By RYAN QUINN
The Reis Tennis Center was busy this past weekend with the Cornell men’s and women’s tennis teams each playing two matches in a span of three days. The No. 62 men (3-1) defeated both Radford and Georgia State in 4-0 and 4-1 wins. The women (2-0), meanwhile, notched victories over both Buffalo and Maryland Baltimore County, 4-3 and 5-2.
After getting its first win against George Washington last week, the men’s team saw standout performances from doubles partners junior Quoc-Daniel Nguyen and sophomore Stefan Vinti this weekend. Nguyen and Vinti combined for a perfect 6-0 record over the two contests, winning both of their doubles matches as well as two singles matches apiece. Junior Alex Sidney also turned in a strong performance, going 2-1 over the weekend with a lead in his unfinished last game.
On the women’s side, freshmen Marika Cusick and Alexandra D’Ascenzo continued their hot starts in their season-openers. After winning three combined titles at the Cornell Winter Invitational last week, the doubles partners also compiled an unblemished 6-0 record in their two contests. However, they were not the only players to record perfect weekends as sophomore Dena Tanenbaum won all four of her doubles and singles matches as well.
Both the men’s and women’s teams have improved in areas where they have faltered in the past few weeks. The doubles matches, a point of trouble for the men’s team through its first two games, became one of its strengths over the weekend as the Red won the doubles points against both Radford and Georgia State. Similarly, the women’s strength at the top of their lineup showed when Tanenbaum, Cusick and D’Ascenzo were able to sweep all six games in straight sets, an area where they had some trouble in preseason matchups.
Women’s senior captain Ryann Young, who had to retire from her doubles match with an injury, had high praise for her team’s performance and for the freshman duo in particular.
“It was really exciting to get the first two wins of the season. They were two really tough matches so I was really proud of how everyone played and competed,” she said. “[Cusick and D’Ascenzo] are playing great. We’re really lucky to have them on the team. They’re really strong players and I know that the more experience they get in college, the better they’re going to be.”
Speaking about the men’s doubles performances, Sidney emphasized that it had been a point of focus leading up to this weekend’s matches.
Connor Archard / Senior PhotographerServing a win | Junior Lauren Frazier was one of many who helped contribute to the win over UMBC Sunday.