Alex Ghilea, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
3. Colin Sinclair (C) def. #77 Florin Bragusi, 6-3, 6-4
4. Chris Vrabel (C) def. Adrian Oetzbach, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3
5. Pietro Rimondini (C) def. Arnaud Restifo, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3
6. Jochen Bertsch (O) def. Bernardo Casares Rosa, 7-6, 6-4
Doubles
1. Sinclair/Volfson (C) vs. #59 Bragusi/Papa, DNF
2. Ghilea/Oetzbach (O) def. Casares Rosa/Vrabel, 6-2
3. Bridegan/Bertsch (O) def. Al Hill/Rimondini, 6-0
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2), Singles (1,3,4,6,5,2)