IOWA CITY, Iowa – Cornell men's tennis had its six-match winning streak stopped at #28 Iowa on Sunday, March 8, falling to the Hawkeyes by a final tally of 4-3. The Big Red got out to a 2-1 lead over Iowa, but the Hawkeyes stormed back in singles to win three of the final four matches.
 
With a loss, No. 16-ranked Cornell falls to 9-2 on the season, while Iowa improves to 12-2. The Hawkeyes have been hard to beat in Iowa City this season with a 10-1 record in the Hawkeye Tennis & Recreation Complex.
 
Iowa took the doubles point on Sunday, but it was the Big Red who pulled through with a massive upset at No. 1 doubles. Freshman Vladislav Melnic and junior Alafia Ayeni took down the #12 double tandem in the country, Will Davies and Oliver Okonkwo, 7-5.
 
Cornell stormed back to take a 2-1 lead following wins at No. 5 and No. 1 singles. Pietro Rimondini tied things up at 1-1 with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Jason Kerst. Ayeni played spoiler, taking out #51 Kareem Allaf in three sets after dropping set one, 1-6, 6-4, 6-2.
 
With Cornell in the lead, 2-1, Iowa made a push for the lead winning matches at No. 2 and No. 6 singles to take 3-2 advantage. Melnic tied things up for the Big Red at No. 3 singles, continuing a strong start to his rookie campaign with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 win over Joe Tyler.
 
The deciding match at No. 4 singles was neck-and-neck with Iowa's Davies coming up on top in three sets, beating Lev Kazakov 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-2.
 
Up Next: Cornell returns home for a match against Oklahoma at 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 15 in Reis Tennis Center
 
#28 Iowa 4, #16 Cornell 3
Iowa City, Iowa
 
Singles
1. Alafia Ayeni (COR) def. #51 Kareem Allaf (IOWA), 1-6, 6-4, 6-2
2. Oliver Okonkwo (IOWA) def. #122 Eero Vasa (COR), 2-6, 6-4, 6-3
3. Vladislav Melnic (COR) def. Joe Tyler (IOWA), 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
4. Will Davies (IOWA) def. Lev Kazakov (COR), 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-2
5. Pietro Rimondini (COR) def. Jason Kerst (IOWA), 6-2, 6-2
6. Nikita Snezhko (IOWA) def. Daniel Soyfer (COR), 1-6, 6-3, 6-3
 
Doubles
1. Vladislav Melnic/Alafia Ayeni (COR) def. #12 Will Davies/Oliver Okonkwo (IOWA), 7-5
2. Kareem Allaf/Nikita Snezhko (IOWA) def. Lev Kazakov/Daniel Soyfer (COR), 7-6(5)
3. Matt Clegg/Joe Tyler (IOWA) def. Evan Bynoe/Pietro Rimondini (COR), 7-6(4)
 
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (5,1,2,6,3,4)