The women’s tennis team started the second half of its season this past weekend, with several members of the squad winning championships in the Cornell Women’s Tennis Indoor Invitational. The Red claimed two championships, one runner-up finish, and one consolation championship in a tournament featuring players from Columbia, Syracuse, Princeton, and Army.
Sophomore Akane Kokubo won the consolation championship in the A-Flight singles with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Masha Kabanova of Syracuse. Meanwhile, Junior Laura Leigh Tallant finished third in the draw, losing to Daniela Kaluskova of Syracuse in straight sets 6-1, 6-0.
Junior Kate Sternberg claimed the championship in the C-Flight singles, defeating Iana Dimkova of Columbia. After winning the first set, Sternberg was leading 3-0 in the second set when Dimkova retired.
The Red also claimed a championship in the B-Flight doubles draw. Freshman Mollie Edinson teamed with Columbia’s Mollie Condit to earn the victory, beating a team from Army. On their way to the crown, Edinson and Condit defeated the Red team of freshmen Jennifer Liu and Kara Maloy in the quarterfinals Cornellians Sternberg and Tallant in the semis.
Despite losing in the doubles competition, Maloy still has a chance for her own championship. She will play teammate senior Piper Lucas tomorrow for the D-Flight singles title.
As a team, the Red will return to action when it travels to Boston College on Feb. 8.
Men’s Tennis
While the women were busy hosting the Indoor Invitational, the men’s tennis team hosted Penn State. Despite winning the crucial doubles point, the men succumbed to the Nittany Lions by a 4-3 score, dropping Cornell’s record to 1-1 on the year.
“Being close stinks. We were out there to win,” Cornell head coach Barry Schoonmaker said. “[Penn State] was better than us. They were tougher in the clutch.”
The day started well for the Red, as juniors Zach Gallin and Scott Spencer won 9-7 at the No. 1 doubles spot. Combined with the victory of junior Mike Schlappig and freshman Brett McKeon in the No. 3 doubles spot, the Red earned the doubles point.
“We played very good in the dubs,” Schoonmaker said. “Zach Gallin and Scott Spencer at the one, that was a great effort. At the three, Mick Schlappig and Brett McKeon took an early lead and dominated.”
However, the Nittany Lions, on the strength of wins in four of the singles matches, claimed victory.
After winning the first set 6-4, Gallin dropped the next two sets 6-0, 6-2, as Penn State’s Nate Emge came away with the win in the No. 1 singles match. The Nittany Lions also claimed the No. 2, No. 4, and No. 5 singles matches.
Cornell was victorious in two of the singles matches, as McKeon took the No. 3 singles match with a convincing 6-2, 6-1 win. Schlappig also won out of the No. 6 spot, winning a grueling three-set affair 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.
“Brett McKeon, our freshman, played awesome,” said Schoonmaker. “He beat a junior and that was very impressive. Mike Schlappig had an impressive win.”
The Red will host Buffalo and Bucknell on Feb. 7 at the Reis Tennis Center.
Archived article by Sun Staff