NEW YORK, N.Y. -- The Cornell women's tennis team made a run at No. 68 Columbia after falling behind 3-1, but the Lions escaped with a 4-2 decision on Saturdya afternoon at the Milstein Family Tennis Center in the Ivy League opener for both teams. The Big Red fell to 7-7 (0-1 Ivy), while the Lions improved to 11-3 (1-0 Ivy) with their fifth straight victory.
Columbia secured the doubles point with wins at Nos. 2 and 3. Cornell's top duo of Michelle Ryndin and Sage Loudon earned a 6-3 victory, but the Lions answered with a 6-4 win at No. 2 and a 6-0 decision at No. 3 to take the early lead.
In singles, Cornell found success in the middle of the lineup. Loudon cruised to a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 2, and Victoria Zhao followed with a matching straight-set victory at No. 3 to keep the Big Red within striking distance.
Columbia regained momentum with wins at Nos. 1 and 6. Gayathri Krishnan topped Ryndin at the top spot, while Amber Yin added a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Emma Baker.
The final two matches of the day both went to a third set, where the Lions clinched the match at No. 4, where Michelle Li rallied past Dylan Gelber. The No. 5 singles contest between Andrea Martinez de los Rios and Margaret Hui was left unfinished with the third set tied at 5-5 after Martinez de los Rios evened the match with a win in the second.
The Big Red begins a three-match homestand when it welcomes Yale and Brown to the Reis Tennis Center on Saturday, April 4 and Sunday, April 5. Both matches begin at 1 p.m. at will be broadcast live on Stretch Internet.
#68 Columbia 4, Cornell 2
Doubles
1.
Michelle Ryndin/
Sage Loudon (Cornell) defeated Gayathri Krishnan/Sabrina Lin (Columbia), 6-3
2. Amber Yin/Michelle Li (Columbia) defeated
Victoria Zhao/Andrea Martinez de los Rios (Cornell), 6-4
3. Emily Baek/Sophia Wang (Columbia) defeated
Emma Baker/
Dylan Gelber (Cornell), 6-0
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2
Singles
1. Gayathri Krishnan (Columbia) defeated
Michelle Ryndin (Cornell), 6-1, 6-4
2.
Sage Loudon (Cornell) defeated Sophia Wang (Columbia), 6-2, 6-2
3.
Victoria Zhao (Cornell) defeated Emily Baek (Columbia), 6-2, 6-2
4. Michelle Li (Columbia) defeated
Dylan Gelber (Cornell), 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
5. Andrea Martinez de los Rios (Cornell) vs. Margaret Hui (Columbia), 4-6, 6-3, 5-5 unfinished
6. Amber Yin (Columbia) defeated
Emma Baker (Cornell), 6-1, 6-1
Order of Finish: 6, 3, 1, 2, 5
Records:
#68 Columbia: 11-3, 1-0 Ivy
Cornell: 7-7, 0-1 Ivy
