ITHACA, N.Y. — The men's tennis team was deep in the third set of three competitive singles matches on Friday, but none saw completion after Memphis clinched a 4-0 victory on Friday evening at Reis Tennis Center.
 
Memphis (3-2) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead with 6-3 wins at the first and third doubles positions, with the Cornell (1-3) all-freshman tandem of Alafia Ayeni and Evan Bynoe set to start a tiebreaker at No. 2.
 
The Tigers then won three singles matches in straight sets, though the Big Red won at least eight games in each. Sophomore Pietro Rimondini was one game away from locking up his match at No. 6, but the match was halted with the victor already decided.
 
With the win, Memphis improved to 4-0 all-time against Cornell – with all three previous meetings being decided by 4-3 scores.
 
Cornell will return to action at 3 p.m. Sunday, when it hosts Penn State at Reis Tennis Center. The match is free to attend and open to the public.
 
MEMPHIS 4, CORNELL 0
At Reis Tennis Center; Ithaca, N.Y.
Singles
1. #61 Ryan Peniston (M) def. David Volfson, 6-4, 6-4
2. Alafia Ayeni (C) vs. Andrew Watson, DNF (2-6, 6-3, 3-4)
3. Lev Kazakov (C) vs. Kai Lemke, DNF (6-3, 5-7, 2-3)
4. Chris Patzanovsky (M) def. Daniel Grunberger, 7-5, 6-4
5. Felix Rauch (M) def. Evan Bynoe, 7-5, 6-3
6. Pietro Rimondini (C) vs. Jan Pallares, DNF (6-3, 3-6, 5-2)
Doubles
1. Peniston/Watson (M) def. Hansen/Kazakov, 6-3
2. Ayeni/Bynoe (C) vs. Lemke/Matt Story, DNF (6-6)
3. #58 Pallares/Rauch (M) def. McAllister/Volfson, 6-3
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3), Singles (5,4,1)