ITHACA, N.Y. – Cornell men's tennis came back from a 1-0 deficit to defeat Harvard, 4-1, in the ECAC Championship match on Sunday, Feb. 16 from Reis Tennis Center. It's the first ECAC Championship for the Big Red men's tennis program since 2012-13, which is also the last time Cornell hosted the event.
 
The Big Red defeated both No. 2-seeded Dartmouth (4-1) and No. 1-seeded Harvard (4-1) en route to the title, in addition to a win over No. 5-seeded Brown (4-0). After bringing home the championship on Sunday, Cornell's record improves to 6-1 for the season. The Big Red hands the Crimson its first loss of the season, bringing Harvard's record to 9-1.
 
Harvard got on the scoreboard first, taking the doubles point to open the match using wins at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles. Daniel Soyfer and Lev Kazakov were bested by Steven Sun and Harris Walker at No. 2, 6-1, to open things up. For Cornell, Eero Vasa and Alafia Ayeni earned a win at No. 1 doubles, defeating Brian Shi and Ronan Jachuck, 6-2, tying doubles at one win for each team. Harvard won the deciding match at No. 3 doubles, as Evan Bynoe and Pietro Rimondini were topped by Henry von der Schulenburg and Robert Wrzesinski by a score of 6-4.
 
Singles is where the Big Red dominated however, winning four straight matches to claim the ECAC Championship. Vasa started things strong with a win over #59 Jachuk in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4. Vasa's win set the precedent for the Big Red, who in turn picked up wins at No. 5, No. 3 and No. 2 singles.
 
Rimondini was the next to finish off his opponent, needing just two sets to defeat Wrzesinski, 6-2, 6-2. Closer matches were to come however, as Harvard gave Kazakov and Ayeni all they could handle. Kazakov gave Cornell a 3-1 lead over the Crimson with a three set victory at No. 3 singles, triumphing over von der Schulenburg, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3. Ayeni's close two set match at No. 2 singles clinched victory for the Big Red, as he thwarted Shi, 7-6(4), 7-5.
 
Up Next: The Big Red looks to keep the ball rolling next weekend, when it welcomes Tulsa to Reis Tennis Center at 9 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 23.
 

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Cornell 4, Harvard 1
Ithaca, N.Y. | ECAC Men's Tennis Championship

Singles
1. Eero Vasa (COR) def. #59 Ronan Jachuck (HAR), 6-3, 6-4
2. Alafia Ayeni (COR) def. Brian Shi (HAR), 7-6(4), 7-5
3. Lev Kazakov (COR) def. Henry von der Schulenburg (HAR), 3-6, 6-2, 6-3
4. Evan Bynoe (COR) vs. Harris Walker (HAR), 5-6, 7-6(3), 2-2, unfinished
5. Pietro Rimondini (COR) def. Robert Wrzesinski (HAR), 6-2, 6-2
6. Daniel Soyfer (COR) vs. Steven Sun (HAR), 2-6, 7-6(5), 4-2, unfinished
 
Doubles
1. Eero Vasa/Alafia Ayeni (COR) def. Brian Shi/Ronan Jachuck (HAR), 6-2
2. Steven Sun/Harris Walker (HAR) def. Daniel Soyfer/Lev Kazakov (COR), 6-1
3. Henry von der Schulenburg/Robert Wrzesinski (HAR) def. Evan Bynoe/Pietro Rimondini (COR), 6-4
 
Order of Finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (1,5,3,2)