Both Cornell teams had a tough weekend, each losing 5-2 in matches against the Columbia Lions.
The men’s team (9-6, 0-1 Ivy) got off to a promising start, winning the No. 1 Doubles match, 8-5, in a pro set. Junior Nicholas Brunner teamed with classmate Josh Raff to down Marty Moore and Jimmy Moore of Columbia (10-2, 1-0). The No. 1 doubles slot has been a bright spot for the Red all season, as Brunner and Raff improved their record to a formidable 12-3 this season. Even more impressive, the loss for the Moore’s was just their second of the season, dropping them to 11-2.
Unfortunately for the Red, however, the No. 1 doubles victory proved to be the highlight of the match. Columbia was too tough in the other two doubles matches, winning by scores of 8-6 and 8-4. Because only one point is allotted for doubles, Columbia took the doubles point by winning two of the three matches.
The Red’s struggles in the singles lineup continued against the Lions, as it dropped its top-3 singles decisions. Although each match was in straight sets, the Red does have reason for encouragement, as nearly every set was separated by just a single break of serve.
Junior Dan Brous provided the Red a point at No. 4 singles, downing Marty Moore in a tight match, 6-4, 7-6. Brous has had a solid year thus far, winning most of his matches at No. 3 and No. 4 singles to post an overall record of 10-4. Freshman Kyle Dopplet, who has been used at nearly every singles spot this year, also won his match in straight sets to give the Red its second point.
The women’s team (6-4, 0-1) lost at Columbia (9-5, 0-1) in a similar fashion, 5-2. Like the men’s team, the women struggled at the top of the single’s lineup, losing their top-3 singles matches.
No. 1, Senior Mollie Edinson took the first set of her match, but lost in three tough sets. Likewise, junior Kasia Preneta, who has been outstanding this year at No. 2 singles, dropped the last two sets to lose in heartbreaking fashion.
The Red continued to play well on the doubles side, however, taking the point by winning No. 1 and No. 2 doubles. Freshman Shayna Miller teamed with classmate Elizabeth Googe to outlast the Columbia team of Milena Kachar and Sydney Murray, 8-6. Preneta and her partner, senior Liying Wang, won their match in convincing fashion, 8-2.
“This was a really close match,” senior co-captain Mollie Edinson said. “We were right in there, even though we lost, because a lot of our matches were really close. All of our work is starting pay off.”
Interestingly enough, the match contained a fascinating subplot of its own: Cornell Junior Nisha Suda, a winner at No. 4 singles, faced her younger sister Nina Suda, a freshman who plays No. 5 for the Lions. Fortunately for them, a difficult Williams sister-like match could not occur, as they narrowly missed facing each other. On this day, both sisters were able to help their teams, as they both came out victorious.
Both Red teams face Ivy League foes in their upcoming matches next weekend, continuing to parallel each other. They will face the Harvard Crimson on Friday, followed by Dartmouth on Saturday.
Archived article by Danial Asmat
Sun Staff Writer