ITHACA, N.Y. — The men's squash team returns from its intersession break for a pair of Ivy League matches this weekend at Belkin International Squash Courts, first taking on second-ranked Harvard at noon Saturday before wrapping up the weekend against Dartmouth at noon Sunday.
 
In the most recent College Squash Association rankings, the Big Red has been tabbed 15th. Cornell (2-3, 0-1 Ivy League) will be back in action for the first time since Dec. 2, when it dropped a pair of home matches against Columbia and Virginia. Freshman Illia Presman (No. 5) and junior Alex Jung (No. 7) are both 4-1 for the Big Red, with Jung being the only member of the squad to win both of his matches Dec. 2 against Columbia and Virginia. Sophomore James Paolella also took a point off the Lions, winning in four from the No. 9 spot.
 
Harvard (2-0, 1-0) remains in the nation's No. 2 position after losing just twice last year – both times to Trinity, and the latter decision coming by a 5-4 score in the national championship. The Crimson started off the year with a pair of 9-0 victories against Dartmouth and MIT, and it will start off this week with a Thursday match at home against St. Lawrence. Cornell is 2-47 all-time against Harvard, with the most recent victory coming Dec. 4, 2010 in Ithaca.
 
Dartmouth (5-1, 0-1) is ranked 10th CSA after opening its season with six matches in a span of eight day in early December. The Big Green essentially defended its national standing with victories of 6-3 over George Washington and 7-2 against Navy on Dec. 2. Cornell leads the all-time series against Dartmouth, 39-21, though the Big Green has won the last four meetings. Three of those have come via 5-4 margins, including the teams' last clash in Ithaca during the 2015-16 season. The match was tied at 3 entering the final rotation and very nearly became a huge upset win for the Big Red.