Box Score

MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's men's tennis team secured no worse than second place in the Midwest Conference South Division with a hard-earned 5-4 victory over Monmouth Sunday inside the Small Sport Center Arena.

The Rams improved to 9-7 overall, 4-1 in the South with one regular-season home dual remaining at 4 p.m. Monday against first-place Grinnell (5-0).

Sunday's battle with Monmouth (2-6, 2-4 MWC) began at noon outdoors, was moved indoors due to inclement weather and finished five hours later.

Cornell freshman Chris Penas-Hull (FR/Lincoln, Neb.) wound up claiming the clinching team point at No. 3 singles. He outlasted Zach Harris 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 in a 2-hour, 56-minute classic. Penas-Hull led 4-1 in the decisive third set, fell behind 5-4, and had enough in the tank to win the final three points.

The Rams won four of the six singles matches, helping overcome a 2-1 deficit after doubles.

Alexander Hadler-Strumlauf (FR/La Jolla, Calif.) continued his winning ways with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 victory at No. 2 singles. Alejandro Colorado (JR/Antiguo Cuscatlan, El Salvador) scored a 6-3, 6-0 win at No. 5, while Bryce Fincher (SO/Lafayette, Colo.) was a 6-3, 6-1 victor at No. 6.

Cornell No. 4 player Drew Arnold (JR/Georgetown, Texas) fell in three sets by scores of 6-1, 5-7, 6-4. At No. 1 singles, Cornell's Federico Polidori (FR/Miami Beach, Fla.) showed improvement in a 6-2, 6-3 loss to Joseph Shie.

Cornell's doubles win came 8-2 from No. 3 tandem Colorado and Michael Coester (SO/Cedar Rapids, Iowa). No. 1 pair Polidori and Hadler-Strumlauf was edged 8-6, while Penas-Hull and Arnold lost 8-1 at No. 2.