Box Score MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's men's tennis team opened Midwest Conference action with a decisive 8-1 triumph over Illinois College Saturday afternoon on the Rams' outdoor courts.
The Rams (1-0 MWC) evened their overall mark to 6-6 in a dual in which two-time winners Chris Penas-Hull (FR/Lincoln, Neb.) and Drew Arnold (JR/Georgetown, Texas) did not surrender a single game.
Penas-Hull and Arnold dominated their No. 2 doubles match by an 8-0 verdict, and also coasted to 6-0, 6-0 shutouts in their respective singles matches at No. 3 and 4. Alexander Hadler-Strumlauf (FR/La Jolla, Calif.) also blanked his No. 2 singles opponent, 6-0, 6-0.
No. 5 player Alejandro Colorado (JR/Antiguo Cuscatlan, El Salvador) recorded his first MWC victory, 6-2, 6-1. Bryce Fincher (SO/Lafayette, Colo.) was victorious – 6-4, 6-1 – at No. 6 singles.
Sophomore Michael Coester (SO/Cedar Rapids, Iowa) notched his first collegiate win, pairing with No. 3 doubles partner Colorado for an 8-2 decision.
Cornell's No. 1 tandem of Federico Polidori (FR/Miami Beach, Fla.) and Hadler-Strumlauf won 8-3. Polidori was edged in the most competitive match of the day at No. 1 singles by scores of 6-1, 3-6 and 1-0 (10-8).
Coming up – The Rams travel to play MWC foe Monmouth at 12 p.m. Sunday in Monmouth, Ill.
