MOUNT VERNON – Sophomores Alexander Hadler-Strumlauf and Federico Polidori went 2-0 atop Cornell's singles lineup as the Rams split a pair of men's tennis duals over the weekend inside the Small Sport Center Arena.
 
The Rams, now 4-4 on the season, competed with Millikin Friday in a 7-2 loss. No. 1 player Hadler-Strumlauf (3-6, 6-3, 6-4) and No. 2 Polidori (6-3, 2-6, 6-4) both prevailed in third-set tiebreakers for Cornell's two individual wins against the Big Blue (4-2).
 
Cornell won five of six singles matches in its 6-3 triumph Saturday over NAIA's St. Ambrose. The Rams overcame a 2-1 deficit after doubles play.
 
The Rams collected straight-set singles wins from Hadler-Strumlauf (6-2, 6-1), Polidori (6-2, 6-3), Justin Mendez (7-6, 6-3) at No. 3, Chris Penas-Hull (6-2, 6-3) at No. 4 and Edwin Holyoake (6-3, 6-1) at No. 6.
 
Polidori stretched his singles winning streak to four matches. Holyoake earned his first collegiate singles victory.
 
Cornell's No. 2 doubles tandem of Penas-Hull and Polidori won 8-3 against the Fighting Bees (4-4). They improved to 6-2 as partners this spring.
 
No. 1 pair Hadler-Strumlauf and Mendez was edged 8-7 (7-5).  
 
The Rams travel to Orlando, Fla., over spring break for four dual meets from March 5-8.