MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Seniors Colin Sinclair and Chris Vrabel surged to singles victories to fuel the men's tennis team's late rally Sunday, but Memphis won the day's final match to secure a 4-3 upset victory.
 
Freshman Pietro Rimondini teamed with classmate Al Hill in No. 3 doubles, winning by a 6-2 margin to get things started in the right direction for 18th-ranked Cornell (12-2). But the 35th-ranked Tigers won the remaining two doubles matches to earn the opening point, then won the first set in four of six singles matches. Senior Bernarado Casares Rosa (No. 5) and Sinclair (No. 3) were the Cornellians with wins in their respective first sets, then Casares notched the Big Red's first point by wrapping up a 6-3, 6-2 victory.
 
Victories at No. 2 and No. 6 left Memphis with a 3-1 advantage. Sophomore David Volfson (No. 1) and Sinclair were tied in the second set of their matches when the Big Red cut its deficit to 3-2. Vrabel, ranked 115th in the nation in singles, rallied from a set down to win the third set, 6-0, at No. 4.
 
Volfson then broke his opponent's serve and won the final three games to take the second set, giving Cornell hope. Sinclair followed with a late break of his straight-set win at No. 3, tying the match at 3.
 
Just as in the programs' first two meetings in 2003 and 2013, this one would be decided by a score of 4-3. Unfortunately for the Big Red, it would be the Tigers that emerged with the final point and a big non-league victory.
 
Cornell makes a brief return to campus before heading back out on the road next weekend with two more non-league matches against Wichita State and fourth-ranked Oklahoma.
 
#35 MEMPHIS 4, #18 CORNELL 3
Singles
1. #122 Ryan Peniston (M) def. David Volfson, 6-3, 5-7, 6-2
2. #82 Andrew Watson (M) def. Lev Kazakov, 6-0, 6-4
3. Colin Sinclair (C) def. Kai Lemke, 6-4, 7-5
4. #115 Chris Vrabel (C) def. Chris Patzanovsky, 3-6, 6-3, 6-0
5. Bernardo Casares Rosa (C) def. Jan Pallares, 6-3, 6-2
6. Felix Rauch (M) def. Daniel Grunberger, 6-3, 7-5
Doubles
1. Lemke/Watson (M) def. Sinclair/Volfson, 6-3
2. Rauch/Peniston (M) def. Casares/Vrabel, 6-2
3. Al Hill/Pietro Rimondini (C) def. Matt Story/Pallares, 6-2
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1), Singles (2,5,6,4,3,1)