ITHACA, N.Y. — The women's tennis team started Ivy League play with a bang Saturday, sweeping Columbia by a score of 7-0 at Reis Tennis Center.
 
Cornell (11-4, 1-0 Ivy League), which extended its winning streak to seven straight matches, started the day by rolling to the doubles point behind 6-2 victories at the Nos. 1 and 3 positions. The Big Red went on to win four of the six singles matches in straight sets.
 
Junior Madison Stevens made the score 2-0 with her 6-3, 6-3 victory from the No. 6 spot, and senior Alexandra D'Ascenzo won at No. 2 by a score of 6-4, 6-1. Junior captain Priyanka Shah then clinched the match at No. 3, improving to 11-1 in singles during the dual season.
 
With the victory, Cornell evened the all-time series against Columbia at 20 wins apiece. The Big Red also avenged a 4-3 loss to the Lions to start off Ivy play last year.
 
Up next for Cornell is a pivotal road match at 2 p.m. Friday at Princeton, the defending league champion. The Tigers opened their league schedule with a win over Penn on Saturday. After facing Princeton, Cornell takes on Penn at 1 p.m. next Sunday.
 
CORNELL 7, COLUMBIA 0
Singles
1. Marika Cusick (Cor) def. Alex Solovyev, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3
2. Alexandra D'Ascenzo (Cor) def. Andrea Kevakian, 6-4, 6-1
3. Priyanka Shah (Cor) def. Ali Pollack, 6-1, 7-5
4. Lizzie Stewart (Cor) def. Rima Asatrian, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
5. Mariko Iinuma (Cor) def. Renee Ren, 6-3, 6-3
6. Madison Stevens (Cor) def. Adi Milstein, 6-3, 6-3
Doubles
1. Cusick/D'Asecenzo (Cor) def. Ren/Solovyev, 6-2
2. Iinuma/Shah (Cor) vs. Kevakian/Milstein, DNF (5-2)
3. Stevens/Stewart (Cor) def. Asatrian/Pollack, 6-2
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1), Singles (6,2,3,5,1,4)
Records: Cornell 11-4, Columbia 4-11