NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Cornell women's tennis battled hard against #38 Columbia, but the Lions took the win, 4-2, in the Ivy opener on Saturday afternoon at the Milstein Family Tennis Center. With the win, Columbia improved to 13-3 while Cornell fell to 7-9.

Doubles play kicked off the day. Anna Zhang and Sophia Wang opened the action with a 6-4 win over Lauren Stein and Jenny Wong. Winta Tewolde and Rachele Rimondini followed suit with a 7-6 (9-7) victory over Michelle Ryndin and Alexandra Savu to claim the doubles point. Gayathri Krishnan and Sophia Strungnell held a narrow 6-6 (6-4) lead over Emma Baker and Victoria Zhao before the match was concluded.

Victoria Zhao opened the singles matches with a 6-0, 6-2 win over Salma Farhat to bring the Big Red to tie the match at one. Jenny Wong fell in the No. 4 singles match, 6-2, 6-2 to Gayathri Krishnan to retake the Columbia lead. Fatima Keita posted a 6-3, 6-1 win over Michelle Ryndin, but Lauren Stein had a 6-4, 6-4 answer, besting Anna Zhang. Winta Tewolde sealed the win for Columbia with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Gia Graziano. Julia Haynes and Emma Baker were battling in a 6-2, 4-5 match before it concluded.

The Big Red is back in action next Friday, April 5, when the team takes on Penn in Philadelphia, Pa. Matches are set to begin at 2 p.m.